Wikipedia Project
1. Create Wiki account, create user page and sign up on the list of students on the course page • Username: Okkasian13 • User Page: Welcome! Hello, my name is Ani Okkasian and I am a graduate student at Georgetown University in the Communication, Culture and Technology program. My studies focus on the operational aspects (business/government) of entertainment industry. This semester I am taking a Film Theory course and will be contributing to related articles on Wikipedia. • Listed on the Course Page: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Okkasian13)
2. Research and list 3-5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that might end up as your main project. Ask online Ambassadors for comments • Travelogue (films) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelogue_(films) • Docudrama http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docudrama • Film Score http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_score
3. Critically evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related to the class and leave suggestions for improving it on the article’s discussion page • Article Selected: Auteur Theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory) • Suggestions: I think that the “Origins,” and “Truffant’s Development,” sections are very explanatory however I feel that more information could be added to the “Impact,” and “Criticism,” sections. Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael’s feud is briefly mentioned but it should be made clearer what their stance on the subject was. What were the main differences in their arguments? This information must be added to provide context for their feud.
4. Add 1-2 sentences of new info backed up with a citation to a Wikipedia article related to class • Article Selected: Auteur Theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory) • Line Added: According to Andrew Sarris there are three premises to the Auteur Theory; technique, personal style and interior meaning which are represented in 3 concentric circles. Pauline Kael felt that this model doesn’t account for all the stake holders that participate in the production of a film nor does it account for outside/environmental.
5. Select an article • Travelogue (films) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelogue_(films)
6. 3-4 paragraph summary of your article (with citations) in your sandbox
From 1895 to 1905 travelogues dominated early cinema and they are considered to be “first chapter,” of documentary filmmaking. Travelogues are ethnographic and exploratory films that provided a means for the general public to view and understand more about other cultures and places before the development of the tourism industry.
Travelogues stem from postcards and travel lantern slides/lectures. Travelogues often have a narrative and commentary and freely display the cinematic apparatus throughout the process. Film maker, Dziga Vertov once said about travelogues, “the microscope and the telescope of time.”
Since the first travelogues were not made by anthropologists, filmmakers in this genre have been scrutinized for culturally insensitive representation; famous example, Nanook of the North, where much of the scenes were staged.
Travelogues are credited with helping cultivating the interest in travel at the same time transportation infrastructure was being developed to make it possible. Today, travelogues are most often seen in IMAX Theaters and play a role in fiction film cinematography.
References: • Virtual Voyages – Ruoff • For Documentary – Vaughan • ‘To the World the World we Show’; Early Travelogues as Filmed Ethnography – Alison Griffiths
7. Move article into main space • Still working on it
8. Select 2 classmates’ articles to review • Brittany Coombs • Daniele Yandel
9. Peer Review of 2 classmates’ articles – leave suggestions on article talk pages • Suggestions for Brittany Coombs - I thought your, “Background,” section did a good job of providing cultural and political context of how the Cinema Novo movement began. The “Influences,” section could benefit from some popular examples. The “Ideology,” section contains information that overlaps with the “Background,” section so you might want to think about condensing some things. It would be helpful to have some images in your, “Theme and Style,” section. I like that you examine Cinema Novo in three phases then lead to the “End of Cinema Novo,” section – it provides a complete picture and an easy to follow timeline. • Suggestions for Daniele Yandel - I thought the "Purpose of the Dream Sequence," section was informative because you provided examples of where, when and how dream sequences are used along with describing what it looked like aesthetically. The "Techniques of Dream Sequences," section is a bit text heavy and it could really benefit from an image or two. Any thoughts on revising or condensing the two lists, "Films Featuring Dream Sequences," and "Other Forms of Media Featuring Dream Sequence," ?
10. Make edits to your article based on suggestions and feedback • Still working on it
11. Wikipedia Article • Still working on it