Closely View And Consider The Still Images Above From Our W2

Closely View And Consider The Still Images Above From Our W2 Casablan

Closely view and consider the still images above from our W2 (Casablanca, dir Michael Curtiz, 1942) and W3 feature screenings (Rashomon, dir Akira Kurosawa, 1950). For this exercise, you will perform a 2-part written analysis for TWO images. (You are responsible for both narrative analysis and describing mise-en-scène for images from both films.)

PART 1: narrative analysis

Identify the image from the film and in what SCENE it appears; and describe in your own words how the image/scene fits into the narrative. When does the image/scene appear in a larger STORY and PLOT? How does the image/scene fall within the film's plot arrangement or PLOT ORDER? Describe the CHARACTERS in the image. Who are they, and how do they generally appear in the narrative? What type of characters are they, and what are their principal traits/characteristics? Their motivations? What is their significance in the narrative? Where does the image/scene occur in a DRAMATIC ARC?

PART 2: mise-en-scène

Describe in your own words the design elements and composition of MISE-EN-SCÈNE. How does attention to each element impact NARRATIVE STRUCTURE and/or CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT? Consider: framing and/or camera movement, composition, setting, props, use of space, lighting, costume, makeup, hair, kinesis, figure movement/modeling, acting.

Paper For Above instruction

The analysis of still images from Casablanca (1942) and Rashomon (1950) involves a detailed examination of both narrative significance and mise-en-scène elements. These images serve as visual anchors within their respective films, providing insight into character development, plot progression, and thematic concerns. This essay will analyze one image from each film, positioning them within their overall narrative structures and exploring how mise-en-scène components reinforce storytelling and character portrayal.

Part 1: Narrative Analysis

The first image under examination is a still from Casablanca, likely depicting Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in a pertinent scene from the middle of the film’s plot. Typically, this image might show Rick in his nightclub, reflecting a moment of internal conflict or decision-making. Casablanca’s narrative is structured around the themes of love, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity set against the backdrop of WWII. The scene's placement within the plot is critical—it occurs during a turning point when Rick faces a moral dilemma involving Ilsa Lund and her husband Laszlo, pivotal in the film’s dramatic arc. Rick's character is described as a cynical and detached nightclub owner who evolves into a figure of self-sacrifice. His principal traits include pragmatism, guardedness, and a hidden capacity for compassion, motivated by a desire for personal redemption and moral clarity. The scene's significance lies in its contribution to Rick's transformation, marking a moment where his internal conflict becomes evident, advancing the narrative toward resolution.

The second image is from Rashomon, likely featuring the four main characters—the woodcutter, the samurai, the wife, or the bandit—during a crucial scene that reveals different perspectives of the same event. Rashomon’s narrative structure is famously non-linear, presenting multiple conflicting accounts of the same incident. This specific scene occurs in the film’s latter half, where the characters’ differing narratives serve to challenge the notion of objective truth and underscore themes of subjectivity and moral ambiguity. The characters are archetypal, representing various facets of human nature: the honest but naive woodcutter, the proud samurai, the betrayed wife, and the cunning bandit. Their principal characteristics—honesty, pride, vulnerability, and deception—are highlighted through their narrative perspectives. This scene’s placement within the plot epitomizes the film’s core dilemma: understanding truth amid conflicting perceptions, and the characters’ motivations reflect their desire for self-preservation, justice, or self-justification.

Part 2: Mise-en-Scène Analysis

The Casablanca scene’s mise-en-scène employs a carefully composed setting emphasizing atmosphere and character psychology. The framing often uses medium and close-up shots to focus on Rick’s facial expressions and gestures, illustrating his internal conflict. The lighting employs chiaroscuro effects—high contrast between lit and shadowed areas—that evoke moral ambiguity and emotional complexity. The background, with its jazz-age aesthetic and dim lighting, underscores the film’s noir influences. Props like a cigarette or glass of whiskey serve as symbols of introspection or bravado, while costume choices reflect character status and personality: Rick wears a suit, signifying his detached sophistication but also masking vulnerability.

In Rashomon, the mise-en-scène is deliberately constructed to reinforce themes of uncertainty and moral relativity. The setting, within the ruined gate of Rashomon, provides a bleak, muddy backdrop that symbolizes moral deterioration. The composition often places characters in open spaces amidst sparse, naturalistic lighting, emphasizing their isolation and the film’s focus on subjective truth. The use of camera angles—low and high shots—creates a sense of imbalance and instability, aligning with the film’s narrative of conflicting perspectives. Props, costumes, and acting styles reflect each character's social status and psychological state, reinforcing their roles within the story’s layered structure. The naturalistic lighting further underscores the realism and authenticity of each account, yet also accentuates the ambiguity and multiplicity of truth.

Conclusion

Both films utilize mise-en-scène elements strategically to deepen narrative complexity and character development. Casablanca’s controlled lighting and framing reveal Rick’s internal evolution, while Rashomon’s naturalistic settings and dynamic camera work highlight the uncertainty surrounding truth and perception. These visual strategies serve not only aesthetic goals but also reinforce the thematic core of each film—moral ambiguity, transformation, and the elusive nature of truth—making their still images potent visual symbols within their respective narratives.

References

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