Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema Lesson Plan

Scopophilia at Work

Kind of Activity:

Group Work

Objective:

Students will identify the basic cinematic functions described by Mulvey

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.8

Structure:

Mulvey's argument rests on the idea of "scopophila," or the enjoyment that comes from watching. While everyone can understand that they enjoy watching movies, Mulvey is interested in analyzing how the movie builds that enjoyment and what it asks viewers to enjoy. This project will help students consider that enjoyment by discussing their process of viewing film clips.

Break the class up into groups of 3-4 students. Ask each student to find a...