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What does it mean to be
Characters
human?
The seven stages of grief
2001: A Space Odyssey
– Jupiter scene
Genre
During viewing
questions
Music as a key technique
Key events
Symbols
Relationships and
Important ideas/Themes
Conflict
Response to text essay
Setting
structure
What does it mean to be human?
What is it about us that makes us people and sets us apart from
other creatures or objects?
As the audience of Duncan Jones’ Moon, we are forced to consider the idea of what it means to be human. This
is a concept which has been discussed and debated, for many interesting ethical reasons, throughout the history
of mankind. It is a challenging concept that authors and directors like to present in their work, often in
sophisticated and engaging ways.
Some, like the 17th century French philosopher Descartes, believed we can argue that because we think, or have
the capacity to contemplate our existence, we therefore exist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum
Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, in the 19th century, are regarded as the founders of the existential school of thought,
claiming that philosophy should “deal with the conditions of existence of the individual person and their emotions,
actions, responsibilities, and thoughts” . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism
Modern debate surrounding the issue of what it means to be human is often centred around advances in science,
for example stem cell research and cloning, or other similar ethical issues like abortion and euthanasia.
http://www.consciencelaws.org/Examining-Conscience-Ethical/Ethical46.html
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57791
For our class brainstorm, click here
A further issue presented in the film is the emotional challenge presented by long periods of isolation. In the case
of those in space for extended lengths of time, this is sometimes referred to as Space Madness.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x91e3a_ren-and-stimpy-space-madness_fun
From Wikipedia:
Space Madness is a theoretical mental condition that could occur when humans live in isolation, with limited
human contact, in cramped quarters for very long time periods, specifically onboard a spacecraft in outer space.
Although a range of mental effects from homicidal insanity to grumpiness have been suggested, studies of
humans in such conditions (scientifically induced isolation, submarines, space stations, etc) have usually showed
an increase in irritability and depression.
For an excellent review of Moon, see:
http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/review-moon/
For the trailer, see:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi843186969/
What is it that makes us human?
Ideas from our class discussion
• We are capable of expressing emotions and feelings
• Physical features and being born from two parents
• Brain dead people? We take away their right to live by turning off life
support. To be human, you need to be able to control your own body
and mind.
• Communism tells us that you are a non-person if you do not
contribute to society. Who in our democratic society would we view
as inhuman?
• Why do we not clone? We would lose our individuality. Individuality
is an important part of what makes us human.
• Animals follow their instincts and we are more developed socially
than that.
• Are those without remorse seen as inhuman?
• We seek more than we need
2001: A Space Odyssey
Mission to Jupiter
This is a famous scene in the Science Fiction genre. The effects created by Stanley Kubrick are remarkable given the
film was created in 1968.
The key characters we see interacting in the scene are mission pilots and scientists Dr David Bowman and Dr Frank
Poole, and the computer HAL. HAL is in command of the vessel and interacts with the pilots in a very human manner.
After watching the scene, consider the following points:
What reasons are there for giving HAL the ability to interact socially with the crew?
Who is to blame for what happens? What reasons do you have for your answer?
HAL expresses fear at the end of the scene. He has behaved in a calculated and rational manner up to this point. Why
might Kubrick have introduced this element to his “personality”?
What fears might we have for the future as a result of watching this scene and others that have similar themes about
the potential use of technology?
Relationships/Conflict
• Inner conflict within Old Sam
• External conflicts/relationships
– Old Sam and New Sam
– Old Sam and Gerty
– The conflict between the needs of the many
and the needs of the individual
Setting
• The Moon
• The Lunar Industries base
• The future as a dystopia
Characters
• Old Sam
• New Sam
• Minor characters: Gerty and Eve
Key events/scenes
• Advertisement for Lunar industries
• Introduction to Sam - Exposition
• New Sam finding Old Sam
• The Sams discovering the bank of clones
• Old Sam speaks with his daughter
• New Sam leaves the moon
Important ideas
• The needs of the many can be seen to
outweigh the needs of the individual
• What it means to be human
• A vision of a possible future
• The effects of isolation
Conflict – Inner conflict within Old Sam
An overview of this conflict: What moments in the film, as How is our understanding of other What important events/ideas, both
presented through specific film elements (such as setting, within and beyond the text, are
techniques, are evidence of this themes or relationships) understood through this conflict?
conflict? developed through this conflict?
