51ºÚÁÏ

**La la land test TAD notes
This lesson covers both IDEOLOGY and RESPONSE in La La Land. The ideology of THE AMERICAN DREAM is the central focus on the analysis. **

*This lesson pack / approach costs more than the ‘feminist analysis’ of La La Land due to vastly more content in this pack. *

Feminist ideological analysis: /teaching-resource/resource-13186053

This pack contains a 56 slide PowerPoint and 15-page student booklet

The lesson has been designed so it can be ‘chopped’ up in to smaller, topic based sessions that will help students understand:

POST MODERN approach to cinema
Post-Modernism and the rise of Nostalgia in the 21st Century
In-depth analysis of the film
Assessment materials

The complete lesson covers:

• Previous exam questions - discussion of common themes/topics that have come up in the exam

• Modern: what is Modernism?

• Grand-Narratives & Universal Truths offered by Modernism

• Re-cap: conventions of ‘modern’ Hollywood cinema: the formal approach

• POST MODERN CINEMA:

  • conventions of POst Modern cinema: each convention is defined, examples given, and short tasks based around each
    • Inter-textuality / self-reflexivity / pastiche, homage, non-sequitors, parody, etc.

• Explain post-modern cinema as a ‘deconstructionist’ approach

Part 2 - Nostalgia and decline of Grand-Narratives in twenty first century USA

• Define and explain Nostaliga
• Discussion and task: The role of nostalgia in modern cinema

Part 3 - Ideology: The American Dream

• Define the term, short video to define the concept
• Forbes article exploring the validity of the ‘DREAM’ in contemporary America

Part 4 - Analysis of La La Land / application of the above.
This section combines detailed analysis with essay planning:

• What to include in the introduction
• ANother Day of Sun: Richard Dyer’s theory of musicals, exploration of ‘Romantic optimism’ of the Dream
• Mia and her Audition’ the ‘reality of the dream’
• Responses to these scenes

Pursuit of Happiness and Success: Seb and Mia’s relationship
Scene analysis: Seb and Mia’s break up scene
Detailed analysis and notes to support students

Myth vs. Reality of the Dream

Task - students to find examples of Myth vs. Reality in the film
Reinforce Dyer’s theory of musicals: Utopian solution vs. social reality
Analysis of finale

Detailed discussion on spectator responses.
Assessment question and materials provided.