Women’s & Gender Studies Film

WGST 100: Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies Film Response due March 31, 2014, worth 20% of your grade Assignment Students are required to write a 4 to 5 page film response. You must choose one of the four films that we watch in class: Stonewall Uprising Topahdewin: The Gladys Cook Story Finding Dawn Killing Us Softly 4 Please address the following points in your reflection paper.

1. You will be given a set of questions for each film. Please respond to one or two of these questions by drawing on course readings and concepts. Connect the film to theories from the course, either theories discussed in the lectures or in the course readings, or both. I will distribute the questions in class and post them to UR Courses.

2. What is your initial response to the film? Did you feel uncomfortable watching it and/or did it challenge any of your assumptions? Did you experience difficulty in relating to any part of the film? If so, please try to identify why you felt uncomfortable and what about the film challenged your assumptions. In your reaction to the film, respond to the question, “Why did I feel this way when watching it?” When discussing its impact, reflect on whether or not it altered your view of an issue.

3. Comment on whether or not the film was engaging and/or persuasive. If not, what could it have done better? In order to critique the film, you’ll need to identify the purpose of the film. Did the film serve its purpose? If yes, how? If no, why not? (If the purpose of the film is to entertain, think about how the film made you feel: did it make you laugh, feel angry, sad, inspired, defeated/hopeless, etc.?)

How to structure your essays INTRODUCTION In the opening paragraph of your paper, briefly summarize the film in a few sentences and tell the reader what you are going to discuss in the paper. For example, if you choose to write about Killing Us Softly 4, you might choose to discuss the film in relation to Carla Rice’s article “Exacting Beauty: Exploring Women’s Body Projects and Problems in the 21st Century.” In this case, you would tell the reader that you are going to discuss Carla Rice’s article and how advertising in popular culture constructs women’s bodies as “sites of modification.”

BODY OF PAPER In the body of the paper, draw connections between the film and course readings/theories/concepts in order to respond to your discussion question(s). Be sure to refer to specific scenes within the film. It is in the body of the paper where you will also discuss in a paragraph or two how the film challenged your assumptions and why it made you feel a certain way. CONCLUSION In the concluding paragraph(s), summarize your discussion, identify the purpose of the film and critique whether or not the film served its purpose. Suggestions I highly recommend taking notes while you watch the films. Make note of specific scenes that resonate with you. While watching the films, think about how various scenes make you feel and how the films are expanding your understanding of an issue. Topahdewin and Killing Us Softly are on reserve at the Luther Library should you feel the need to watch one of them a second time. You won’t be able to leave the library with the DVD, but you will be able to watch it in the library. The other two films can be found online. Format The paper should be a maximum of 5 pages (not including the Works Cited page). All papers must be typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins on white paper and stapled. Please use Times New Roman, 12-point font. All pages should be numbered. Sources should be appropriately cited in the essay as well as listed on an attached Works Cited page. If you refer to something I said in a lecture, please cite it within the text. Please use MLA format. The paper is to be handed in at the beginning of class on the day it is due. I will not accept electronic papers. Evaluation You will be evaluated based on the following:

 Technical writing skills, including spelling, grammar and sentence structure o Please proofread your paper and ensure that it is free of spelling,

grammatical and structural errors.  Competent engagement with the material

o Did you draw on appropriate course readings and concepts? o Did you respond to any of the questions handed out in class? o Did you refer to specific scenes in the film?

 Reflection o Did you demonstrate thoughtful self-reflection?

 Logic coherence

o Does your paper make sense? o Does it flow in a logical manner?

 Analysis o Are you able to support your analysis of whether or not the film meets its

purpose?  Format

o Did you follow the guidelines regarding format, i.e. font, page numbers, Works Cited page, etc.

Writing Services Writing Services in the Riddell Centre Room 230 provides free 30-minute consultation for students. You may arrange appointments by calling 585-4076, or you may submit your work directly to [email protected]