Relationship/conflict between
Old Sam and New Sam
An overview of this What moments in the film, as How is our understanding of What important events/ideas,
relationship/conflict: presented through specific other film elements (such as both within and beyond the text,
techniques, are evidence of this setting, themes or relationships) are understood through this
conflict? developed through this conflict? conflict?
Relationship/conflict between
Old Sam and Gerty
An overview of this What moments in the film, as How is our understanding of What important events/ideas,
relationship/conflict: presented through specific other film elements (such as both within and beyond the text,
techniques, are evidence of this setting, themes or relationships) are understood through this
conflict? developed through this conflict? conflict?
Conflict between the needs of the many and the
needs of the individual
An overview of this conflict: What moments in the film, as How is our understanding of What important events/ideas,
presented through specific other film elements (such as both within and beyond the text,
techniques, are evidence of this setting, themes or relationships) are understood through this
conflict? developed through this conflict? conflict?
The setting of the moon
How does Jones present this What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples (as
setting? understood through this setting? elements such as shown through techniques) help
characters/conflict developed us understand this setting and its
through this setting? significance?
The setting of the
Lunar Industries base
How does Jones present this What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples (as
setting? understood through this setting? elements such as shown through techniques) help
characters/conflict developed us understand this setting and its
through this setting? significance?
Setting:
the future, depicted as a dystopia
How does Jones present this What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples (as
setting? understood through this setting? elements such as shown through techniques) help
characters/conflict developed us understand this setting and its
through this setting? significance?
Use of symbols
What symbols do we see Jones What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What examples of
presenting in the film? How are understood through this use of elements such as dialogue/quotes from the
they used? symbols? setting/style/conflict developed narrative help us understand the
through the use of symbols? importance of symbols to the
telling of the story?
Old Sam
Describe this character and the What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples
way Jones presents him in the understood through this other elements such as (supported by film technique
film. character? setting/conflict/relationships evidence) help us understand
developed through this this character and his
character? importance?
New Sam
Describe this character and the What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples
way Jones presents him in the understood through this other elements such as (supported by film technique
film. character? setting/conflict/relationships evidence) help us understand
developed through this this character and his
character? importance?
Minor characters: Gerty and Eve
Gerty can be viewed as the antithesis of HAL from
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
For a discussion of this contrast, click here
Describe these characters and What important events/ideas are How is our understanding of What specific examples
the way Jones presents them in understood through each of other elements such as (supported by film technique
the film. these characters? setting/conflict/relationships evidence) help us understand
developed through these these characters and their
characters? importance?
The seven stages of grief
Old Sam goes through a grieving process for his lost life.
The seven stages of grief are said to be:
– Shock and denial
– Pain and guilt
– Anger and bargaining
– Depression, reflection and loneliness
– The upward turn
– Reconstruction and working through
– Acceptance and hope
For at least three of these stages, record an example of
Old Sam presenting these emotions.
Advertisement for Lunar Industries
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
Exposition – meeting Sam
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
Old Sam meets New Sam
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
The Sams discover the bank of clones
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
Old Sam speaks with Eve, his daughter
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
New Sam leaves the moon
What happens in this scene?
How are these techniques used and what do they help us to understand?
Mise-en-scene Cinematography Post-Production Theme & Purpose Evaluation/ Viewer
(costumes, dialogue, (shot types, camera (editing, non-diegetic (What is this Position
set design diegetic movement, camera sound, special effects) revealing?) (Is it convincing? How
sound) angles, lighting) are we manipulated?)
Genre – Science Fiction
• Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or
technology, often in a futuristic setting. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the
traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".
• Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possibilities. It is similar to,
but differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely
possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some
elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation).
• The settings for science fiction are often contrary to known reality but the majority of science
fiction relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief, which is facilitated in the
reader's mind by potential scientific explanations or solutions to various fictional elements. These
may include:
– A setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in an historical past that contradicts known facts of history
or the archaeological record
– A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens
– Stories that involve technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature
– Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as time travel or psionics, or
new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots, or of new and different political or
social systems (e.g., a dystopia, or a situation where organized society has collapsed)
Thanks Wikipedia!
