Mississippi BurningMississippi Burning

Example Example ExplicationExplication

Understand The TaskUnderstand The Task

Through a close reading of the Through a close reading of the sequence presenting Mrs Pell’s sequence presenting Mrs Pell’s beating and hospitalisation, show beating and hospitalisation, show how how Mississippi Burning Mississippi Burning implies that implies that Civil Rights were achieved by white Civil Rights were achieved by white men acting as maverick heroes.men acting as maverick heroes.

Introducing TextIntroducing Text Alan Parker’s Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning Mississippi Burning is based on real events is based on real events

that contributed significantly to the 1960’s Civil Rights that contributed significantly to the 1960’s Civil Rights movement for American Negroes. The film chooses to focus movement for American Negroes. The film chooses to focus on the exploits of two FBI agents who arrive in a corrupt on the exploits of two FBI agents who arrive in a corrupt Southern US town to sort out racism, solve a crime and Southern US town to sort out racism, solve a crime and seemingly in the process single-handedly achieve civil seemingly in the process single-handedly achieve civil rights for Mississippi’s Negroes. Their initial investigation is rights for Mississippi’s Negroes. Their initial investigation is into the (factual) disappearance of three civil rights into the (factual) disappearance of three civil rights workers, but the film rapidly develops both classic thriller workers, but the film rapidly develops both classic thriller elements of conspiracy and murder, as well as romance, by elements of conspiracy and murder, as well as romance, by following the tension between the two leading following the tension between the two leading investigators, Agent Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Agent investigators, Agent Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Agent Anderson (Gene Hackman).Anderson (Gene Hackman).

Summarises the film in a way that highlights the ideas Summarises the film in a way that highlights the ideas expressed in the topic. Eg “seemingly in the process single-expressed in the topic. Eg “seemingly in the process single-handedly achieve civil rights” rather than “aid in gaining handedly achieve civil rights” rather than “aid in gaining civil rights”.civil rights”.

Introducing Key SequenceIntroducing Key Sequence Anderson’s relationship with Deputy Sheriff Pell’s wife (Frances Anderson’s relationship with Deputy Sheriff Pell’s wife (Frances

McDormand) not only develops as generic romance – neglected McDormand) not only develops as generic romance – neglected wife meets gentle and charming out-of-towner – but gives the wife meets gentle and charming out-of-towner – but gives the FBI an opening into the “can of worms” of the town’s Ku Klux FBI an opening into the “can of worms” of the town’s Ku Klux Klan conspiracy. The sequence presenting Mrs Pell’s Klan conspiracy. The sequence presenting Mrs Pell’s hospitalization is crucial to bringing these elements of the film’s hospitalization is crucial to bringing these elements of the film’s plot together: Anderson’s love affair; disunity amongst the KKK; plot together: Anderson’s love affair; disunity amongst the KKK; and the conflict between Ward and Anderson over their and the conflict between Ward and Anderson over their investigative methods. Parker achieves this by constructing a investigative methods. Parker achieves this by constructing a narrative sequence that parallels two scenes of violence within narrative sequence that parallels two scenes of violence within each of the film’s opposed groups, the KKK and the FBI. The each of the film’s opposed groups, the KKK and the FBI. The resulting contrast between the former’s misogynistic violence, resulting contrast between the former’s misogynistic violence, and the latter’s masculine settling of differences strongly and the latter’s masculine settling of differences strongly enhances the film’s underlying bias towards white maverick enhances the film’s underlying bias towards white maverick heroes.heroes.

Specific identification of key sequence under analysis, Specific identification of key sequence under analysis, explaining its links to film’s plot, themes and narrative explaining its links to film’s plot, themes and narrative structure.structure.

Close Reading Proper BeginsClose Reading Proper Begins The scene of Mrs Pell’s attack is set in her lounge room The scene of Mrs Pell’s attack is set in her lounge room

interior and begins in warm lighting with the interior and begins in warm lighting with the diegeticdiegetic sounds sounds of audience laughter and a light-hearted comedy act coming of audience laughter and a light-hearted comedy act coming from the television. A low camera establishes Mrs Pell’s point from the television. A low camera establishes Mrs Pell’s point of view relaxed in an armchair. With the entry of her husband of view relaxed in an armchair. With the entry of her husband followed by three large white men, the atmosphere of the followed by three large white men, the atmosphere of the scene instantly changes. As Deputy Pell grabs his wife and scene instantly changes. As Deputy Pell grabs his wife and begins to beat and throw her around the room, steady-cam begins to beat and throw her around the room, steady-cam shots and a rapid pan accentuate the violence. The shots and a rapid pan accentuate the violence. The remainder of the scene uses a montage of low angle reaction remainder of the scene uses a montage of low angle reaction shots of the impassive male KKK onlookers, and off camera shots of the impassive male KKK onlookers, and off camera sounds of breaking furniture and pummelled flesh. The effect sounds of breaking furniture and pummelled flesh. The effect is a chilling portrayal of domestic violence perpetrated in the is a chilling portrayal of domestic violence perpetrated in the service of a brutal male-only secret society.service of a brutal male-only secret society.

