Choose one of the topics to write on in the attached papers descriptions.
com_272_film_genre_critical_analysis_paper__2_2017_1_.docx
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Film Genre Critical Analysis
Your assignment is to write a paper on one of the following topics. (5 page minimum length-this does
NOT include your title page or sources page at the end. This is 5 pages of actual content—
this is the bare minimum length. A higher quality paper will be somewhat longer because it
will go into more depth and detail on the factors assigned below.) Your paper should explore
the breadth and depth of the topic, reference specific examples, offers some outside
documentation (it should not just be a personal opinion piece, although your opinion may play a
role in the analysis), and make use of any or all of the four elements of criticism discussed in
lectures: historical context, narrative, cultural values, and cultural mythology.
The paper is worth 100 points to be earned as outlined below. You may choose from these
topics or, if you have a topic of your own, please send it to me for approval.
I have included the Rubric at the end of this Assignment sheet.
Important:
1. Please put your name on your paper.
2. You should type it in double space. You should follow either the MLA or the APA
style guide. I have to confess that I am not an addict of any one guide. I do require
that you pick and follow one, whichever guide that you have used and feel
comfortable with. Your paper should use the Times Roman Font size 12. Just make
sure that it is sound and properly constructed—grammar, spelling, etc.
3. You must use at least 3 outside sources for your discussion. You can use the
textbook and the Course Pack, but the outside sources must be in addition to them.
These sources must be cited properly both in the body of your paper and on a
Sources Cited page at the end.
4. You must submit your paper via the Safe Assign link in Black Board. This software
looks for possible evidence of plagiarism. So if anyone is foolish enough to buy a
paper or try to copy one, then fie on you, I say, fie!!! In more serious terms do not
do it. Proof of such cheating will have you either failing the course or being
expelled.
5. You must use the Critical Method so as to provide a clear framework for your
analysis. Once you have completed your Critical Method analysis, please feel free to
add any of your own comments and conclusions.
6. Remember to spend most of your time analyzing the movie(s) in your topic. I have
seen them all so you only need a concise summary of the salient elements of the
story.
7. Finally, you must submit your paper to me as a WORD file with a doc or docx
extension. Do NOT submit a pdf file as I have trouble with these files.
You may give me a draft copy of the paper for an early feedback read, but I require at
least a week prior to the due date for submission of such a trial paper. If you wish help
with a draft copy, you must submit this on the draft link for the assignment.
Here are some approved topics that you can select for the paper.
Remember, you must use the Critical Method with all of these topics.
How do modern mysteries compare with older mysteries? What do modern
mysteries say about changes in our cultural values and mythology? Do
our modern mysteries have stories that are similar or different from
those discussed in this course? What is the relationship of context to
each type of mystery? How do narratives change from old to new?
Consider the mystery Mildred Pierce. This is the first mystery where the
story is shown from the woman’s Point of View (POV). Using the
critical method assigned during this class—context, narrative, cultural
values, and cultural mythology, evaluate this movie.
You may want to focus on two films, one old and one new, in order to spell out the differences
and/or the similarities. Remember that this paper is about using the Critical Model to help
analyze these movies. You do not have to write the great thesis. ☺
Using the Critical Method, discuss the Western formula illustrated in the
films of Clint Eastwood. What kind of hero does he promote in his man
with no name movies?
His heroes are violent, silent, sometimes exploitive, cruel, and dark, but is there a hidden
classical dimension to them? It is clear that the nature of his movies changed over time
in a powerful way. Make an argument for your viewpoint and illustrate it with use of our
methodology (stories, values, myth) and with examples from his movies.
Compare and contrast three or four of the most famous film versions of the
story of Wyatt Earp. What is it about the historical context that
brought about changes in the narratives? Is there a shift in American
values and/or Mythology?
