Facing History and Ourselves

Close Viewing Protocol

Rationale

Like close reading of text, close viewing of video is carefully and purposefully viewing

and reviewing a video clip in order to focus on what the filmmaker is trying to convey; the choices the

filmmaker has made; the role of images, narration, editing, and sound; and what the purpose of the

film is. Close viewing ensures that we become critical viewers of film content and that we really

understand what we’ve watched. The following sample protocol is meant for use with a short (5–

10 minute) film or video clip.

The Close Viewing Protocol asks students to provide evidence and justification for their answers,

two skills required by Common Core State Standards. 

Procedure

Step 1: View the film clip together.

After watching the clip, ask students to write their general thoughts and reactions. You might prompt

them with questions such as: What stands out for you? What resonated with you? What do you have

questions about?

Note: Before moving on to Step 2, it might be helpful to go over a few of these basic recall questions

with students:

Who are the characters/people involved?

What is going on? What is the basic storyline?

What is the setting? Time period? Physical location?

What is the point of view? Whose story is this?

What is the theme/mood?

Step 2: Students answer film-dependent questions. 

After this view, a teacher could ask “film-dependent questions” to focus students’ understanding of

specific moments from the film.

Step 3: Small groups practice focused viewing through a “lens.”

Have each student or small group take notes based on only one of the following lenses to focus their

viewing of the film. Each lens includes “questions” to ask oneself.

Sound: Focus on the music in the film as well as the sound effects. What do you notice? What

stands out to you?

Editing: Focus on the way that the interviews, photos, and video are edited together. What choices

did the filmmaker make in terms of scenes or parts to show, represent, or emphasize?

Images: Focus on the visual experience; do not pay attention to the audio but simply take note of the

images that are featured. What do you notice? What choices did the filmmaker make? What is the

impact of these choices?

Storyline/Historical Facts: How is the story unfolding? What are the objective, historical facts that are

portrayed in this film?

Human Behavior: How do you see the range of human behavior represented in this film? Where do

you see the theme of choices/decision-making?

Have each group report on their lens and what they observed. Ask each group to reflect on the

following question: How was your viewing of the film affected by the specific lens through which you

viewed it?

Whole-Film Discussion/Wrap-Up

Bring the small groups back together and ask that they take turns reponding to the questions below. 

What is the purpose of this film? Is it to teach, entertain, or something else? How well is it doing this?

Who/what is left out of the message?

Whose interests are served by telling/showing the message in a particular way?

What motivations might the filmmaker have? How are these manifested in the film?

What do you already know about the topic? How can you manipulate or control your experience of

viewing this film with the information already in your head?