Analyse the sequence step by step. NB: filmic terms only Analyse the sequence step by step. NB: filmic terms only used to highlight effects of techniques.used to highlight effects of techniques.

Final sentence drives home the significance of the scene.Final sentence drives home the significance of the scene.

Next SceneNext Scene

A cut to the noisy and brightly lit public A cut to the noisy and brightly lit public hustle of FBI headquarters in the local hustle of FBI headquarters in the local cinema reveals a close up of whiskey poured cinema reveals a close up of whiskey poured into a paper cup, encoding the heightened into a paper cup, encoding the heightened level of tension in the ongoing investigation. level of tension in the ongoing investigation. The camera pans up and out to follow Agent The camera pans up and out to follow Agent Ward answering a phone call. The logic of the Ward answering a phone call. The logic of the editing sequence tells us that news of Mrs editing sequence tells us that news of Mrs Pell’s beating has reached the FBI. This short Pell’s beating has reached the FBI. This short seguesegue ends with a medium close up of ends with a medium close up of Ward’s anxious expression. Ward’s anxious expression.

Next SceneNext Scene The following scene returns to another relative quiet, this time of a The following scene returns to another relative quiet, this time of a

hospital’s downstairs lobby, being similarly disturbed by a surprise hospital’s downstairs lobby, being similarly disturbed by a surprise entrance: Agent Ward violently throwing open the front doors and entrance: Agent Ward violently throwing open the front doors and shouting orders to his other agents. It quickly cuts to a dimly lit shouting orders to his other agents. It quickly cuts to a dimly lit interior of Mrs Pell’s upstairs hospital room, with a pensive Ward interior of Mrs Pell’s upstairs hospital room, with a pensive Ward already sitting by her bedside indicating some passage of time. A already sitting by her bedside indicating some passage of time. A minimal use of short shots establishes the horrific extent of her minimal use of short shots establishes the horrific extent of her injuries and Ward’s anxious wait for Anderson to arrive. A cut to a injuries and Ward’s anxious wait for Anderson to arrive. A cut to a low angle from Ward’s point of view then prepares us for Anderson’s low angle from Ward’s point of view then prepares us for Anderson’s breathless entrance at the room door. A rapid glance is all he needs breathless entrance at the room door. A rapid glance is all he needs before rushing out again, quickly followed by Agent Ward. Chasing before rushing out again, quickly followed by Agent Ward. Chasing Anderson down the corridor, Ward warns him not to rashly seek an Anderson down the corridor, Ward warns him not to rashly seek an illegal or violent revenge, but Parker ingeniously has the two men illegal or violent revenge, but Parker ingeniously has the two men catch up with each other halfway down the stairs. Filmed in low catch up with each other halfway down the stairs. Filmed in low angle from the lobby below, this confrontation has all the pent up angle from the lobby below, this confrontation has all the pent up frustration behind it, not only of the whole murky case but the frustration behind it, not only of the whole murky case but the ongoing tension between them over their conflicting methods of ongoing tension between them over their conflicting methods of investigation.investigation.

Analysis of third scene begins with a stylistic reference back to first Analysis of third scene begins with a stylistic reference back to first in order to prepare for an explanation of the film’s parallelism.in order to prepare for an explanation of the film’s parallelism.

Next SceneNext Scene Exchanging insults over their different attitudes to the case, Exchanging insults over their different attitudes to the case,

Ward’s superior rank as another of their private issues is Ward’s superior rank as another of their private issues is symbolised by his higher position on the staircase. The symbolised by his higher position on the staircase. The parallels with Deputy Pell’s violent scene begin to emerge as parallels with Deputy Pell’s violent scene begin to emerge as internal and ‘domestic’ disagreement spill over into angry internal and ‘domestic’ disagreement spill over into angry confrontation. But the contrasts are equally significant. There, confrontation. But the contrasts are equally significant. There, the shock of the violence was exacerbated by the total the shock of the violence was exacerbated by the total lack of lack of any prelude or dialogueany prelude or dialogue. Here, the tension has been hinted . Here, the tension has been hinted at, anticipated and even openly vented in albeit angry at, anticipated and even openly vented in albeit angry speech. Furthermore, speech. Furthermore, the domestic interior space of a private the domestic interior space of a private home has been exchanged for a public hospitalhome has been exchanged for a public hospital. Even in that . Even in that Parker extends the contrast by having the two antagonists, in Parker extends the contrast by having the two antagonists, in a coded sign of old-fashioned civility, take their disagreement a coded sign of old-fashioned civility, take their disagreement literally literally outsideoutside. .

