Assignment for Thursday, 09-15-16

Dear Mythologists,

For Thursday, September 15, please do the following:

(1) Watch Clash of the Titans (Desmond Davis & Ray Harryhausen, 1981), taking notes as you see fit. In addition to the DVD being reserved at the library, the film is also streaming on Amazon. As you'll see, the film is a showcase for the trademark animation of Ray Harryhausen, a longtime fan of myths and legends of every stripe.

(2) Read "What about Animation?" in Looking at Movies Chapter 3 ("Types of Movies"), pp. 111–15. This section will both gather up our thread about animation from our viewing of Mythopolis last Thursday and provide further context for Harryhausen's special effects in Clash '81. It's up to you whether you want to read these pages before you watch the movie, or afterward.

(3) After you watch the movie (not before), read "In the Lap of the Gods," which is Chapter 11 of Harryhausen's memoir, An Animated Life (Billboard Books, 2004). Clash '81 was his last film, so the chapter not only details the behind-the-scenes work on that project, but also caps his career. As you read, reflect on how you feel about the movie after you read Harryhausen's memoir as opposed to how you felt while watching it. I'll be interested to hear what you have to say about that.

(4) Remember by noon on Thursday to comment on this post with your choice of a sequence from Clash '81 to view in class. The guidelines for your comment (in essence, 3-4 sentences) are found under the "Class participation" section of our Syllabus page.

DC