Charlie
St John
Dead Poets Society
Peter Weir
1989
Drama
Tropes shown in this film
This film is a coming-of-age, drama and comedy. it contains the trope of dreams being forbidden by a parental figure because of art not being 'manly enough' (his dream of pursuing a career in drama). this part of the story is also showing the trope of 'the tragic artist'. when Neil dies, the weather turns snowy. this is a trope commonly used to reflect the remaining characters emotions and thoughts in a period of loss. 'driven to suicide' is another trope which is shown in movies of the same genre. This movie also shows us 'found family' as the group of friends found brothers in one another and saw Keeting as a father figure
Scene Overview
this scene takes place after the suicide of the students classmate Neil Perry. Mr Keeling, the classes poetry teacher, got the blame for his death when in fact he was the only person letting Neil be himself. in this scene, the class is having a poetry lesson with Mr Keetings replacement teacher with a class of solum looking students. Keeting enters the classroom to collect his things to then leave the school forever. the students stand up on their desks in protest while quoting a poem about napoleon which appeared earlier in the film "o captain, my captain!" . this scene perfectly mirrors a scene from earlier in the movie where Mr Keeting makes the student's stand on his desk so that they can see the world from a different perspective.
Micro features
Cinematography
At the beginning of this scene, they use establishing shots from the behind of the teacher, facing the crowd of students. this shows the setting of the scene. the shots then change to close ups of specific students faces and the teachers to display the ongoing conversation between them as a group. this is a brilliant way to show who is speaking in this situation. The 180 rule is the most common way to do this but this rule is broken in this scene.
When the students are called upon by the new teacher, they each show different reactions in their expressions.
Cameron (the ginger) refuses to make continual eye-contact with the new teacher, showing his guilt that he took part in getting Mr. Keeting fired. this also shows his discomfort from the new person. we can compare this to how Todd looks awkward in his body language, seeming tense and closed off once called upon.
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An over the shoulder shot from a distance is taken once Mr. Keeting enters the classroom. the distance is to show his distance from the class that is about to take place as he has been fired. When he is collecting his possessions from the back room, the cinematographer uses frame within a frame with the door being slightly open and the audience can see Keeting smiling at the impact that he has made on the students.
A close up of the new teachers aggressive face is used when Mr. Keeting is asked to leave and for the students to stop defending him. extreme close ups are then used of the shoes of the class as they climb up onto their desks. this creates a powerful feeling for the students message of defense for Keeting. The camera then cuts to a high angle shot of Mr. Keeting which is to imitate the students perspectives from up on the desk and how venerable Keeting is in this scene by making him look small and harmless. this also shows his innocence.
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another important fact to note is that the camera was completely static up until Keeting walked into the room. this shows how strict and hard on the students the new teacher was in comparison to the calm flow of Keetings lessons
Mise-en-scene
The Setting of this scene is in an 50s Style class room filled with many wooden desks. These desks are stacked with books to help convey that this is an area for learning. To add to this, there is also a chalk board at the front of the room along with a larger teachers desk. The room is also very dull with its style of lighting which reflects how dull the students life will be without Mr. Keeting and Neil's presence in the classroom. this lighting contrasts with the warm and bright lighting from earlier in the film (photograph depicted below). An American flag is also shown in the front of the class which tells us that this Boarding school is clearly in the United States.
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The students are dressed in white shirts with black and red striped ties. the students also wear a black blazer and grey formal trousers. Some of the students are also wearing grey V-neck jumpers or black sweater vests. This formal appearance points toward the fact that this school is an exclusive private school for rich and smart men.
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Keeting is also showed wearing this uniform even though he is a teacher rather than a student. This is a throwback to the fact that Keeting attended the school when he was younger. This also displays that he is closer in age to the class than the other teachers.
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Editing
The editing for this scene is very slow during the segment where the students are conversing with the new teacher about poetry in a very uninteresting manor. this is to reflect upon how slow the lesson is going for the boys as the new teacher is just not as captivating as Mr. Keeting.
When Keeting enters the room and the boys begin protesting his involvement in Neil's suicide, the editing gets ever so slightly quicker, darting towards whoever was speaking in this argument.
Sound
There is no background music while the class is being taught by the new teacher which makes the scene feel boring and forced whereas when Keeting enters the room there begins some soft background music which represents his vulnerability in this scene. These sounds are non-diegetic as it is not something that the characters on set can hear.
The talking on the other hand is diegetic as the characters in that scene would be able to hear it in person rather than the sound being edited in.
COntext
While Dead poets’ society was filmed in the 80s, the film is set in the 1950s. This film reflects on how in the 50s, men were often pressured into the concept of ‘the American dream’ which is getting married, getting a job in an academic subject and living in the suburbs. This is shown in the movie when Neils father forbids him from pursuing his dream of performing arts and pressures him into doing more academic subjects so that he can one day have a ‘well paying job’ which is how America views a good life. It is important to note that the film is specifically set in 1959 which is the last year before the 60s which marks a change in American society with these views. When Neil takes control of his life, it is winter. This marks the end of the year and also the end of the 50s. Neil mirrors when the American dream changes.
If I have time do video essay