Assignment: Film Analysis Craft a 2000-2500 word essay

Essay Instructions:

The prompt: Although Disney films present themselves as the epitome of innocence, many actually convey deeply politicized messages about history, power, equality, and governance. Selecting one film from this class, consider what the film communicates about politics and how it constructs this ideology. Potential topics might include colonialism, climate change, orientalism, feminism, sexism and/or patriarchy, capitalism, civil rights and/or racism, or wealth inequality. Films studied in class: Snow White, the Jungle Book, The little mermaid, beauty and the beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Moana. Your academic paper should attend closely to the details of whichever film/s you choose in order to make its larger claim. You may focus, for instance, on particular scenes, narrative plot points, dialogue, colors and animation, physical placement or attributes of characters, etc. The more attention to detail, the better! Overall, you will use this detail (or ‘close reading’) to support your larger claim. As with all academic argumentative essays, you need to develop an argument that is original, reasonable, specific, interpretive, and contestable. The best papers will not simply reproduce the prompt in statement form—i.e. “Disney codes many of its villains as queer figures”—but will develop their own original answer to the question based on consideration of the primary texts, class conversations, and outside research. Equally, strong papers will develop a claim that is specific and integrated. There is a huge difference between arguing that “In Rear Window (1954) Alfred Hitchcock constructs white femininity as the object of the male gaze”—where this is one integrated argument about white femininity specifically—and saying that “race and gender are both important in Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954).” Do not, in other words, simply list or assess multiple topics in a disconnected way without trying to understand how they relate. Importantly, a key aspect of this final paper is outside research. Students are expected to include at least FOUR outside sources in their final paper. Component Parts to Keep in Mind: 1. Audience: The audience for all written assignments in this course is an educated audience NOT in our seminar. This means that you should not assume that your reader has prior knowledge of the texts you’re citing (i.e. write your paper for “the reader,” not me!) You should thus introduce each text/film and its relevance as though you were writing for a third party; this will include citing the full text name, the author/director, the year of publication, and a brief synopsis of the plot. 2. Main Claim: Your essay should craft an argument, and should therefore develop a main claim (aka “thesis”). This claim should be specific, contestable, significant, reasonable, and interpretive. Avoid cliché (“the text describes character X as criminal based on his looks”) and make sure your evidence and analysis support this claim. 3. Evidence: Use specific visual/textual evidence to support your claims. This evidence can come in the form of direct quotes, citing the specific shots/cuts of a scene, reading significant absences/silences (ie, interpreting the significance of what isn’t said), analysis of the narrative voice or proximity of events, ect. DO NOT: just summarize the plot without any attention to specific scenes, words, sounds, character placement, angles, cuts, etc. 4. Analysis: Interpretation and analysis are key for a strong paper. Make sure you always tell your reader not just what is happening, but more importantly why this event/word/shot/arrangement is important for the claim you’re making. Analysis should work in the service of supporting and elaborating your main claim.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Title Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name Date In the society, women are being misjudged, discriminated against, and, at times, repressed. However, these women continue to battle the inequalities of the world. Women face difficulties, but these will not stop them from being brave. Women remain to symbolize strength and independence. In the realm of popular culture, Disney’s animated classic, “The Little Mermaid,” emerges as a captivating narrative that subtly mirrors the struggles and triumphs of real-world women. It is a story written by Hans Christian Andersen. It transcends its fairy-tale facade to challenge entrenched gender roles and patriarchal norms. Through the lens of Ariel’s transformative journey, the film becomes a symbolic rebellion against societal expectations, advocating for female autonomy and agency. This paper aims to delve into the intricacies of this animated masterpiece, by exploring how Ariel, the titular mermaid, becomes a powerful emblem of resilience, challenging the status quo and offering a narrative that resonates with the ongoing struggles of women in the society. “The Little Mermaid” is an account of a mermaid princess named Ariel. Ariel is the youngest and the most beautiful of the six. She is described as an odd, quiet, and pensive girl. She is also different from her sisters. At the beginning of the story, it implies that Ariel is getting restless with underwater life. Ariel is also fascinated by her grandmother and sisters’ stories about land and people, and because of that, she develops a desire to live a human life on the land. She stated, “Oh! If only I were fifteen! I am sure that I will come to love the world up above and the human beings who lived there!” (Clements & Musker, 1989). Furthermore, when Ariel had first seen the land above the sea and the charming prince, her urge to live a human life grows even more. Ariel saves the prince from drowning during their first encounter. Ariel cannot take this off her mind, and as days go by, her urge to see this man increases. Many people try to warn Ariel about the dangers of interacting with humans. However, Ariel, who is very eager to live on land does not follow and risks trading her voice for feet with the sea witch. The sea witch now curses Ariel. Ariel gets to see and be with the prince but figures out that he is marrying another woman. Ariel does not get the ending that she wants, and she dies (Clements & Musker, 1989). Hence, no one agrees and supports Ariel’s desire to be self-sufficient or make a personal choice, so everything she achieves must come at a high cost. She wants to live a life on land, so she pays the price for it; she loses her tongue. The narrative trajectory of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” unfolds as a compelling tale of personal growth and empowerment, showcasing her resilience and determination in the face of societal expectations dominated by males. Ariel’s transformation into an assertive character is owing to a set of transformative events which shape her sense of self and autonomy. Ariel’s choice of living a human life is central to her character development (Clements & Musker, 1989). In the human setting, Ariel transforms drastically by moving away from the limitations of her mermaid character to accept all that relates with living as an individual. This makes her a very invincible woman, showing how women find their ways through harsh environments even though they are influenced by patriarchal structures. Even the fact that Ariel is drawn as an “ordinary woman” before she jumps into sea outbids this notion of there being just one correct way for women to behave, in human world. Her deeds suggest that true liberation means not merely being allowed to determine one’s own destiny beyond what is required of you by society. In addition, Ursula is an overwhelming villain in “The Little Mermaid” who changes into a multifaceted character very quickly overturning the expectations concerning stronger females within patriarchal frameworks. In spite of her function as a villain, the character is difficult to identify and presented in normal basis because she possesses mischievous disposition that disregards traditional norms. Ursula is against the reigning patriarchy, represented by King Triton, Ariel’s father, and a supreme ruling authority in Atlantica underwater kingdom (Clements & Musker, 1989). If one delves into Ursula’s actions – particularly her manipulation of Ariel, this message appears to be the rebellion manifested in a subtle manner (Clements & Musker, 1989). Although Ursula’s intentions are selfish and her tactics are dishonest, this subtext paints a picture that she is trying to stand up against societal constructs or normative expectations of behavior within the narrative. Through the character development of Ursula as a character who functions beyond acceptable moral standards, there com...

Updated on April 4, 2024

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