Answering Questions on Buster Keaton Short Films
Remember that in the exam you will answer one question from a choice of two. You should spend 30 minutes on your essay. The questions could be on one of the Core Areas of Study such as an aspect of film form (focusing on any of cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sound or performance), representation (of gender, ethnicity, age or social class), aesthetics (the overall style and feel of the films), or contexts (social, cultural, political, institutional, economic or technological).
Alternatively, questions could be on the Specialist Study Area for Section C: Film Movements - Silent Cinema - testing your understanding of a specific critical debate - the realist and the expressive. It is likely that one of the questions will be on a core study area whilst the second question will be on the specialist study area.
Remember that, regardless of the question, you must make explicit references to key scenes from at least two of Buster Keaton's short films to support your points. You must also make sure that you discuss the films in the context of the film movement you have studied - Silent Cinema (and, in our case, American Silent Film Comedy). Contextualising Keaton's work within its appropriate film movement is absolutely vital in order to secure the highest marks.
I would suggest, given that you only have 30 minutes to answer the question, that you split your essay into three distinct sections - focusing on a key point related to the topic in the question in each section. By all means, split these sections into a number of paragraphs BUT just remember the following:
- three detailed points about the topic is manageable in the time you have
- give one (detailed) example from the films in support of the point you make
- mention at least two of the films studied across your essay
In addition, you should include an introduction (making reference to the key words in the question and outlining the three key points you intend to make) and a conclusion (summarising and going back to the wording found in the question). These can be brief but should show the examiner that you are focusing on the areas highlighted in the wording of the question.
Remember - this is a fairly short essay so it is crucial that you keep focused on the question.
Below are links to each topic area with a number of questions on each topic. This list of questions is not exhaustive (and in the real exam you may find that the questions are worded slightly differently) but they will give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of the structure and language used. It is essential that you attempt at least one question from each topic area - some in timed conditions - so that you can make (and correct) any mistakes now rather than making those mistakes in the exam.
Explore how aspects of cinematography are used to enrich meaning in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
'Mise-en-scene was central to the visual storytelling of silent cinema.' Discuss this statement with reference to key sequences from your chosen film option.
Explore how aspects of mise-en-scene are used to enrich meaning in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
With close reference to key sequences from your chosen film option, analyse how mise-en-scene is used to create meaning for the audience.
'Editing was central to the visual storytelling of silent cinema.' Discuss this statement with reference to key sequences from your chosen film option.
Explore how editing is used to enrich meaning in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
With close reference to key sequences from your chosen film option, analyse how editing is used to create meaning for the audience.
'Silent cinema was never truly silent.' Discuss this statement with reference to key sequences from your chosen film option.
Explore how sound may have been used to enrich meaning for audiences, even during the Silent Era. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
'Sound was unimportant during the Silent Era of cinema.' With reference to the film option you have studied, assess the validity of this statement. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
'Performance was central to the visual storytelling of silent cinema.' Discuss this statement with reference to key sequences from your chosen film option.
Explore how aspects of performance are used to enrich meaning in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
'Much of the pleasure that audiences derived from films from the Silent Era comes from the performances of the actors.' With detailed reference to key sequences from your chosen film option, discuss the importance of performance in communicating meaning.
With reference to key sequences from your chosen film option, discuss how representations of gender, age or ethnicity reflect the time in which the film (or films) was made.
Explore the representations of gender in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
'The style of a film has more of an impact on the spectator than the story itself.' With detailed reference to key sequences from your chosen film option, discuss the importance of aesthetics in creating pleasure for the audience.
'Both men and women are often represented stereotypically on film.' How far is this true in the film option you have studied? Make reference to key sequences from the film or films you have watched.
Discuss how far your chosen film or films reflect aesthetic qualities associated with a particular film movement. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
To what extent do aesthetic qualities contribute to the impact of your chosen film or films? Refer in detail to specific sequences.
Discuss how aesthetics are used to communicate important themes or ideas in your chosen film option. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
Discuss how far your chosen film or films reflect institutional contexts associated with a particular film movement. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
How far is the look or style of your chosen film or films influenced by institutional contexts? Refer in detail to particular sequences in your answer.
'Knowing more about a film's institutional context can enhance your appreciation and understanding of that film.' How far is this true in the film option you have studied? Make reference to key sequences from the film or films you have watched.
'Films are always shaped by their production contexts.' With detailed reference to key sequences, discuss your chosen film option in relation to this statement.
Discuss how far your chosen film or films reflect the social, cultural or political contexts of the time. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
How far is the look or style of your chosen film or films influenced by social and/or cultural contexts? Refer in detail to particular sequences in your answer.
'Knowing more about a film's social and/or cultural contexts can enhance your appreciation and understanding of that film.' How far is this true in the film option you have studied? Make reference to key sequences from the film or films you have watched.
'Films are always shaped by their social and cultural contexts.' With detailed reference to key sequences, discuss your chosen film option in relation to this statement.
Explore how your film option might be considered as either a realist or an expressionist kind of cinema. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer.
To what extent can it be said that your chosen film movement represents an expressionist as opposed to a realist style of filmmaking? Refer in detail to particular sequences in your answer.
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