British Media Studies Seminar

What Films are we studying?

In the first semester of 2010 students will make an in-depth study of The Queen in depth, will study briefly  Mrs Brown (about the life of Queen Victoria), and will study the work done by students  in 2009 on Bridget Jones's Diary.

Why Study Films?

In this seminar we study films from these points of view:

1. English language study — the seminar gives students many opportunities to develop their speaking, listening, writing and reading skills through in-depth study of films, individual scenes, as well as books and articles related to particular films.
2. Awareness of what films "communicate" and how they do so — Students will fresh insights into the "language of film" , thinking about the whole range of film production, including camera work, editing choices, acting, screenplays, genres  and the interplay between sounds, visual images, characters and story.
3. Culture and society — By looking at a film closely, what can it tell us about a society's values, assumptions, institutions and issues? 

NARRATIVE practice

In order to be able to discuss a film, you need to be able to summarise the action of the entire film or be able to depict the detailed action within a particular scene.  In this 2008 3rd-year class students created their own manga-like story, using horse masks, and then practised narrating it.

"The Queen" — Narrative Writing Practice

Here are some narratives of one scene from the film, The Queen.  They were originally written by students,  then rewritten by the teacher and finally used as study practice, using worksheets created with software created by Kevin Mark, called LexiSuite.

Narrative 1 (Original by Tomohiko Kushida) 

Tony feels nervous on his way to Buckingham Palace for his first one-to-one meeting with the Queen, as the new Prime Minister. He seems to be a little in awe of the Queen and the power she holds as the head of state. While he and the Queen chat his smile sometimes looks rather forced, which suggests that he feels there is some distance between them. 

Although Cherie reluctantly goes through the motions of following protocol, curtseying and not showing her back as she leaves the room, she does not hide the fact that she finds the formality oppressive. Like Tony, her smiles are also forced, but unlike Tony she seems to have no real respect for the Queen at all. 


Be able to read this aloud 

Tony _______ nervous ____________ to Buckingham Palace _______________ one-to-one meeting with the Queen, ____ the new Prime Minister. He seems to be a little ___________ the Queen and the power she holds ____ the ______ of _______. While he and the Queen chat his smile sometimes _______ rather forced, which __________ that he _______ there is some __________ between them. 

__________ Cherie _____________ goes through the ____________ following __________, curtseying and _____ showing her back ____ she ________ the room, she does not hide the ___________ she _______ the formality oppressive. Like Tony, her smiles are also ________, but ________ Tony she _______ to have ____ real respect for the Queen at all. 

although / as / distance / fact that / feels / finds / for his first / forced / head / in awe of / leaves / looks / motions of / no / not / on his way / protocol / reluctantly 
seems / state / suggests/ unlike

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Narrative 2 (Original by Yoshitomi Matsumoto) 

Tony feels a little nervous before meeting the Queen for the first time as Prime Minister. He isn't sure how she will feel about him, knowing that he is a reformer. Tony's wife, Cherie, is quite negative about the meeting, because she is an anti-monarchist. She feels Tony is too much in awe of the Queen. 

When Tony enters the room and is invited to sit down he is not sure exactly how she feels, and is obviously uncomfortable. But when Cherie enters the room to greet the Queen she is not at all intimidated by her. She is strongly opposed to the monarchy. Not long after Cherie has joined her husband and the Queen, the Queen's personal secretary comes in and takes her aside to tell her something. The Queen then abruptly calls an end to the meeting. Cherie feels offended by this, and surmises that the message was to do with Diana's "new boyfriend". Cherie also makes it clear that she feels that the whole experience of having to pay such respect to the monarch is absurd and demeaning. It seems to me that Tony feels that it is going to be hard for him to deal with these two strong women. 


Be able to read this aloud 

Tony _______ a little nervous before _________ the Queen for the first time as Prime Minister. He _______ sure how she ______ ______ about him, _________ that he ____ a reformer. Tony's wife, Cherie, ____ quite negative about the _________, because she ____ an anti-monarchist. She _______ Tony ____ too much in awe of the Queen. 

When Tony enters the room and ____ invited to _____ down he ____ _____ sure exactly how she _______, and ____ obviously uncomfortable. But when Cherie enters the room to greet the Queen she ____ _____ at all intimidated by her. She ____ strongly opposed to the monarchy. Not long after Cherie _____ joined her husband and the Queen, the Queen's personal secretary _______ in and _______ her aside to ______ her something. The Queen then abruptly calls an end to the _________. Cherie _______ offended by this, and surmises that the message _____ to ____ with Diana's "new boyfriend". Cherie also _______ it clear that she _______ that the whole experience of ________ to _____ such respect to the monarch ____ absurd and demeaning. It seems to me that Tony _______ that it ____ _______ to ____ hard for him to ______ with these two strong women. 

be / comes / deal / do / feel / feels / going / has / having/ is / isn't / knowing / makes / meeting / not / pay / sit / takes / tell / was / wil

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Narrative 3 (Original by Sayaka Kiguchi) 

It is clear from his words and behavior that Tony Blair feels rather nervous as he visits the Queen. For example, he forgets what he is supposed to say at one point when she asks him a question. His reaction to her seems to be that of an ordinary person rather than that of the leader of a reformist party who we might expect to be against the monarchy, especially since his manifesto has promised a radical modernization and shake-up of the Constitution. But we see that he is not clearly anti-monarchist. In fact he is very nervous and somewhat awed at meeting the country's sovereign one-to-one, for the first time as Prime Minister. 

