FIST 100 2021

There are many aspects of Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust that stray away from the typical narrative structure that is present in most movies. While it's clear that the main plotline focuses on the Peazant family, there are aspects of the film that are heavily influenced by nature and how it is intertwined with the main narrative. To me, it seems, that in order to understand the story and its dream-like qualities, we (the audience) must be properly introduced to the landscape, the island, and the role it plays in the story. In the movie, Nana Peazant heavily resents the idea of leaving the island to travel North. The island is such an important part of the family and Gullah culture, and the idea of getting up and leaving everything behind is intimidating to many members of the family, and this leads to personal and familial conflicts. The concept of change is daunting to anyone, and the idea of leaving the island seems to be a representation of change and how families deal w

When I first started Reassemblage , I was expecting to watch a somewhat "alternative" documentary about people in Senegal, with a narrator informing me with facts and information about what was happening on the screen. However, as the film went on, I began to notice the lack of music and narration, two things that are usually quite prominent in documentaries. I was slightly confused as to what I was watching, and I was having a hard time understanding what point this film was trying to make.  I was slightly taken aback by Trinh Mihn ha's scarce but calming narration. Her choice to only speak a few quiet sentences at a time is something I really respect. Most documentaries bombard you with information and facts, whereas Mihn ha makes inquisitive and thoughtful statements that relate to the content and make you think about documentaries in a different way. For instance, when I was watching the film and trying to decipher the meaning of the film, the calm, slightly accented

As a fan of horror/scary movies, I was excited to hear we would be watching and analyzing Psycho , the OG horror movie that inspired a majority of scary films throughout the years, and set a blueprint for the horror genre as a whole.  I had previously watched most of Psycho at a birthday party a few years back, so I already knew the main storyline, along with the twist at the end of the film. This actually provided a slight advantage for me, because it gave me more time to focus on the production of the film instead of the plotline.  When the movie started, I tried to focus more on the cinematic aspects of the film, such as the acting, the dialogue, transitions, and shots. However, the beginning of the film was very slow, and I found myself getting a little distracted, and I was beginning to lose interest. But as the film went on and the storyline progressed, I was pulled back into the 1960s black and white universe that was Psycho. Once the characters and their motives were introduce

Hi! My name is Miranda Whitaker. I am from Viroqua, a tiny town in Wisconsin. I love movies, TV, and pop culture, and I have always had a curiosity when it comes to the history and production of film. I grew up watching a lot of animated movies and TV shows, and my parents are big on film culture. I am super excited to be in this class, and I am looking foward to having interesting conversations with you all!