The Magic of the Ark: Film Techniques in “Raiders

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What are the Four Stages of Plot Development?

Examples of Plot Development in “Raiders” What is a Dangling Cause? Dangling Causes in “Raiders” What is a Motif? You Guessed it…. Motifs in “Raiders” The Inexorable Conclusion Works Cited

Table of Contents

The Setup:◦ Introduces characters, gives feel for them and

story◦ Establishes double goal

Complicating Action:◦ Action goes in new direction

Development:◦ All goals in place, obstacles for characters

Resolution:◦ Straightforward, nothing new introduced

What are the Four Stages of Plot Development?

Setup:◦ Indy, Marion, Belloq all introduced◦ Purpose — Find the Ark

Complicating Action:◦ Nazis appear seeking Ark◦ Indy and Marion attempt to find Ark

Plot Development in “Raiders”

Development:◦ Marion becomes captured◦ Indy and Marion get trapped in snake pit◦ Indy hitches a ride... on a submarine?

More Plot Development

Resolution:◦ Indy and Marion captured◦ Nazis open the Ark — Facesplosion!◦ Ark put in warehouse

Even More Plot Development

Film gives hints about the future that it expects the audience to pick up on.

Used to create suspense. Indicators

◦ Camera lingers on certain objects◦ Close-ups◦ Seemingly random items mentioned or focused

on briefly

What is a Dangling Cause?

Early in the film, Indy is startled when the plane he uses to escape has a snake in it. When the pilot says that’s his pet snake, Indy responds “I hate snakes.”

Later on, the Nazis trap Indy and Marion in an abandoned temple to die. The temple is full of…. snakes.

Dangling Causes in “Raiders”: “I hate snakes.”

During the bar fight scene, the medallion sought by both Indy and the Nazis falls into a fire and becomes heated. One of the Nazis grabs the medallion, but is horribly burned and left with an image of the medallion on his hand.

The Nazis discover they are missing part of the inscriptions on the medallion. The Nazi with the burned hand reveals he has the needed glyphs permanently etched into his palm.

More Dangling Causes in “Raiders”: The Mark of the Staff of Ra

When Marion is first introduced, she is shown beating a man much larger than her in a drinking contest.

Later on, Marion is captured by the Nazis and sent to Belloq. She escapes him by getting him extremely drunk and managing to hold her own liquor. Good job, Marion!

Dangling Causes in “Raiders” Cont: The Drinking Contest

A repeated image, idea, or pattern Motif reveals theme Can be phrases as well as items

What is a Motif?

Throughout all of the movie, there is a theme of red. It’s in the Nazi flags, the map lines, the crystal in the Staff of Ra, a particularly ineffective warrior’s sash….

What does it mean?◦ The red represents a marker to indicate Indy is going in the right

direction. The Staff shows him the way to the Ark, and the map line illustrates Indy moving closer and closer to the Ark. Red also symbolizes danger, which explains why the Nazi flags and warrior’s sash indicate dangerous obstacles Indy must overcome.

You Guessed it… Motifs in “Raiders”: The Omnipresence of Red

Indy’s theme is played whenever Indy does something particularly heroic, like swinging across a deep chasm in the very beginning, traveling across the globe, or sneaking on the German U-Boat.

What does it mean?◦ Indy’s theme illustrates the narrative theme of

exploration. It’s played whenever Indy overcomes an obstacle and goes exploring even further into the intrigue he finds himself in.

Patterns in “Raiders”: Indy’s Theme

Marion’s theme is played whenever Marion is onscreen, such as when she escapes from Belloq, whenever she is mentioned, or whenever Indy is thinking about Marion. In the scene after Marion’s apparent death in a truck explosion, her theme plays while Indy sadly drinks alone in a bar.

What does it mean?◦ Marion’s theme, with its soft, melodic overtones,

symbolizes innocence and love (as she is the love interest!) Whenever she helps Indy or affects Indy in some way, the theme plays.

Patterns in “Raiders”: Marion’s Theme

The Ark’s theme is played whenever the Ark’s power is mentioned, or whenever the Ark is onscreen, such as in the scene where the Ark is opened.

What does it mean?◦ The Ark’s theme is symbolic of the power and

mystery of the Ark itself. Its high, mournful notes seem to lead off into nowhere, posing a mystery for the audience.

Patterns in Raiders: The Ark’s Theme

Four stages of plot development help the movie evolve and tell a sprawling story.

Dangling causes set up plot complications or conflict resolutions throughout the movie.

Motifs such as the presence of red display the theme of danger in the movie.

The motif of Indy’s theme illustrates a theme of exploration.

Marion’s theme shows a theme of love. The Ark’s theme illustrates a theme of mystery.

The Inexorable Conclusion

Raiders of the Lost Ark. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Harrison Ford and Karen Allen.

Paramount Pictures, 1981. DVD.

Works Cited