His wife Cherie, on the other hand, does not seem to be at all nervous or in awe of the Queen. Her behavior verges on the disrespectful. For example, her curtsey is half-hearted, and the Queen's Secretary remembers it from an earlier occasion as being "shallow". One reason for this seems to be that her religious background is Catholic rather than Anglican. She finds the Queen's rather distant and condescending attitude offensive, as we see when she mimics the Queen's tone of voice as she and her husband descend the staircase after the meeting with her. While Tony finds the Queen's manner stately and dignified, she feels looked down on. Rather than change their feelings, this first meeting has reinforced the attitudes they came with. 


Be able to read this aloud 
It ____ clear from his words and behavior that Tony Blair _______ rather nervous as he visits the Queen. For example, he _________ what he ____ supposed to _____ at one point when she ______ him a question. His reaction to her _______ to ____ that of an ordinary person _____________ that of the leader of a ___________ party who we might expect to ____ against the monarchy, especially since his manifesto _____ promised a radical _______________ and shakeup of the ______________. But we _____ that he ____ _____ clearly anti-monarchist. In fact he ____ very nervous and somewhat awed at _________ the country's sovereign one-to-one, for the first time as Prime Minister. 

His wife Cherie, on the other hand, ______ _____ seem to ____ at all nervous or in awe of the Queen. Her __________ verges on the _______________. For example, her curtsey ____ half-hearted, and the Queen's Secretary remembers it from an earlier occasion as _______ "shallow". One reason for this _______ to ____ that her religious background ____ Catholic rather than Anglican. She _______ the Queen's rather _________ and condescending __________ offensive, as we _____ when she mimics the Queen's tone of voice as she and her husband descend the staircase after the _________ with her. While Tony _______ the Queen's manner stately and dignified, she _______ looked down on. Rather than change their feelings, this first _________ _____ reinforced the ___________ they ______ with.

asks / attitude /attitudes / bebehavior / being / came / constitution / disrespectful / distant / does / feels / finds / forgets / has / is / meeting / modernization / not / rather than/ reformistsay / see / seems

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Narrative 4 (Original by Yosuke Nakano) 

It is hard to fully grasp Tony and Cherie Blair's feelings when they meet the Queen, but it does seem that Tony feels a little nervous and apprehensive when they are in the car on their way to his first meeting with her as Prime Minister. Unlike her husband, Cherie seems to be very confident. She tells him that he should remember that he was elected by the entire nation, and that he has no reason to feel in awe of the Queen. 

Both of them seem to feel a little awkward as one of the Palace staff explains the protocol to them. Tony enters the room with a bow from the neck, as he is told. His conversation with the Queen is pleasant and polite. He apparently wants to avoid saying anything that might offend her. In contrast with him, Cherie is refreshingly self-possessed and natural. She finds this whole business rather ridiculous. The Queen seems to end the meeting a little abruptly. 

After the meeting Cherie of course does not try to hide her resentment from Tony. Unlike her, Tony will now have to work with the Queen on a regular basis, so it is important for him to be able to get along well with her. However, in this scene it seems that he doesn't particularly like her, and that he feels that he does not share her values. 


Be able to read this aloud 
It ____ hard to fully grasp Tony and Cherie Blair's feelings when they ______ the Queen, but it ______ seem that Tony _______ a little nervous and ______________ when they _____ in the car on ___________ to his first _________ with her as Prime Minister. ________ her husband, Cherie seems to ____ very confident. She _______ him that he ________ remember that he _____ _________ by the entire nation, and that he _____ no reason to ______ in ________ the Queen. 

Both of them seem to ______ a little _________ as one of the Palace staff explains the __________ to them. Tony enters the room with a _____ from the neck, as he ____ ______. His conversation with the Queen ____ pleasant and polite. He apparently wants to avoid ________ anything that might ________ her. In __________ with him, Cherie ____ refreshingly self-possessed and natural. She _______ this whole __________ rather ridiculous. The Queen seems to end the _________ a little __________. 

After the _________ Cherie of course ______ _____ try to ______ her ____________ from Tony. Unlike her, Tony ______ now ______ to work with the Queen on a regular basis, so it ____ important for him to ____ able to _____ along well with her. However, in this scene it seems that he _________ particularly like her, and that he _______ that he ______ _____ share her values. 

abruptly / apprehensive / areawe of / awkward / be / bow / business / contrast / does / doesn't / elected / feel / feels / finds / get / has / have / hide / is / meet / meeting / not / pffemd / protocol / resentment / saying / should / tells / their way / told / unlike / was / will