Essay 1 Typological Analysis
Typology Analysis Essay :
Haas et al. claim that all films are political. If their assertion holds true, then we should be able to find and analyze political messages in any type of a film no matter: genre, style, director, medium (streaming tv, anime, special effects driven, feature films, episodic etc….). This essay assignment puts Haas et al.s assertion to the test!
Pick one of the essay prompts below.
Criterion on Demand
Check out the following library streaming sites to view many films for free and even current
releases:
Kanopy
Audio Cine
Word count: minimum 1300 words max 1700 words (average is 1500 words). Not including references and bibliography.
Referencing APA 7 Required
Research: minimum 5 first year level sources to help contextualize and support what you are analyzing e.g. If looking at a directors repeating themes or topics back up with a bit of research as to what they are rather than just guessing or to confirm what you see. e.g look at trade articles (Hollywood reporter, Rolling Stone, LA Review of Books and films, Time, New York Times etc…), director interviews, press kits as examples of sources. Also refer to Haas et al typology chapter and class notes on typologies for concept definitions, and Geiger chapter if needed see course resources.
ideas. In some cases someone may not analyze a film in depth but the angle is good. You can reference the idea and mention you are adding to their analysis.
Rubric (TBA) Sample Essay (TBA)
2
Please dont use others analysis of the film e.g. video essays and other online blog or other writers analysis unless you quote and reference and build on these sources
Please do not write about films we study in detail on this course
Unless otherwise advised. If in doubt check with me. Thanks!!
Film Exclusions:
Films and papers which Turnitin plagiarism checker often flags because they have been written about on this course/other sections of this course and/or have been uploaded to sites such as Course Hero, Stu Doc and other essay sites.
*Please do not write about the primary films covered on this course for your essay choice.
Turnitin is enabled for plagiarism checking
Essay Question Prompts
Film: Hacksaw Ridge film
-For this assignment just use one typology lens to analyze your film choice. Some films may apply to a few Typology lenses but just pick one to fit the word limit.
-Please check if your film is on the exclusion list. Check with me if you are not sure.
1.Pure Political – Analyse a War film of your choice through a Pure political lens
The Pure Political films can relay a strong critical viewpoint, educating, and message about the topic of war and resistance. In the case of war, a films message is often an anti-war message. Sometimes the message may be pro nationalistic, and look at how war unifies a nation but leaves others out. Sometimes an anti-war message is implied by showing the toll of war, and how war affects regular people with the critical message being another anti-war view. The toll of war can also be told through the perspective of the soldiers story.
Pick a war film and analyze it through the Pure Political Typological lens, addressing the strong critical viewpoint and message that is being conveyed and how the film conveys this message through the: story, characters and other details such as the creative elements of storytelling and scene analysis. Devise a thesis argument about the critical message and how it is conveyed and overall effect with three sub topics that prove your angle.
Another option is to analyze a Pure Political film through the other sub genres such as Propaganda, Satire or Social Problem film (Films examples: Dunkirk, Saving Private Ryan, American Sniper, Kesari, Grave of the Fireflies, Beasts of No Nation, Mind the Gap, Freedom on Fire: Ukraines fight for Freedom (watch this one for free on Netflix/Youtube), Sorry to Bother You, Jo Jo Rabbit, But Im a Cheerleader, BlackKlansman
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