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The sixth sense

The sixth sense. M. Night Shyamalan A Cultural Phenomenon. The Sixth sense. Trailer: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9AGf66tXM Selected Scene: (Will be viewed from dvd .) Interview with M. Night Shyamalan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ CpEpPbc4g8. SUBJECT: A Sixth Sense.

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The sixth sense

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  1. The sixth sense M. Night Shyamalan A Cultural Phenomenon

  2. The Sixth sense • Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9AGf66tXM • Selected Scene: (Will be viewed from dvd.) • Interview with M. Night Shyamalan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CpEpPbc4g8

  3. SUBJECT: A Sixth Sense The title as well as the events in the film which include a child who has a “sixth sense” (can see dead people) support this as the literal subject. However, on a deeper level, the film is about our connections with others and a need for us to listen instead of judging– and even to open our minds to possibilities. Support for this includes that the protagonist listens to the young boy and helps him deal with his unusual ability and accompanying fear.

  4. OCCASION: The events surrounding this publication date of 1999 include the following events of the 90’s: German reunification; Collapse of Soviet Union; Operation Desert Storm; Official End of Cold War (2); Cult compound at Waco, Texas; Creation of the World Wide Web; O.J. Simpson Trial; Mad Cow Disease; Harry Potter Book One; Sheep Cloning; Riots in Los Angeles after Rodney King verdict; World Trade Center bombed; Unabomber arrested; New Images of Mars; Princess Diana dies in car crash

  5. Occasion, continued: What do these have to do with The Sixth Sense or its reception? These major events include a number of both supernatural and real-life scary events. People are having to deal with very real fears, like war, and yet they are re-looking at the supernatural through texts like Harry Potter, in which good triumphs over evil. We as an American Society would have believed that the German reunification as well as the fall of the Soviet Union are examples of good winning over evil (democratic governments over socialism). And in the film a “good” triumphs over evil intent.

  6. Occasion, continued: The cultural context for this film includes: Other horror and fear films have been released or are released around the same time frame. There is a presence of horror films in the culture of the time – the idea that we actually love to fear or face fear or want to be jolted out of our normal lifestyle. Previous Top Films of the 1990’s: Star Wars, Titantic, Phantom Menace, Home Alone, Independence Day, Schindler’s List, Edward Scissorhands, Scream, Terminator 2, Good Will Hunting, The Usual Suspects, Jurassic Park, The Silence of the Lambs Simultaneous – The Blair Witch Project; The Matrix

  7. The idea and basis for the screenplay – M. Night Shyamalan discusses that he as a child had a fear of someone waiting in his house; he includes this idea in his opening scene. There may have been additional influences for Shyamalan, but this is a specific scene that he admits comes from his childhood.

  8. Audience: With a film of PG13 rating, the audience will be older teens through adults. However, a more specific audience would be those who like a thriller/spooky film but at the same time a film with compassion. The protagonist is a man in his thirties or so with a professional career – a child therapist – and thus his character will speak to an older audience. It is an audience who can understand and learn from their mistakes and hope for a second chance. Though there is a young child in the film, the film itself would frighten a younger audience and they would not be able go beyond the fear to an understanding of the deeper subject and messages.

  9. Audience, continued: Actor Toni Collette said when she read the script that she never stopped reading and “I balled my eyes out. It was the most beautiful, scary, spiritual, real story and script I think that I’ve ever read. . . . It made me feel good about living . . . ikay about dying.” Information on the film’s audience of the time is contained under Occasion – What people were exposed to in terms of international culture, technology, etc.

  10. purpose To entertain and engage an audience through a compelling story based both in real life and the supernatural – But this is NOT ALL! -- To hit upon the compassion of this audience To teach us to listen to others – really listen instead of judge – In the film the protagonist loses one patient and his own life because he doesn’t listen; this causes him to listen to the next patient. . . . To comment upon the nature of mankind’s fears – and possibly how to deal with fears (not only of the supernatural but also in regards to not fitting in). To make money and become a phenomenon (In M. Night Shyamalan’s words)

  11. speaker Someone who is interested in the supernatural or a human sense/ability that goes beyond the standard accepted. Someone who believes that there is or at least may be a connection between the two worlds – our reality and a world beyond (M. Night Shyamalan discusses his belief from his cultural background of an afterlife). Someone who believes that those we see as odd or unusual may have a gift beyond our own that is difficult for us to understand. Someone who has lived enough to understand that we as humans need to listen more carefully and judge less – and that we as humans hold onto the hope of a second chance to make good on an error or flawed decision.

