BUSTER KEATON : PAPER 2 : Silent Comedy Analysis part 2

 Summarise the following elements of both The High Sign  and Cops  with specific examples of scenes and moments from the films

Use of Film  Form

 use of cinematography ,lighting and framing : e.g  framing to fit the joke, use of 2d , naturalistic bright lighting

style of editing ( invisible/when necessary ) , use of cuts and special effects, 

use and role of mise-en-scene, e.g props and background used actively as part of narrative and jokes

 performance ( body language, facial expression , size and contrast in physique )

Buster Keaton's film persona

e.g aspirational everyman, romantic suitor or outsider clown , links to performance 



Representations

e.g gender roles , police, class, social institutions/rituals  such as marriage and religion



General Silent comedy  conventions

e.g use of stunts, chase scenes , falls, props, animals , slapstick humour, vaudeville tropes and routines e.g banana peel

Keaton's specific use of conventions and techniques

 "postmodern" techniques such as breaking fourth wall , cartoon gags , layering and building of jokes, subverting classic vaudeville routines and expectations, interest in technology/media 

Cultural  contexts and references 

e.g advertising, art , technologies, vaudeville, political and news events