Since its inception, Hollywood has been fascinated by the interplay between humans and technology. Today is no different as a variety films, from sci-fi to comedies, continue to explore the consequences of living in an increasingly technological world. Filmmakers, as we know, hold tremendous sway in shaping how we view many aspects of our society, including technology. If presented in a positive light, technology—particularly speculative—can be something to excitedly anticipate. Presented in a more menacing fashion, technology can illicit dread and fear.
Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad offers us a useful tool for deciphering the motivations behind such films. Below you will find eight film clips depicting human-technological interactions. You will use the Dramatistic Pentad to identify specific rhetorical elements in three scenes. Additionally, you will analyze the ratio between two elements.
Directions:
1. Choose three film clips from below. Also, choose one ratio with which to examine all three clips (e.g. purpose-agent, scene-agency).
2. Using the Dramatistic Pentad, identify what you believe to be each of the five elements (agent, agency, etc.) for each scene (or “artifact”), using this model below:
Artifact: “Yes, I Can Fly” from Iron
Man (Jon Favreau, 2008)
Description:
Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr.) is testing the capacity of his prototype Iron Man suit. Specifically, he is testing the rocket features of his suit. After the initial setting is deployed successfully, he decides to increase the rocket’s output. At first, he finds the increased output difficult to control. He flies the length of his lab barely in control. Quickly, however, he finds his bearings and comes to better control his flight.
The Dramatistic Pentad:
Act: Tony Stark tests the flight capacity of his Iron Man suit.
Agency: In order to tests the limits of his suit, Tony Stark incrementally increases the output of the rockets.
Agent: Tony Stark is the agent as he is the one testing the limits of his suit.
Scene: The scene is a lab belonging to Tony Stark.
Purpose: Tony Stark’s purpose is to master, though trial and error, the rocket capacity of his Iron Man suit.
Description:
Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr.) is testing the capacity of his prototype Iron Man suit. Specifically, he is testing the rocket features of his suit. After the initial setting is deployed successfully, he decides to increase the rocket’s output. At first, he finds the increased output difficult to control. He flies the length of his lab barely in control. Quickly, however, he finds his bearings and comes to better control his flight.
The Dramatistic Pentad:
Act: Tony Stark tests the flight capacity of his Iron Man suit.
Agency: In order to tests the limits of his suit, Tony Stark incrementally increases the output of the rockets.
Agent: Tony Stark is the agent as he is the one testing the limits of his suit.
Scene: The scene is a lab belonging to Tony Stark.
Purpose: Tony Stark’s purpose is to master, though trial and error, the rocket capacity of his Iron Man suit.
3. In one page, examine how your chosen ratio functions in each of the three scenes. For example, what is revealed by examining the scenes through these specific ratios? Are there similarities? What are the differences? You might also consider how this particular ratio informs us versus another.
Choose three of the following scenes for your analysis
"We Made You Cause We Could" from Prometheus (Ridley Scott, 2012)
"Mr. Eddie Vedder from Accounting" from Hackers (Iaine Softley, 1995)
"The Duel" from Electric Dreams (Steve Barron, 1984)
"Do You Know How to Get Out of Here?" from Her (Spike Jonze, 2013)—NSFW
"It's Someplace That Does a Thing" from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
"Die, Mutha F--kas, Die" from Office Space (Mike Judge, 1999)—NSFW
"I May Throw Up on Ya" from Star Trek (JJ Abrams, 2009)
"Mecha, Orga" from A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg, 2001)
Requirements:
- MLA Style
Due: Fri 9.22
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