The Big One (Or the Biggest So Far)

 In a 1,000+ word post to your blog, delve deeply into one of the following topics:

1.      How does obsession figure into the films that we have watched so far?

·         Possible roads of inquiry could include the following: What is the line between obsession and commitment? Which characters have been “obsessed”? What good has come of their obsession? Can anything good come out of obsession? Are the trade-offs worth the obsession? What is the clinical definition of obsession? Do any characters meet those criteria? What real-life figures have been obsessed? Has their obsession delivered any lasting good?

2.      How accurate is the portrayal of Hollywood and the theatre circuit in Singin’ in the Rain?

·         Possible roads of inquiry could include the following: Histories of the transition from silent films to talkies. Descriptions of Hollywood relationships on and off the screen. Histories of theatre circuits. Biographies of the filmmakers and actors involved in the film.

3.      How should we view High Noon today – as a liberal or a conservative work of art?

·         Possible roads of inquiry could include the following: Current events reporting. News analysis and commentary. American history.

4.      In what ways does a particular film combine the visual and performing arts to create a lasting and memorable scene?

·         Possible roads of inquiry could include the following: Cinematography, sound design, music scoring, performances, and lighting. Film reviews. Critical film studies. Film blogs.

5.      What distinguishes a Christopher Nolan film from his peers’ films?

·         Possible roads of inquiry could include the following: Similarities in theme, structure, cinematography. Film reviews. Critical film studies. Film blogs.

6.      Choose a topic of your own.

Include three multimedia items (e.g. audio, video, audio-video, still image, slide show)

·         Sources must be appear in text of the blog (normally just the film title)

·         Items must be active

·         Clear labeling of what we need to look for and where we should look for it must be apparent

Include three research sources (images and clips from the movie do not count)

·         Credible, reliable sources

·         Source appears in text of the sentence

·         Hyperlink to research is active

           

Include all four voices

·         Quotations or direct, specific reference to events in the film(s)

·         Your interpretation of what the author means to say OR quotations from the filmmakers in an interview OR quotations/insights found on director’s commentaries

·         What you think about the theme, characters’ decisions, contrast between the two films

·         The insights of film critics, experts in related fields, news reports, reference materials, etc.

Projected Timeline

T 10/2 – Research

Th 10/4 – Research/ Writing

M 10/8 – Writing

T 10/9 – Writing/Editing

Th 10/11 – Informal Presentations/Blog Completion

A more detailed grading rubric is forthcoming.