Vertigo & Cuckoo's Nest: Essay Writing Notes

How to write a comparative essay for 1A

·         COMPONENT 1 Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study) is the only essay which directly invites you to compare and contrast the 2 films you have studied

·         There will be a choice of 2 questions, from which you will choose 1.

·         You will need to write an introduction which directly addresses the question and generally introduces the films studies 

·         Aim for 3 long paragraphs which are structured around relevant arguments. Analysis of both films will be compared/contrasted in each paragraph.

·         Use topic sentences to:

▪     Relate directly to the question

▪     Introduce key argument in terms of both films

▪     Demonstrate what your paragraph is going to cover

·         Avoid a concluding paragraph. End with concluding comments which directly address the question

A Level Film Studies Essay checklist

                                                                                                             

COMPONENT 1 Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study)

Feature
Texts underlined, with director and year included when introduced: Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Forman, 1975) Accurately spelled names of key personnel and film characters
An introduction which addresses the wording of the question and introduces each film with additional information on director and critical/commercial reception or production features.
Topic sentences which introduce and delineate the direction of each paragraph in relation to the essay title
A comparative approach essay structure, which highlights connections, similarities and differences between the texts in the light of the question
Key elements of film form: analysis of aspects of cinematography, mise-en-scène, sound, editing and performance in at least 2 sequences from each text [C1]
Meaning and response: analysis of both texts’ representation and visual style/’look’ (where relevant) [C2]
Contextual information on studio system (Classical Hollywood and New Hollywood) and possible references to social, cultural and technological contexts [C3]
Specialist Study area: Auteur -      how auteurs determine the look and style of a film in relation to the collaborative approach to film production within Hollywood cinema -      how auteurs, through the imprint of their ‘signature’ features, can make a significant impact on a film’s messages and values. -      How far it is possible to identify a filmmaker’s distinctive contribution within a large industrial production process [S7]
No separate paragraph conclusion but final sentences which address the title directly (end with a quote?)

Compare and different = reminder that your response must actively consider the 2 films in relation to each other. Differences AND similarities

How far = use this wording. The question is demanding a balanced weighing up of several factors. i.e. ways in which the films DO reflect their production contexts and ways in which they DON’T

Production contexts = this can cover a number of areas: institution (features of Golden Age Hollywood, Hollywood in decline, the New Hollywood) technological factors (the influence of new technologies) and the conditions of filmmaking for each text

N.B. Because this unit is also assessing you on Auteur (S7), if it is not directly addressed in the question, you will need to think of ways in which to embed auteur debate relevantly into your response. In this case, how do you think auteur theory is relevant to the question?

Introduction – intro to each film and its different position in Hollywood timeline. 

1^st paragraph – ways in which V and OFOTCN strongly reflect their production contexts

Topic sentence: Both Vertigo and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest could be said to strongly reflect aspects their respective production contexts, particularly in relation to the Hollywood studio system and its legacy.

2^nd Paragraph – ways in which the directors (auteurs) create texts which challenge/extend beyond immediate production contexts

Topic sentence: However, the directors of both Vertigo and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are able to transcend many of the previous strictures of the classical Hollywood studio system which has led to many critics confirming them as auteurs.

3^rd Paragraph (– ways in which both films reflect not only their production contexts but also their social/cultural contexts

Topic sentence: While both films reflect many features of their production contexts and demonstrate the rise of the ‘auteur’ in post-classical Hollywood, it can also be argued that social and cultural factors play a part in generating the meanings and values in each.