Movie Essays PLSC 111 Dr. Aleea Perry

Movie Essays: Film portrayals, whether they be historical or satirical in nature, offer a perspective on past or current events that may enhance your understanding of our topics. In three units, you will watch a film (you will have a choice for each unit) and write about how the film affects your understanding of our topic, where it diverges or agrees with our readings, how it relates to or refutes the current national news, and the message it presents. Films denoted with a * or ** are available from the IUP Library and/or on reserve. Please visit the Circulation desk at the Library to request materials. Please note, the materials are only available for a three-hour hold to allow others to access the materials as needed. Some films are available on Netflix, some on Amazon Prime, some on iTunes, some on YouTube, and others available on-demand. As access to these movies via online sources changes regularly, I have no way of knowing what is available when and on what format – it is your responsibility to research this and utilize the information for your benefit. As each unit has movies readily available in the library at the Circulation Desk on reserve for this class, I expect that you will be able to access these easily and without cost.

For one film per unit, write a creative 1-2 page typed in Times New Roman font, double-spaced, essay in which you integrate: (1) The film, (2) our readings, and (3) current events. You will turn in your essays via D2L. Please use spell-check, grammar-check, and review your work prior to turning it in. You will cite your sources using APA format. Papers are due by 11:59 p.m. on February 18, 2020.

For each film essay, please address the issues below. Your essay will be required to include:

· Identification of the film chosen and date observed. To do this as simply as possible, write the following in the first paragraph: “I watched film name on date.”

· Sources, including the movie, the book, and your chosen current event cited using APA format.

· What were the political message(s) of the film?

· How did the film relate to the readings?

· How did the film relate to current events?

Grading rubric will be as such:

Identified film chosen, date observed: 0-1 points

Cited sources using APA format: 0-3 points

Identified political messages of the film, provided examples (character, event): 0-2 points

Identified how film relates to readings, provided examples (chapter, reading): 0-2 points

Identified how film relates to current events, provided examples (news, events): 0-2 points

TOTAL: 0-10 points

Movie Essay 1 due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, September 19!

1: Students & The System

Individual Agency & Action

Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

U.S. Constitution

Chapters 1-7, American Government 2e

Unit 1 films: choose one

Dreamer: A True American Story

(2013)

Iron-Jawed Angels

(2004)

Gideon’s Trumpet

(1980)

Miss Representation

(2011)

Cesar Chavez

(2014)

The Pilgrims

(2015) [PBS – available online]

L.A. Confidential

(1997)

Starship Troopers

(1997)

The Insider

(1999)

Silkwood

(1983)

American Experience: The Murder of Emmett Till

(2003) [PBS –available online]

Freedom Riders

(2010) [PBS – available online]

13th

(2016) [Netflix]

Selma

(2014)

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

(2013)

Crash

(2004)

Zootopia

(2016)