GroupPresentationSocialAnalysis

=Group Presentation=

In groups of 2-3, you will present a formal-social analysis of a film of your group's choice. As explained in Ch. 1 of //Looking at Movies//, a social analysis interprets a film as a cultural artifact as much as a work of art or entertainment and looks for a film's implicit and hidden meanings relating to questions such as the following: In what ways does the film present a perspective on the world? Does it lead viewers to see aspects of social reality in a new way or does it reinforce pre-existing values, beliefs, or points of view? Does the film support or challenge the status quo, and how does it do so? What social conflicts does the film raise and how does it resolve them? In conducting your analysis, you might consider how the film deals with issues such as conformity, rebellion, race, ethnicity, gender, masculinity, or femininity.

In your presentation, make an argument about the film's meaning supported with evidence from the film and from secondary sources.

In your actual presentation (not necessarily in this order): 1) give a brief overview of the __relevant__ historical context of the film; 2) lay out the argument for your formal-social analysis of the film; 3) demonstrate this thesis with analyses of one or two well-chosen clips from the film, with reference to 4) at least one article by a film scholar that sheds light on some aspect of the film. See Where to Find Secondary Sources on Movies.

You should present for about 20 minutes.



Points to remember

 * Everyone in the group must participate.
 * Everyone will receive the same grade.
 * The grade will be based on three things: content, organization and clarity, and use of visuals and the handout.
 * PowerPoint is optional: use it only to enhance your presentation. Do not use it as a place to put your notes. Do not read from your slides.

Three parts to a presentation

 * 1) Slides and/or film clips the audience will see
 * 2) Notes only you will see
 * 3) Handout to be taken away by the audience.

Handout

 * 1) **The handout** should be no more than one page and should contain whatever information from the presentation that you want your audience to take away with them. It can facilitate your presentation (an outline, questions); it can summarize the main points; or it can be a bonus (providing additional information beyond what you present). You should post your handout to the wiki and make several copies for the class--enough to pass around (you don't need to make 25).
 * 2) In addition to the handout, you should turn in a **bibliography** listing any sources you used for your presentation (for historical context and interpretations). The bibliography should be annotated. That is, each source listed should contain a short paragraph explaining what the source is.

Presentation tips
Browse the presentation tips on [|Garr Reynold's website].

Some possible films
You will have to choose a film that is old enough and significant enough to have some scholarship written about it (i.e. probably not from the last 4-5 years). Here are some possibilities. You don't need to stick to this list.

**Genre Movies**

 * [|AFI Top 10 Westerns]
 * [|AFI Top 10 Gangster Movies]
 * [|AFI Top 10 Science Fiction]
 * [|AFI Top 10 Romantic Comedy]
 * [|AFI Greatest Movie Musicals]
 * [|The Guardian 25 Best Horror Films]
 * [|Vanity Fair Guide to Classic Film Noir]

**Other Movies (in no particular order)**

 * In the Heat of the Night
 * Boyz n the Hood
 * Do the Right Thing
 * Devil in a Blue Dress
 * The Piano
 * Some Like It Hot
 * Tootsie
 * Midnight Cowboy
 * Dog Day Afternoon
 * Philadelphia
 * My Own Private Idaho
 * Far From Heaven
 * Freaks
 * What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
 * Girl, Interrupted
 * One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
 * Million Dollar Baby
 * Taxi Driver
 * Strangers on a Train
 * Thelma and Louise
 * Goodfellas
 * Dr. Strangelove
 * It’s a Wonderful Life
 * M.A.S.H.
 * Little Big Man
 * Pulp Fiction
 * On the Waterfront
 * Jaws
 * Apocalypse Now
 * Chinatown
 * Mystic River
 * American History X
 * Casablanca
 * Fargo
 * Double Indemnity
 * The Graduate
 * Silence of the Lambs
 * His Girl Friday
 * 9 to 5
 * Fast Times at Ridgemont High