Film Studies 2159A/B Study Guide - Final Guide: Postfeminism, Crystal Ball, Cinematic Techniques
28 Jun 2018
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Final Exam Study Guide: Disney Dream Factory (Film 2159B)
You will have 3 hours to complete this final exam. This exam is comprehensive. However, the primarily
emphasis is on material covered since the last exam: Lion King; Tron; Little Mermaid; Frozen; Wall-E; Get
a Horse! and Song of the South.
Studying Strategies:
1) Review the dates and titles of all feature-length films for the entire course and the date and title of the 3D
short screened theatrically with Frozen. If time permits, also review directors of key features (primarily
from the last few weeks of the course, for example Tron and Frozen).
2) Review the Disney Eras and be prepared to discuss how certain films fit into this periodization.
3) Review key readings from Song of the South to Wall-E –if time permits, after studying the most recent
readings, also review earlier readings. If we have discussed earlier readings recently, review those first
(for example, some points we discussed on the femme fatale, “perfect girl” etc. useful for discussing
“hyper-romantic princess formula” etc. from Bell’s “Somatexts at the Disney Shop”)
4) Review the Classic Disney Style/Story/Characters/Themes/Values chart in Wasko and also review her
chapter on “Analyzing The World According to Disney” in Understanding Disney
5) Review your lecture notes, power points and screening introduction notes, first on material covered since
our last exam and then Song of the South material. If time permits, also review earlier lecture notes and
power point slides
6) Review promotional material on OWL. First, review material we have examined together in class. If time
permits, review other promotional material on OWL. I will put primary emphasis on material recently
covered and material covered in class. I will not include foreign posters or promotional material for
foreign releases, limited edition art posters or fan art in the advertising section of the exam.
7) The essay questions and some short answer questions will ask you to “synthesize” material from the
entire course. I am giving you some practice questions below.
8) If you have additional time, review your older exams.
9) Another study tip: If you have missed any of the screenings, view the material as soon as possible in the
Film Resource Centre in the basement of the Arts & Humanities building.
Exam Format:
Multiple Choice – similar to previous exams and True/False – similar to previous exams
Film Still Identification— Follow specific instructions for each image (instructions will vary). Primary
emphasis is put on films covered since the last exam. Here you could be asked, for example, to identify
film title and date, describe the still in depth and explore the significance of the still for the sequence or
film as a whole (foreshadowing, symbolism etc.). To describe an image in depth, you might use formal
film analysis [identify close up shots, etc. or identify angle, shallow focus etc.), describe
foreground/background, artistic style, use of color etc. Images will be in color on the exam. You will have
a choice (for example, select two out of five images). The film stills you select must be from different
films
Advertising Analysis – Again, you will have a choice (for example, pick two out of four images).
Instructions will vary. There could be a few advertising images from earlier films screened in the course.
Here you might need to identify the film, identify the form of advertising (for example, the form of
advertising that was used in theatre lobbies), identify marketing strategy/technique/advertising appeal
and intended audience and date (is it an original release poster or a poster for a re-release). Follow
specific instructions for each image. Images will be in color on the exam
Exam Format cont.
Short Answer -- Again, primary emphasis is put on films covered since the last exam. However, there
could be a few short answer questions that also address earlier material.
Essay – either write one 2-page essay (answering one question) or answer two questions (write 2 1 page
responses) – you will have a choice of topics. I have given you some sample topics below. Please note
that some questions ask you to synthesize material from the entire course.
The essay is worth 20%.
Sample Essay Topics/Short Answer Questions (at least one of these topics will be on the exam, but
please note that this does not cover all the topics included on the short answer and essay questions
on the exam – please do review your readings and class notes, especially since the last exam):
1) Use the category of hybridity to discuss the creative output of the Disney dream factory
2) Discuss the role women play in the Disney Dream Factory (includes live-action models, voice
models, artists/ink and paint department, directors, also female archetypes (as identified by
Bell such as “femme fatale”)/ characters (Wasko)/ stereotypes/ commodities/images-
correcting characters and hyper-romance formula), role of screen credits – views of femininity
in Disney/women as spectacles/women spectators/readings on feminist analysis and
postfeminism
3) Fandom and Audience
4) DisNature: Disney and Nature
5) Censoring Disney/Protesting Disney – specific examples some involving race and
representation
6) Special Effects and Technologies used by the Disney Dream Factory
7) Screen Credits – major breakthroughs (strike etc.)
8) Temporality (and timelessness) and Control vs. Spontaneity in the Disney Dream Factory –
Aeon vs. Chronos
9) Sanitizing/Adapting Fairy Tales – shelved fairy tales
10) Utopic Fantasies/Dystopic Nightmares - Surveillance Technology/Predators and Prey –
technology and nature …
