21M 284	Spring 2008

Essay 3: A Film-Music Montage

Write three mini-essays of about 500-750 words each (that is, about 2-3
typed, double-spaced, pages) on the following three topics, to be handed
in together in a folder, on Wednesday, April 30.

(1) A Close Reading of a modernist score segment: Discuss the fusion of
music, other sounds (if present), images, and narrative in a segment
lasting three to four minutes from one of the following six films:
Vertigo, North by Northwest, 8½, The Magnificent Seven, Once upon a
Time in the West, or The Planet of the Apes (68).

	Be sure to put the segment in context, in terms of the film’s overall
narrative and the “design” of the score.

(2) Analyze the ways a piece of vocal music functions in one sequence
from one following films: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Pink Panther,
The Graduate, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now.

	Be sure to put the segment in context, in terms of the film’s overall
narrative and the “design” of the score.

(3) Choose one other film that fascinates you from any part of this
class’s syllabus—but not one that you have written about in previous
assignments or in the first two mini-essays. Explain to a reader who may
or may not be familiar with this particular film why you have chosen it,
and what key points and scenes you would analyze in detail, if you had
time to write a more elaborate essay about it. Think of this as a
“prospectus,” which lays out your reasons for wanting to explore the
film. Provide some key select details, and focus on devising an overall
framework for such an essay. 

Note: Since these are short essays, do not waste words with lengthy
introductory paragraphs—a few sentences can suffice for each. Do write
with incisiveness and clarity. Any humorous or poetic touches that you
add will be appreciated, so long as they really have something to do
with the topic.  Try to enjoy the project, insofar as possible during
the end-of-second-semester-burnout-crunch!