What does the film tell us about the Middle Ages, and how is that achieved

• To keep you on track with required film viewings • To encourage you to think about the films in preparation for class discussion • To give you practice writing about sound (music, sound effects, and dialogue) in film

Requirements: You have to submit 4 responses over the course of the semester, choosing one film from each numbered pair (choose 1a or 1b; choose 2a or 2b; etc.). Late submissions are not accepted. Content: You do not have to do external research for the weekly responses, although you are welcome to incorporate readings and earlier class discussions. If you include external sources, simply include a bibliography. Your response should be about 250 words. For each response you should consider one or more of the following questions, being sure to address aspects of sound (music, sound effects, and dialogue):

1. What does the film tell us about the Middle Ages, and how is that achieved? Does the “Middle Ages” portrayed fall into one of Umberto Eco’s “ten little Middle Ages”?

2. What does the film tell us about particular social or cultural conditions or events during the time

in which it was produced, and how is that achieved? 3. Discuss the genre of the film (you can define genre however you want – documentary vs.

fiction, detective film vs. rom-com, children’s vs. adult film, etc.). What are the key features of the film that make you categorize the film this way and how does the genre relate to the medieval aspect of the film?

4. Provide specific detail about the use of diegetic music in the film and how it intersects with other aesthetic elements (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, or narrative structure). Does the diegetic music sound medieval? Does it try to evoke the medieval in a more conceptual way?

5. Provide specific detail about the use of non-diegetic music in the film and how it intersects with other aesthetic elements (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, or narrative structure). Does the non-diegetic music sound medieval in any way? Does the non-diegetic music relate to other films in the genre it represents?

Assessment: You will get a single letter grade on each response. Marks will evaluate insight into and depth of engagement with the film. Grammar, structure, and spelling will not be marked separately, but a response may lose a grade increment if the writing is particularly poor.

All responses are due at noon on the date indicated below. For film details, see the syllabus. January 23, Response 1a on The Seventh Seal January 30, Response 1b on Saladin February 6, Response 2a on Robin Hood February 25, Response 2b on Monty Python and the Holy Grail March 4, Response 3a on The Princess Bride March 18, Response 3b on The Canterbury Tales March 25, Response 4a on Vision aus dem Leben der Hildegard von Bingen April 1, Response 4b on Game of Thrones, Season 1, episode 1