Specifically, compare and contrast the presentation of the western narrative in My Darling
Clementine, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp, and/or Tombstone. What are the
differences in the narratives? In what way do any of these films stray from the traditional
narrative regarding law and order and justice in America? What differences do you find
in cultural values reflected in each movie? What do these differences say about changes
in the cultural mythologies operative at the time of filming? Are the heroes depicted in
each movie substantively different? Again, what does research and/or critical theory in
Gender Studies reveal about the sub-text in these narratives?
Compare The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn (1938) with Robin
Hood Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner (1991) and with Robin Hood
with Russell Crowe (2010).
Specifically, what are the differences in the narratives? To what does the historical context for
the release of each film matter to the nature of the story/narrative? In what way does
either film stray from the traditional narrative regarding the legend of Robin Hood?
What differences do you find in cultural values reflected in each movie? What do
these differences say about changes in the cultural mythologies operative at the time of
filming? Are the heroes depicted in each movie substantively different? How has the role
of Maid Marian changed, if at all, and is there any message for or about women in each
generation. What does Feminist Theory tell us about the underlying story of these
narratives?
Adventure movies and women: How have the roles changed, if at all, for
women in action/adventure movies? Follow the method of analysis that
uses the Context, Narrative quality, cultural values and cultural
mythology in order to effectively structure your analysis.
What do these stories reveal about our cultural values and our developing cultural mythology?
Consider the following movies in your analysis: She, Gunga Din, King Solomon’s Mines,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, and either Tomb Raider, Aliens or the recent production of Robin
Hood.
What do adventure movies reveal/reflect about American cultural values
especially as they have to do with violence and justice? Follow the
method of analysis that uses the Context, Narrative quality, cultural
values and cultural mythology in order to effectively structure your
analysis.
Consider such old adventure movies as Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, King Solomon’s Mines and Soldier
of Fortune and such newer movies as Indiana Jones, Aliens, Tomb Raider, Star Wars,
and Lord of the Rings in your analysis. You do not have to examine all of these, but you
should be able to account for some old movies and some newer films.
What do these three film genres have to tell us about our culture’s stories, our
values, and our mythology?
Explore this topic with examples of your own choosing, but be sure to include some from the old
and from the newer. You should use the critical method/tolls taught in the course to help
you in your analysis and in your argument here.
Compare and contrast Ben Hur 1959 and Ben Hur 2016 by using the Critical
Model on each movie.
You will need to watch each movie. I regret that I cannot provide these two films, but they are
readily available on streaming platforms, such as Amazon video.
Remember, you may choose from these topics or, if you have a topic of your
own, please send it to me for approval.
I will grade your paper according to the following rubric.
COM 272 Critical Analysis Paper Rubric
Points
15
Section of the Paper
Introduction: this part of the paper requires
1. An introduction to the topic,
2. Your thesis, and
3. A preview of what you will cover in the body of the paper.
75
Body of the Paper: this part of the paper must be able to demonstrate three elements
for a good analytical paper.
1. Clarity of development and analysis –
a. Statements or claims about the topic;
b. Able to critically develop your topic and show evidence of critical
thought.
c. You should demonstrate your ability to apply the Critical Method
discussed during the class: Historical Context, Narrative Quality,
cultural values, and cultural mythology.
25
25
25
10
2. Evidence or Support—this means that when you make a claim about your
topic that you are able to offer proof or evidence to support that claim—
examples, quotations from authorities, other studies, statistics, etc. As part of
this process of providing supporting material, you should include a page of
Sources Cited or Sources Consulted at the end of the paper. This should
include the proper citation of any movies discussed as well as any books,
articles, lectures, and/or web material.
3. Quality of your Writing—use of complete sentences; clear and appropriate
language; proper use of grammar, punctuation; no misspelled words. By the
way, proofreading is much easier to do with Word as it will point out words
that might be spelled incorrectly (underlined in red) or grammar problems
(underlined in green).
Conclusion: this section should
1. Summarize the findings of your analysis and
2. Conclude the discussion in a clear and stylish manner.
In other words, you should not simply stop writing when done with the topic. You
should only stop writing when you have completed all parts of a proper paper.
POINT TOTAL (out of 100)
…
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