CFV 370 American Cinema
Grand Valley State University
Fall 2008 – Jennifer Proctor
Film/Reading Response #2
Assignment: For your second film and reading response, choose a 2 - 4 minute sequence from a film screened in class and perform a close analysis based on one of the theoretical models laid out so far in your readings. You can (and should) connect the sequence to the larger themes about gender and identity presented in the film, but the paper should focus on your selected sequence, and on a model laid out in one particular reading.
For example, you might apply Laura Mulvey’s formulation of voyeurism and fetishism to a scene from Psycho, or Hills’ discussion of the action heroine to a sequence in Halloween. Your analysis might include discussion of both narrative and formal elements – so, for example, narrative structure and character development, or cinematography, editing, or sound.
As in the previous assignment, the most successful papers will do more than simply reiterate discussions we’ve had in class or points made in the readings. Instead, they will:
- Show that you are drawing your own original conclusions, and bringing your unique, personal observations into your writing.
- Include direct quotes from the readings that you then comment upon, as a way of demonstrating your close engagement with the theoretical material.
- Provide specific examples of elements from the film that you use as evidence for your claims.
Paper requirements:
- 3 - 4 pages, 12 point font, 1-inch margins, double spaced
- Include a brief introduction, thesis statement, and concise conclusion.
- Grammatically correct, perfect spelling, proofread and polished (writing ability counts!)
- Include a Works Cited page in correct MLA format.
- Upload to Blackboard as an attached document in the “Assignments” section of the course website. Reminder: If Firefox prevents you from uploading the file, try a different browser.