Scene Analysis of Remember The Titans

In the divergent country of America, many people have fought for equality for many different races. They risked their lives so that everyone in this great country could come together as one and accept each other for who they are. In the movie Remember Titans, which is a movie about an African American coach named “coach Boon”, tries to transform a separated little city down in the South and bring his football team to come together as a whole. In this scene, Coach Boon takes his team on a run through the forest/swamp to Gettysburg, where the Battle of Gettysburg took place. The reason why the coach takes his football team there is to show them that many Americans lost lives fighting for rights, and he connects that to how if his team does not come together as a whole, regardless of what race one is, then they will also be destroyed. Coach Boon also tackles them with the idea that they must respect one another, and explain the importance. The director of the movie, Boaz Yakin, shows through reaction shots, music and setting the importance of coming together as a team to achieve something great. Also, through close-up, lighting and long shots he shows the importance of respecting each other in order to achieve that goal.

Through the use of reaction shots, music and setting, the director portrays that the team must stand up for one another and what they want as a whole. If they come together and help each other out then eventually they will be victorious. As coach Boon is giving his speech and says how people fight for what they believe in, the camera shows several of the players. The reaction on their faces shows how they must get up and compete for what they believe in, in order to meet those expectations; otherwise, they will also be diminished like the soldiers who fought for their rights at the Battle of Gettysburg. Through the reactions of the player’s faces, they know that it will be very hard to achieve their goal, but they must fight hard to earn it. In the background, there is music to set the tone of the scene and really emphasize the importance of getting up and standing up for one another and also for what they believe in. The setting for where this scene takes place creates a mood for what the scene is going to be about. The setting appropriately correlates to what the coach is giving his speech about to the group of players.

Through the lighting in the background, the close up of the player’s faces and the long shot of the coach, the director portrays how they must respect one another. After the players have reached Gettysburg and are resting, there is high contrast lighting; this shows that the players don’t have very much respect for another. The dramatic shadow that this high contrast lighting creates shows that there is no hope for these players. As the coach continues to give his speech, the high contrast lighting turns into low contrast lighting; which shows that the players are understanding the importance for respecting one another and that there might be hope for this team to be successful. This idea of respect also ties into the importance of standing up for what you believe in, as it shows that one must also respect what another person believes in, and together and gain something good out of it. Through the close up of the different faces of the players during different parts of the coach’s speech, it shows how the players are really taking into account for what the coach is enlightening them about. This gives another opening to the fact there might be hope for this team. The use of the long shot of the coach while giving his speech, really illustrates how the coach wishes for his football team to come together as a team so that they will be victorious.

Throughout the scene, Boaz Yakin implements multiple techniques to show how the football team must come together as a whole. These techniques build up to the idea that the players must stand up for what they believe in and that they must respect one another to get the best results. It is not possible to always come out on top without understanding the importance of what must be done, how it must be done and why it must be done.

Movie Proposal

Movie: Remember the Titans

Scene: The head football coach takes his players on a run and is ready to give a speech.

Scene Running Time: 2:22

Description of the Scene: The scene begins with a bunch of football players going on a jog early in the morning, when it is still dark. The players run through the forest and lots of swamps as they run for a very long period of time. They finally come to a stop and the coach asks his players if they knew what the place was. The coach told them they were at Gettysburg. The coach tells his players that "this is where the Battle of Gettysburg was and how 50,000 men died here fighting for the same fight we are fighting amongst ourselves today". The coach starts to give a speech, and his speech is about the young men who fought in this battle and gives a very vivid description of what the men went through. Then there is a close up on the coach as he compares the fact that if his team does not come together, then they too will end up getting destroyed like the dead men there. The music in the background gives a bigger emphasis on what the coach is trying to portray. The main reason that the coach takes his players on the run and gives his speech is to get his team to start coming together and be unified so that they can have total control over their football season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_HFCYz4x6o

Scene from movie is available here ^^

Anouilh Journal #5

1. Gender Roles

In all the plays, gender roles have been an important part of the plays. In Anouilh's Antigone, the gender roles that seem to be the most bold and protective are the males, and the females are supposed to keep the family going, moving on. In both Antigone plays we read, and Medea as well, we see that the gender role is broken by the protagonist to get away from this rumor. In Oedipus the King, Jocasta sees every situation presented in a calm manner, she thinks out the problem.

2. Corruption

In all the plays, corruption seemed to play a big part in the plot of the story. For instance, in Oedipus and Creon's case, power of ruling has just brought more greediness in them for power to the extent where they completely rule, and also, they have the intelligence of always being right no matter what happens. In all the plays, those who are not directly involved in corruption are affected and experience grief and sorrow. The overuse of power just leads to more consequences which will end up bad.

Anouilh Journal #4

Life is Like Water

Anouilh repeats "Life is Like Water" a lot when Antigone and Creon are having their argument. This repetition gives us more insight into the actualy character of Creon and shows what exactly his view on life is and how his actions are influenced by it.

Contentment

During Creon and Antigone's argument, theoretical ideas of joy/contentment are portrayed, and both have different interpretations that they follow in. This affected my view on how Antigone as a character is because she feels that happiness will not last long so it doesn't really matter that much. This also takes out the pity that was felt before for Antigone, she just takes it away for the reader.

Character Journal

Sophocles: Oedipus the King

Oedipus

Oedipus is at this point the King and seems like he is there for the citizens of Thebes whenever they need him. He seems like someone that can be trusted and be helpful to otheres. I believe his motivating factor is just to step up as a King and reform the city of Thebes. Oedipus really takes into account that since he is in charge, he should set guidlines to follow to keep the city in order.

Evidence:

"You can trust me. I am ready to help, I'll do anything." (p. 157, line13)

Anouilh Journal #3

4 Literary Techniques

1. Forshadow

-"But if there was a reason why i couldn't go on talking to her" (p. 15). This passage implys that Antigone is going to get herself into trouble, and it also forshawdows that she will die.

2. Imagery

-"Come along, my dove." (p. 13). Tha animals that are being portrayed show that the Nurse feels that Antigone is a "goodie-goodie" girl. She feels that Antigone is a sweet lettile girl.

3. Repetition

-"Stronger than all fever, stronger than any nightmare [...], on the bedroom wall." (p. 14). The repetition of being stronger portrays a hint that the Nurse as well as being important to Antigone, will take on an important role later on in the book.

4. Metaphor

-"A little young for what, my kitten?" (p. 14). Antigone is portrayed as a little sweet girl by the affectionate terms that Anouilh uses. This is seen by the Nurse, who loves Antigone and shows that by the way she talks to her.

Anouilh Journal #1

During the 1940s, the major thing that might have affected Anouilh's version of Antigone is World War II. Which was going on before 1940 and after it. It was especially inspirational and bad for Anouilh becuase she was French, and France was hit the hardest during World War II. This most probably was a reason that affected the writing of his book and how he viewed the war, and also the heroes and enemys.