Reading Comprehension

PT152 · S3 · P2 · Q7 David Bordwell

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Film scholar David Bordwell refers to the years 1917–1960 as the classical era of filmmaking in Hollywood.

Topic

Bordwell's definition of Hollywood's "classical period", as it relates to musicals

Framework

Challenge a Position

Main Point

Bordwell's explanation of how musicals fit within the realism of the "classical style" is not fully satisfying.

Summary

P1 - Introduction to Bordwell's "classical era"

This paragraph neutrally introduces Bordwell's characterization of the classical era -- basically, it was a realistic style that was all about telling a conventional story and making you forget that you were watching a movie. Stuff was only done to serve the interest of the narrative, not to call your attention to the fact that you were watching a work of visual art.

P2 - The Curious case of Musicals

It's weird that we don't get our central topic until the beginning of the 2nd paragraph, but the adjective "anomalous" is meant to have the same effect as our typical Purpose Pivot (usually using words like "but, yet, however, recently"). When we start with background and then pivot into something that feels like, "But this thing is different ... ", then we know that this different thing is what the author really wants to focus on.

This paragraph explains how musicals offer quite a challenge to the classical era definition, given that they have wacky musical numbers throughout the movie that are anything but realistic and don't have any purpose in advancing the story. The author innocuously asks whether musicals can be included in under the umbrella of classical era.

P3 - Bordwell's handling of "musicals" and the author's critique of that handling

Bordwell says,

The author ain't happy with this. She thinks it's really dodging the common sense issue that these musical numbers are totally un-realistic, and it also bothers the author that, as a viewer, you can plainly tell that the director is now just having fun as a visual artist, wants you to notice that, and doesn't any longer care about advancing the story.

The author is basically saying that even if an audience member said to themselves ahead of time, , the viewer would still notice the musical numbers as being a total break from reality.

The author concludes by trying to redirect the efforts of people like Bordwell so that they don't come back with crap they're currently selling, sayin' that musicals are realistic when they clearly aren't.

7.

Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

  1. Despite some evidence to the

    Opposite

    This answer is saying that Bordwell's examination of musicals lends credence to his definition of the classical era. This answer not only sound complimentary of Bordwell (whereas we're seeking more of a Challenge Position vibe), but it also makes musicals sound like a great illustration of the classical style, when the passage is portraying them as a very poor fit.

    5% picked this

  2. Contrary to Bordwell’s claims, the

    Wrong Emphasis: too narrow

    This answer makes it seem like the central question was "given that musicals of the 1930s don't depict events in chronological order, can we really consider them realistic?" That's not too far off, but the central question was more, "given that musicals of the 1930s aren't realistic (because they contain fanciful interludes that have nothing to do with advancing the story), can we really consider them part of the classical era?" Also, it's completely out of scope to claim that musicals don't depict events in chronological order. The passage never said or suggested that.

    1% picked this

  3. Because film genres such as

    Opposite

    The main clause here is saying that musicals do fit comfortably within Bordwell's definition, and the author's main point is to argue that they don't. Bordwell tries to justify including them under that definition and the author thinks his justification is whack.

    3% picked this

  4. The films of Busby Berkeley

    Wrong Emphasis: Berkeley's films

    This answer portrays the central topic of the passage as "the films of Busby Berkeley". He was just an example, not a main topic.

    4% picked this

  5. Correct

    The fact that Bordwell’s definition

    Why this is right

    This has the Challenge Position vibe we wanted. The main clause is "X illustrates the misguided nature of Bordwell's approach". The answer correctly captures the central topic: "do musicals of the 1930s really fit the definition of the classical era?" And it captures the fact that Bordwell tried to argue that they do, and the author thought his justification was super fishy.

    Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    87% picked this

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