Category Archives: Movies and film

The “Kicker”

Posted on April 11, 2018 by

I couldn’t think of a good title for this post (“Cement and Metal”???) until I circled back to the one detail that had caught my eye in the first place and made this a photo worth snapping. Because I’m teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Birth of a Nation: Lighting and (mostly “non”) camera movement, racism, and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination reenacted a mere 50 years after

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

I’m teaching my film studies course this quarter, and this post was actually prompted by the utilitarian need to have a couple of neatly-cut film clips for efficient class use. But because it might also be interesting for people outside … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Movies and film, Political Analysis, Popular culture, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Red Arrow in bright sunlight

Posted on February 27, 2018 by

Days like this I wish I had a better camera. Or maybe I should say: I wish I had a better phone, because I actually do have a better(ish) camera at home that is never handy for spur-of-the-moment shots. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Popular culture | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sergei Eisenstein’s Google Doodle (and cinema tropes)

Posted on January 24, 2018 by

Monday’s Google Doodle honored revolutionary Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. Here is a cool video I found that provides a little biographical info along with the actual Google Doodle. Sergei Eisenstein was the first “modern” filmmaker. He basically invented modern film … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, History, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Music, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Notorious” Associations

Posted on January 15, 2018 by

The old Duran Duran song “Notorious” was playing at the Red Arrow Starbucks (and outside at the ice rink, as well) when I made a coffee run earlier this afternoon. You know how music—like smells—can instantly transport you to another … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies and film, Music, Popular culture | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Unleashing the potential of VR (virtual reality)

Posted on January 10, 2018 by

Virtual reality (VR) is going to shape itself into an art form that is quite different from contemporary cinema. We can’t really predict yet how things will turn out, although my bet is that movies as we know them are here … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Learning, Life, Movies and film, News, Popular culture, Teaching, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How use of color in Spotlight amplifies theme

Posted on October 27, 2017 by

I’m showing Spotlight in my political science class this week and next. We don’t have a lot of time to talk about the press in our course, but I wanted to work in some reflection on the place of news … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Movies and film | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments