Close Reading and Scholarship – Some ideas about Peter Jackson

Close Reading and Scholarship – Some ideas about Peter Jackson

a) Comparison of the original King Kong with PJs version? What has 

he changed/adapted/used etc

b) Is PJ really an Auteur? Does he really have a distinctive style? 

(worth a debate perhaps.......half proving he is, the other half 

saying he is not an auteur)

c) Look at the interaction of particular elements eg music and 

editing pace, camera work and lighting etc  in a number of films.

d) How to make a PJ movie: 10 steps:  Look at the site for Hitchcock 

and create the same thing for PJ with evidence from a range of films: 

http://www.borgus.com/think/hitch.htm

e) Extend the "Readings" section.  Get them to do a feminist critique 

of some PJ movies....give them some detail on what Feminist theory is 

eg Laura Mulvey; the Male Gaze   (Wikipedia has a detailed 

background to this theory)

f) Compare the "fantasy" world of PJ with that of the creator of 

Pan's Labyrnth (he's doing the Hobbit...he's a lot darker than PJ and 

a lot more child centred)

g) Debate: PJs films show no real engagement with childhood

h) Debate: Male-female relationships within PJs films are unconvincing

i) The worst scene /best scene from films you have studied and 

why...what elements create this.

j) Look at other readings:  Reception theory; The idea of different 

readings of texts by different people..

k) Compare the fantasy worlds of LOTR with those of Narnia, OR Bridge 

to Terabithia  OR some other one!!! Which works best and why?

m) What are PJs influences? What filmmakers and styles?  Where can 

you see these in his films?

m) Book to film: LOTR: Close read a sequence  and compare with the 

text from the book: what is followed/adapted/pruned/created to make 

this into film they could do one each and then compare. What are the problems of  converting text to film?  How well have they retained the intention 

of the text? How have they done it?

Perhaps could be given the  challenge of choosing one of the above and preparing a talk for the rest  of the group.

You could with a small group maybe choose particular scenes, close 

read as a small group together, looking at particular elements or questions and  then they could write it up together

Or you could set some other films for them to watch anddiscuss together eg the old King Kong and other fantasy.

Look for critiques of PJ they could read

Tell them to think in detail/detail but leap sideways as well – this exam allows them to take a tangent as long as it’s relevant and thoughtful.