Film options: choose any two of the following 6 options. Note: option 1 gives you a choice of one of two films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 1 (2014). Director: James Gunn; Composer: Tyler Bates OR Black Panther (2018). Director: Ryan Coogler; Composer: Ludwig Göransson
- The Martian (2015). Director: Ridley Scott; Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
- You’ve Got Mail (1998). Director: Nora Ephron; Composer: George Fenton
- To Catch a Thief (1955). Director: Alfred Hitchcock; Composer: Lyn Murray
- Little Women (1933). Director: George Cukor; Composer: Max Steiner
In mini-essay format (prose, full sentences), you will compare your two films by answering a series of questions about the use of music in the two films. For this part, you should watch the two films in their entirety
Mini essay - compare and contrast (approximately 500-1000 words) Answer the following question in prose format (full paragraphs). You should treat this as a miniessay in which you compare your two films. Please be sure to address the elements below, however you are welcome to add information that interests, you if you wish.
Content of the mini-essay: Compare and contrast the use of the music in your two films. This can include a discussion of types of music (diegetic, nondiegetic, original underscore, pre-existing music), the style of the music (instruments, textures, etc.), the amount of music in each film, and the role/function of the music in the narrative (use of leitmotifs, musical topics).
This does not have to be a 5-paragraph essay (there is no need to have a “thesis” that you prove), but it should be treated as a fully written-out discussion of the music in your films.
Sample Solution