movie: Wall-e,
I HAVE THE 3 SOURCES REQUIRED
1
Critical Review Paper Instructions – 130 possible points
For this assignment you will be required to view one popular “Hollywood Style” feature film
that you will select from the list provided for you. You will critically discuss the film, how it
connects to the principles that you have learned in class, as well as how popular film
presentations compare to the ethnographic films you have viewed throughout the semester.
Additional research (at least 3 scholarly articles or books) is required. The paper will be eight
(8) pages in length (of text-does not include bibliography or title page) and double spaced
with normal fonts and margins (i.e., 12 pt. font and 1 ” margins). I check. Don’t try and fudge.
Your film choice, topic choice, and three references (30 points) are due for approval by
Sunday, March 12th by 11:59 pm. I have posted an example of what this should look like in
the Critical Review Paper folder.
Use the “Critical Review Paper Topic and References Submit” link located in the Week 9
content folder in Canvas to submit your film choice, topic choice, and three references.
The paper (100 points) is due Sunday, April 23rd by 11:59pm.
Use the “Critical Review Paper Submit” link located in the Week 15 content folder in Canvas
to submit the paper.
The point of this assignment:
Too often, students may bring a “seeing is believing” attitude to popular cultural/historically
based films, forgetting how editing and subject selection influence the perspective of the
people and history involved. Many films of this type are so far off the mark that the film
contributes to an alternate popular view of a culture which is inaccurate. Your scholarly
sources will help you differentiate between what is “real” anthropologically and what is
being portrayed with artistic license. The “training” you have received in this course as it
pertains to viewing films will help you to be more visually literate in other domains as well.
Because of this course you will be able to view “Hollywood Style” feature films with a
critical eye. Several students have remarked that “regular” movies have more value to them
after learning to “read” ethnographic films.
How to write a critical review paper:
There are a variety of ways to write a critical review paper. I am only giving you one and
there are other methodologies available. If you want to try something different, discuss your
method with me.
1. Watch the film and take notes on the main ideas presented in the film, your feelings aroused
by the material, and your reactions to the film.
2. Use your notes and summarize/describe the information in the film in no more than 1/4 of
your paper.
3. Critically react to and personally interact with the film as it pertains to your anthropological
topic in the other 3/4 or more of your paper (see the film list for instructions how to do this).
You can do this by using all, or a combination, of the following:
(a) Explain the insights you have gained from the film.
(b) Explain in detail how the film relates to a particular anthropological topic.
(c) Identify what you liked and/or disliked in the film.
(d) Suggest additional material that could have and/or should have been included in the
film.
(e) Relate the film to other sources (name them) that have addressed this subject.
(f) Relate the film to your own personal experience.
(g) Evaluate the impact that the film might have on its viewers and its impact on you.
(h) Explain how the cultural system (e.g., ideas, ethics, morality, economics,
politics, personal behavior, religion, kinship and relatives, world view, schooling,
life experiences, culture change, marriage patterns, customs, norms and deviance,
ways of looking at things) shown in the film differs from what is “real”
anthropologically (i.e., how these things relate to your topic). Your scholarly sources
will help you with this.
(i) Papers filled with opinions not related to the film will be marked down.
4. You MUST use a standard essay format (introduction, body, and conclusion). You MUST
provide a thesis statement at the end of your introduction! There are many style guides and
online sources available to help you with this.
5. You must properly cite the references you use in the body of your paper and provide a
bibliography. Feel free to use your textbook as a reference but you must cite it. Use the style
guide you are most familiar with but be consistent. I have posted the American
Anthropological Associations Style guide for your use if you choose.
6. Essays should be “free-standing.” This means that a person can read the essay and, while
not having seen the film, can understand the point you are trying to make.
7. Again, you MUST provide a bibliography with your final paper. Your initial submittal for
approval does not count.
Some other things to keep in mind:
• Proper grammar and mechanics count. Papers will be evaluated both on proper
grammar and on content.
• Cite specific examples from the film as basis for your points. Rehashing the plot
does not say much unless you then go on to explain what the actions in the plot
mean.
• Do not make generalizations unless you have data to back it up. For instance,
do not assert that arranged marriages have a higher divorce rate than traditional
marriages (or vice versa), unless you can back the assertion up by citing a source
for the assertion.
• Always use characters’ names in your writing. This avoids confusion and
strengthens the essay. You can keep track of names by taking notes.
• In formal writing, like these assignments, avoid contractions (i.e., don’t, can’t).
Use full words (do not, can not).
• Avoid slang or informal terms unless you are quoting dialogue. If so, identify it
with quotation marks.
• Do not overuse the first person (i.e., “I think that…,” “It seems to me…,” “I
noticed…,”). Although this is not grammatically incorrect and some use is
perfectly all right, over use tends to make the paper sound too informal.
• Proofread your papers. Spell-check will not catch every mistake. Read the
finished copy of your paper out loud. By doing this, you can really see if it sounds
okay.