(1) Main Argument
Formalism is the best way to approach and study films because it provides the most complete way to view and analyze the aspects of movies. It allows analysts to do a sort of close reading on a sequence or shot, and discuss how the different aspects of the shot contributes to the film as a whole.
(2) Claim #1
Formalism allows us to take an individual aspect of the film and describe the effect it has on the audience.
Example: Focusing on music score in the beginning of Psycho stirs the audience to become very tense. This gives the viewer an intense looming that something terrifying will happen in the future.
(3) Support for Claim #1
Further development of example and quote from Wood.
(4) Claim #2 [complete sentence(s)]
Compartmentalizing a film's parts through the Formalistic approach can allow the viewer to analyze the internal dialog of Marion. When Marion plays out what the conversations between those parties involved, she assumes the worst. When this happens, the audience recognizes that Marion begins to feel guilty, but tries to shrug it off, creating further suspense surrounding Marion and the stolen money.
(5) Support for Claim #2
Perkins quote: "[director's resources] neither leap out at us from the fictional world nor impose upon it a rhetoric it cannot sustain."
(6) Claim #3 [complete sentence(s)]
The formalism approach is also the best way to interpret the scene inside the Bates Motel when Norman entreats Marion to food, and continues to spy on her. When he looks through the peep-hole to see her undress, the shot where his eye is nearly fully framed, one can truly appreciate his consumption. The lighting and other effects in the shot emphasize this.
(7) Support for Claim #3
Woods: "much of the film's significance is summed up in a single visual metaphor, making use again of eyes, occurring at the film's focal point."
This looks good. I like your claims #1: "Formalism allows us to take an individual aspect of the film and describe the effect it has on the audience." -- alongside your choices for analysis (music, voice-over, and the focus on the eye). The last choice seems to take your focus from auditory elements to visual ones...how are you going to make this transition? Perhaps you can add an analysis of the music to this very visual scene. Then, consider tweaking your argument so that you point out that many spectators focus on different elements while viewing a film (some people are more in tune with the visuals while others notice the music)...thus, the formalist approach can yield very different interpretations, which add to the different interpretations of a film. One question: do you think all films have the depth to be analyzed in this fashion, or only certain films?
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