Hunger Discussion

Today in class, I would like you to write some of your thoughts down about Hunger. This film is very difficult to process (and, in some ways, to understand), so you should take some time to articulate your emotional response privately. Come up with FOUR strong adjectives to represent how this film made you feel. Elaborate on each one by referencing some part of the film. What about your experience with the film can be attributed to the film itself, as opposed to your personality or background?

You might consider the following dimensions to explain your emotional responses:

• filming and editing techniques
• narrative structure
• purpose and/or ideology
• something that confuses you

Write freely, but keep your focus on what you had a hard time experiencing in the film and how the film challenged you as a viewer (both in terms of its artistic complexity and its emotional assault). And, of course, for each idea you articulate, think about a clip or two that you would like to revisit as a class. Keep working and writing until I cue you to stop.

Before you begin discussing the film again with your classmates, please write two STATEMENTS about the film. One of the statements should be a debatable, controversial claim about the content of the film (story, character, etc.), and one of the statements should be a debatable, controversial claim about the structure or technique of the film (plot, camera work, editing, etc.). Write these on a separate sheet from your homework and bonus notes, and turn them in with everything else when class is over.

Both statements must be STATEMENTS, not questions, and both must be debatable. They should INVITE debate because they clearly involve ambiguity and multiple possible answers. You do not have to agree with the statements you make, but you must have an actual position you can articulate and defend for the statements you make.

Then get with your classmates and debate your statements. Involve me. The goal here is to practice having legitimate reasons for the way you interpret the film.