Having considered these elements, in what ways does Moon conform with/deviate from this genre?
Music as a key technique
• When discussing music in your response to text essay, your marker
is looking for a specific description
• Useful elements to discuss could be:
– Volume
– Pace/tempo
– Instruments used
– Changes or developments in the music
– Key: major (happy) or minor (sad)
– The music as part of a theme used throughout the film
– The action the music is supporting
– The mood the music helps to create
To see useful descriptions of the music from the film, click here
Reviews of the
Moon soundtrack
“Moon offers two themes. One is an isolated piano theme that is simple but effective. It
serves as the main identifier of the character and his lunar habitat. I feel its simplicity
represents the loneliness of the predicament quite well and also offers a slice of
mystery to it.
“The second theme is grounded more in the humanity of the character and his family. It
swells dramatically, intended to bring out the emotional component (which it succeeds
at doing). Aside from these two notables, there is also another nice touch included on
this score and that is the motif that is heard to represent the secrets of the
underground chamber on the Moon's station. Its sort of an odd, creepy lullaby that is
perhaps the most ingenious moment on the album.” http://scorenotes.com/soundtracks/moon.html
“The two-note theme of this score is repeated throughout, echoing the two main
characters (if you will), almost revolving around each other … Here, Clint (Mansell,
the musician who created the score for the film) manages to make tangible the
feeling of desolation and loneliness that pervades throughout the first act of the film.
It's almost as if you're inside Sam's head, losing your sanity along with him.”
http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Clint-Mansell/product-reviews/B002FG9NLY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
See also http://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/54-cd/666-cd-review-moon-original-score-by-clint-mansell for a great review of all
tracks on the soundtrack album. The use of instruments and the mood they create
are well explained.
What it means to be human
How does Jones present this important idea What current issues that exist in the wider What is your personal response to being
(characters/techniques/events etc)? world are we reminded of through this confronted by this idea in the film?
important idea?
The future as a dystopia
How does Jones present this important idea What current issues that exist in the wider What is your personal response to being
(characters/techniques/events etc)? world are we reminded of through this confronted by this idea in the film?
important idea?
The effects of isolation
How does Jones present this important idea What current issues that exist in the wider What is your personal response to being
(characters/techniques/events etc)? world are we reminded of through this confronted by this idea in the film?
important idea?
Response to text essay
• Introduction:
– Should be about 4 sentences.
– Include keywords from the question.
– Write the name of the writer and underline the title of the text.
– Outline the points you will cover in the essay.
– Impress the marker with sophisticated vocabulary.
• Paragraphs:
– T topic sentence
– E examples
– E explanation (these two “Es” are interchangable)
– P purpose
– E effect
– E evaluation
• Conclusion:
– Should be about 4 sentences
– Recaps the main points of your argument
– Present your personal response/evaluation to the question of character, setting, theme…
To see an example of a TEEPEE paragraph, click here
TEEPEE paragraph:
Catcher in the Rye
• T Salinger’s use of 1950’s American colloquialism makes Holden Caulfield a
convincing character who experiences convincing emotions.
• E Holden refers to many things and people as “phoney” or “crumby.”
• E He is a negative and often self-indulgent character who is quick to judge
and dismiss those who he sees as materialistic and lacking in compassion, for
example his roommate at Pency Prep, Stradlater.
• P Salinger condemned society as superficial and conformist, indeed
“phoney.” He was criticised and banned for this
• E These adjectives are outdated and unfamiliar to a modern New Zealand
reader but one can fully realise that Holden is a convincing teenager existing in
a real post-war New York society.
• E As a teenager who also sometimes feels frustration with the world, I
enjoyed Holden’s honest and brave ‘attacks’ on whatever or whoever crosses
him. Although he uses words I don’t normally, I think Holden is a believable and
credible character; his emotions and motivations make sense to me. Similarly,
the language he uses makes his world convincing.
(Stolen from Kate Meade. HoD English, Northcote College)
For a structured response to text essay task on the development of character in Moon, click here
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