Analyse absence of things as well as what is present.Analyse absence of things as well as what is present. Recognise the crucial role of settings, especially in developing Recognise the crucial role of settings, especially in developing

narrative parallels.narrative parallels.

Second To Last ParagraphSecond To Last Paragraph The rest of the film follows the FBI’s gradual unravelling of The rest of the film follows the FBI’s gradual unravelling of

the KKK conspiracy surrounding the murders of the civil the KKK conspiracy surrounding the murders of the civil rights workers, through a series of highly unconventional, rights workers, through a series of highly unconventional, illegal and dramatic interrogations. But what makes this illegal and dramatic interrogations. But what makes this film’s justification of illegal means by a noble end even film’s justification of illegal means by a noble end even more unsavoury, is its effect in removing from history any more unsavoury, is its effect in removing from history any clear sense of black people struggling to achieve their own clear sense of black people struggling to achieve their own justice and rights for themselves. While a token father and justice and rights for themselves. While a token father and son stand up against the violence in the film, constantly son stand up against the violence in the film, constantly reinforced by images of burning churches and firebombed reinforced by images of burning churches and firebombed homes, they too become helpless victims.homes, they too become helpless victims.

Brief summary of film’s remaining plot as it relates to Brief summary of film’s remaining plot as it relates to significant ideas in the topic.significant ideas in the topic.

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph Lastly, this key sequence has at its emotional Lastly, this key sequence has at its emotional

core a motivation for revenge against violence core a motivation for revenge against violence done to a white woman, done to a white woman, notnot any black person. All any black person. All those other victims of racial violence, going back those other victims of racial violence, going back hundreds of years and millions of individuals into hundreds of years and millions of individuals into slavery count for nothing, in this film’s logic, slavery count for nothing, in this film’s logic, against one hapless and pretty victim of domestic against one hapless and pretty victim of domestic abuse. Thus abuse. Thus Mississippi BurningMississippi Burning not only endorses not only endorses ‘white maverick heroes’ like Anderson breaking a ‘white maverick heroes’ like Anderson breaking a few laws to capture the KKK, but implies that few laws to capture the KKK, but implies that without them, civil rights for black Americans without them, civil rights for black Americans would never have been achieved.would never have been achieved.

Conclusion ties previous points about entire film Conclusion ties previous points about entire film back to overall significance of the key sequence.back to overall significance of the key sequence.

Remember Your FocusRemember Your Focus

The analysis of a keyThe analysis of a key sequence sequence should answer the task by examining should answer the task by examining in detail how the narrative is shaped in detail how the narrative is shaped by the film’s language and form.by the film’s language and form.

Definition Of ExplicationDefinition Of Explication

A detailed explanation of the meaning of A detailed explanation of the meaning of something. something.

Analysis or interpretation, esp of a Analysis or interpretation, esp of a literary passage or work or philosophical literary passage or work or philosophical doctrine.doctrine.

The act of making clear or removing The act of making clear or removing obscurity from the meaning of a word or obscurity from the meaning of a word or symbol or expression etc.symbol or expression etc.

www.thefreedictionary.com/explicationwww.thefreedictionary.com/explication

Diegetic / Non Diegetic SoundDiegetic / Non Diegetic SoundDiegetic SoundDiegetic Sound  - Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is  - Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source isimplied to be present by the action of the film:  implied to be present by the action of the film:  voices of characters  voices of characters  sounds made by objects in the story  sounds made by objects in the story  music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source

music) music) Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film'sDiegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film'sworld.  Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever world.  Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever

itsitssource is within the frame or outside the frame.  source is within the frame or outside the frame.      Non-diegetic SoundNon-diegetic Sound  - Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor   - Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor

hashasbeen implied to be present in the action:  been implied to be present in the action:  narrator's commentary narrator's commentary sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect mood music mood music Non-diegeticNon-diegetic sound sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story is represented as coming from the a source outside story

space.space.

http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htmhttp://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm

Segue DefinitionSegue Definition

To make a transition from one thing To make a transition from one thing to another smoothly and without to another smoothly and without interruption.interruption.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/seguehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/segue