English 101 Critical Analysis Project

Proposal:  300- 400 words; Essay:  1800-2100 words.  Film and approach choice deadline- 9/21 (post to Blackboard Forum), proposal due 9/28, essay draft (two copies!) and 3 questions for peer review due 10/12.  Final revision due 11/2.  

This project is an analysis from a scholarly viewpoint (meaning that you must have some kind of critical approach—this is neither a review nor a report) of a single scene or shot sequence in a film.  The choice of film and approach is yours: the only limitations are that you must select a film to which I have access and you must get my approval.  We will be meeting for individual conferences, at which time I will advise you on revising your essay.  Be prepared to make substantial changes, since part of your grade will be dependent on how thoroughly you revise. 

Critical Approaches 

Here are a few brief, basic statements that will give you an idea of how you might approach a film (see the Critical Model Packet for further details).  The point of applying a model is to give you a point of access into the “text,” a film in this case, that will let you get at something about it that you would not have discovered without the model.  What you find will generally apply to the entire film, but you MUST focus on ONLY ONE SCENE.  Use only ONE of these paradigms: 

Ø Gender Studies (inc. women’s and men’s studies):  Images and other elements reveal the artist’s beliefs about gender roles and their power dynamics.

Ø Disability Studies:  Every culture constructs a disability identity that it imposes on those who are physically or mentally disabled.

Ø Shame theory:  A character (or a group, etc.) will try to reduce shame and increase pride by employing some kind of strategy that either has or will become habitual.

Ø Myth Criticism:  Works of art draw on patterns established in cultural myths (this includes the quest pattern and archetypal characters).

Ø Other approaches are possible, but you must consult with me during my office hours by 9/14. 

Essay requirements:

 1.     a clearly delineated, original claim with supporting evidence from the text  (this means that you MUST quote dialogue and describe images – or settings, individuals, etc. – from the film as well as quoting from the approach sheet),

2.     focus on a single scene from a film

3.     significant use of a critical model

4.     a specific thesis statement that states your claim and indicates your critical approach

5.     a logical organization with transition sentences

6.     accurate citation of quoted material (yes, that means in-text citations and an MLA-format Works Cited page, since you will be citing the film and the packet)

7.     proper use of spelling, punctuation, and grammar (Standard Edited American English), including use of the LITERARY PRESENT TENSE.

Warning:  DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE PLOT OF THE FILM!!!

Note:  do NOT attempt to turn in an essay that is less than 1800 words.  It will be returned to you unread with a grade of F.  You will not be able to use it for your one allowed further revision.

Film Choices

Here are some films I have access to that would work well with at least one of the approaches I have listed above (incidentally, never forget that film titles, like book titles, are ALWAYS italicized).  I’ve categorized them, but most of them could be used in several different categories (e.g., Gladiator could work with a myth approach as well as the masculinist approach I have listed it under), so don’t feel limited to the way I have listed them here.  Although you may use films that I will be discussing, you cannot use the same approach that I am using in class.  Whatever you choose, you must get my approval of your choice, and you should do this as soon as possible (I’ll check the discussion often). 

You may be surprised at some of these films, since there are a few that are just plain lousy (at least they are according to film critics).  These can be easier to analyze, with surprising results, too. 

Note:  Sequels to any of these titles are generally acceptable, although possibly not in the same category as the originals. 

Gender Studies

     Men’s Studies

Gladiator                        Enemy at the Gates

Troy                   X-Men Origins:  Wolverine

Cowboys & Aliens                                  Thor

Reign of Fire                    Secondhand Lions

Casino Royale                                          300

Tombstone        The Ghost and the Darkness

Law Abiding Citizen 

     Women’s Studies

Down with Love                           Bewitched

Chicken Run                                  any Shrek

True Grit (2010)                              Chicago

The Village                     The Hunger Games

Avatar

And, the Disney films:

Tangled                                                Mulan

Sleeping Beauty                             Cinderella

Disability Studies

Captain America              The DaVinci Code

The Wolfman                       The Hulk (Bana)

Iron Man 2              Master and Commander

12 Monkeys              X-Men:  The Last Stand 

Shame theory

The Four Feathers              Sherlock Holmes

Dodgeball           The Phantom of the Opera

Emma                                          Spider-Man

Zoolander                           Any Harry Potter 

Myth

The Transporter                       The Wolfman

The Incredible Hulk                   Robin Hood

The 13^th Warrior                     Sleepy Hollow

Any Lord of the Rings                            Van Helsing

any Star Wars                 The Lightning Thief

any Indiana Jones            Clash of the Titans

And, almost any comic-book superhero film (e.g. The Dark Knight, Ghost Rider, X-Men, and so on) will work well with this approach.

If you want to do a film that’s not on the list, go ahead and ask, but I make no promises.  This is mainly because of time constraints, but other reasons may apply (such as the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio gives me the creeps).  I do have some films for children and older or classic titles that I have not listed.