IFC Assignment 5 – Self Reflection
After a very rough start to the unit, I feel that I have progressed a long way and this final essay I feel is a reflection of that progress.
Demonstration of subject-based knowledge and understanding
The idea for an essay around Danny Boyle and his potential status as an auteur was the seed planted in my head after watching T2: Trainspotting back in January and listening to the Director interviewed on the Kermode and Mayo Film podcast around the same time. I have pulled together the background reading from the course on auteur theory to structure an essay which argues a specific point of view referring to established theories and teh directors body of work.
I have to admit that my initial idea was to write establishing that Boyle was clearly an auteur, however, reading some work by media Critic in particularly Edwin Page, I felt that there over eagerness to paint Boyle as an auteur made change tack somewhat especially when closely referring to established auteur theory.
Demonstration of research skill
As mentioned above it was my research into Danny Boyles work – as seen by various media commentators in relation to established writing on auteur theory that developed my point of view in this essay.
Comparisons of the writing of Biographer Amy Raphael and media writer Edwin Page to established theories by Saris and the writing of Bordwell & Thompson, Amy Vallejo etc I feel come through strongly in the essay.
Demonstration of critical and Evaluation skills
Again an extension to the above comments that the essays is based on established literature not written from within – I have added my personal thoughts to the essay in relation to the essay but alway relating back to established theory.
If I’m disappointed in away about this aspect is I did have enough courage to pursue the aspect that therre are subtitles within the Body of work and challenge the fact that perhaps auteur theory is a little outdated.
Communication
I find this the hardest part to comment on but I feel this is a major improvement to my earlier work and is well structured and readable essay (even I do say so myself).