The Dramatistic Pentad

Since its inception, Hollywood has been fascinated by the interplay between Americans and foreign cultures. Today is no different, as films routinely continue to explore Americans’ experiences outside the US. Films, as we know, hold tremendous sway in shaping how we view many aspects of our culture, including travel. If presented in a positive light, travel in foreign cultures can be illustrated in a positive and encouraging light. Presented in a more menacing fashion, however, depictions of foreign cultures can become stereotypical, even racist.

Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad offers us a useful tool for deciphering the motivations behind such interactions. Below, you will find six film clips depicting Americans interacting with foreign cultures. You will use the Dramatistic Pentad to identify specific rhetorical elements in three of the scenes. Additionally, you will analyze the ratio between two elements.

Directions:

PART 1

1. Choose three film clips from below to examine.

2. Using the Dramatistic Pentad, assign each of the five elements (act, agency, agent, scene, and purpose) for each scene (or “artifact”) and explain their functions in each scene.

Follow this model:

Artifact: Richard arrives in Thailand (The Beach, Dir. Danny Boyle, 2000)

Description: Richard (Leonard DiCaprio) arrives in Bangkok, Thailand and is quickly overwhelmed by the city’s chaotic night culture. He is soon goaded by a market merchant try drinking snake blood. Richard meets the challenge, and after he does so, he quickly makes a hasty exit.

The Dramatistic Pentad:

A. Act: Richard arrives in Bangkok

B. Agency: To meet the challenge, Richard drinks snake blood

C. Agent: Richard is the protagonist, pushing the narrative forward.

D. Scene: A chaotic Bangkok market.

E. Purpose: Richard is determined to prove to the men that he is up to the challenge.

Do this three times—once for each of the three scenes you've chosen. Also, remember that the Pentad can change depending on what you decide is the Act, Agency, Scene, etc.

Part 2

1. Choose one ratio (Scene-Act, for instance) for which to examine three scenes—these may be the same as used above or different scenes.

2. In one page (≈ 250 words), examine how a specific ratio functions in each of three scenes. For example, what do we learn from examining the scenes through this specific ratio? Also, are there similarities between the scenes? Are the differences? What does this particular ratio illuminate that the others might not?

Choose three of the following scenes for your analysis:

1. INDIA: "What's the Surprise?" from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - India and his friends are invited to an extravagant royal dinner (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Paramount Pictures, 1984.)
2. CANADA: "Welcome to Ontario" from Canadian Bacon - Bud is pulled over by a Canadian police officer (Canadian Bacon. Directed by Michael Moore, Gramercy Pictures, 1995.) 
3. ITALY: "In Rome Meeting Freddy Scene" from The Talented Mr. Ripley - Tom and Dickie spend a day in Rome with Freddy (The Talented Mr. Ripley. Directed by Anthony Minghella, Paramount Pictures, 1999.) 
4. JAPAN: "Suntory Time" from Lost in Translation - Bob films a Japanese commercial (Lost in Translation. Directed by Sofia Coppola. Focus Features, 2003.)
5. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: "Abu Dhabi" from Sex and the City 2 - Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda arrive in Abu Dhabi (Sex and the City 2. Directed by Michael Patrick King, New Line Cinema, 2010.) 
6. FRANCE: "Actually, Paris is the Most Beautiful in the Rain" from Midnight in Paris - Gil and Gabrielle have a chance meeting on a bridge in Paris (Midnight in Paris. Directed by Woody Allen, Sony Pictures Classics, 2011.)

Required:

• MLA Style, including works cited

Due: Fri 9.26 (via Canvas)