  12. Scene between mother and son after son has not had a great day at school . . .

  13. SOAPS for specific scene SOAPS SUPPORT from text/scene S: “I won the Pennsylvania lottery. . .” O: Boy walks in door; mother greets him (“Hi, Baby. How was your day?) She can tell he has had a bad day, so she comes up with a fictional day for herself. A: The boy listens and then responds P: The boy plays along with the game and interacts well with his mother. Mother responds happily; she goes to make pancakes. S: Mother greats boy and both begins and ends the conversation. Prompts son to come up with an acceptable fiction in place of his reality. • Subject: Using fiction to make reality okay • Occasion: Son has arrived home from school; mom has enough experience with son to know his reality isn’t great – nor is hers • Audience: In this case, the son is first the audience • Purpose: To encourage her son; to make him feel better about his day; also reassures herself that he is okay. • Speaker: The mother who is aware of her son being made fun of

  14. MODE Overall Film Selected Scene Fictional Narrative Both mother and son make up a quick story about their days – use fantastical stories to make up for poor days. Includes cause/effect – Bad day so make a fake day; and son plays along to make his mother feel better. A persuasion – Convince themselves through a fictional story that their days weren’t really so bad. • Narrative -- a story of the supernatural; a story of redemption and the human spirit • The story is told in chronological order. The protagonist first receives an award and is shown celebrating with his wife; he is then shot by a previous patient ten years after “failed” treatment; he then interacts with a new boy to try to help him with the same issue and thus make good on a previous failure. Eventually learns the boy’s secret and then realizes he himself is dead and also ready to say “goodbye” to his wife. • The end of the movie flashes back to the beginning scene but with a new perspective – the main character now knows he himself is really dead. • A couple of other flashbacks occur. • Includes many cause/effect related events.

  15. MODE and Rhetorical strategies Answer here the following question from the Project Assignment Handout! • When did the direction shift to a different rhetorical strategy to emphasize a point, characterization, or concept? Discuss.

  16. Culture or cult: sixth sense as a phenomenon! “My goal as a filmmaker is to make cultural phenomena.” Refers to The Exorcist and The Godfather and The Titantic as cultural phenomena – those films which go beyond making money or being a box office hit and really impact people. Box office hit. Only 2% drop off second week: unheard of, even for a great movie (compare to 30%)! “This never happens.” “We might have our cultural phenomenon.” Continued through fifth week; comparable to Titantic

  17. Seeping into culture Sermons College classes Tonight Show Informal references – Basketball pick-up game example – “What, do you see ghosts?” Impact on future films – Unbreakable; The Village; Lady in the Water (M. Night Shyamalan films) and the use of color (Red in this film and in Unbreakable) Technology for a Sixth Sense – still in the making, but virtual reality is a start (Think Minority Report) – Some say the Internet provides a Sixth Sense Long term impact?

  18. Place your answers to the culture questions on the assignment here! Be sure you review the assignment requirements. Be sure you look over the rubric. I have high expectations for the quality of the project – and that you can do it! But, you do need to put in the work. You will certainly be an expert on the film and a portion of analysis of the film.

  19. Here are the final questions from the project assignment handout which you must answer -- Answer the following analytical questions, considering the context of the release of the film (aka Occasion): Does the art form reflect stereotypes or offer a new perspective? What does the piece tell us about human nature and cultural interests? Have we lost values or gained values from this show? Support. Do commercial interests control what is offered to the public, or does the public ultimately have its own say? Why does or did this show make its mark in its time period? Would you say that this piece reflects/reflected culture? Or that it shapes/helped shape culture?

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