I’m working on a film discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
1. How would you define slapstick cinema? In what ways is slapstick cinema in conversation with the cinema of attractions and classical narrative cinema? Be sure to address at least one screening from the following. (at least 170 words)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzKt3KCJNSMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic0ZveZvBnE
2. Reply to the following post. (30 words)
I would define slapstick cinema as similar to narrative cinema in the ways it promotes a story. Slapstick cinema relays a story in a comedic aspect with over-expressive acting and movement. It correlates to the notions of narrative cinema because it follows a plot and keeps in time with a certain storyline. Yet, slapstick cinema is also relative to cinema of attractions in the ways that it attempts to grab the audience’s attention with silly gimmicks and dangerous stunts. For example, in “The Immigrant”, Chaplin finds himself cashless at a restaurant where the chef has no tolerance for it. In this scene, the story follows along slowly as Chaplin attempts to acquire some form of payment as to not end up like the man who was only 10 cents short. Chaplin is seen sneaking around the chef, trying to grab a quarter off the floor. The scene is pretty drawn out, as I have noticed about many of his other slapstick comedies. These films like to narrow in on certain scenes and repeat them over and over again, or spend a lot of time on specific conflicts within in the film, to get more reactions from the audience.
