Military Propaganda in Hollywood Films
You are to write a 6+ page research paper in which you write YOUR OWN brief chapter of 21st century film history, exploring and examining film making from the turn of the century to present, from both a historical and creative perspective. This means:
1. Formulate a thesis. State your intentions and introduce your topic. Single out a
specific area of interest to focus on, re: film making for the last 20 years. Your topic is
up to you. It could be a director, movement, genre, aesthetic shifts, technological
changes, sociological/political/cultural/ideological, etc. Nothing is off limits.
2. Place contemporary cinema – i.e. the topic and films you choose – in a historical
context. Contextualize your topic/films within the history of cinema production,
draw on what we’ve learned in class to connect the past to the present. Furthermore,
you should explore the relationship these films have to the contemporary world.
3. Exploring and analyzing the films from a film making perspective. Film style and
film history go hand in hand. Place these films in a creative context.
SOURCES. Your paper must be supported by at least THREE feature-length films and FIVE or more sources. Due to the contemporary nature of your subjects it may be harder to find textbook sources for this paper so there is more leniency re: internet sources, but remember to VET your sources/authors and make sure you’re using good information.
Information sites like Wiki, IMDB, Encyclopedias, etc., do not count as sources, but can be good places to find them.
SELECTING FILMS. You may select any 3 (or more!) feature-length films made in the 21st century (2001-2020) to use in your paper, but keep in mind the parameters and point of this paper when choosing. You are to paint a portrait of filmmaking in this century by singling out a particular group of films and exploring them in greater detail. Obviously films can speak to the idea of ‘21st Century Cinema’ in a myriad of ways, so it is your job to research, watch, and contextualize this contemporary era of filmmaking through your films.
Now is a great opportunity for you to write about contemporary films that you grew up with, or enjoy, or want to explore — ultimately it’s your job to formulate a coherent thesis and arguments.
You are to write a 6+ page research paper in which you write YOUR OWN brief chapter of 21st century film history, exploring and examining filmmaking from the turn of the century to present, from both a historical and creative perspective. This means:
1. Formulate a thesis. State your intentions and introduce your topic. Single out a
specific area of interest to focus on, re: filmmaking for the last 20 years. Your topic is
up to you. It could be a director, movement, genre, aesthetic shifts, technological
changes, sociological/political/cultural/ideological, etc. Nothing is off limits.
2. Place contemporary cinema – i.e. the topic and films you choose – in a historical
context. Contextualize your topic/films within the history of cinema production,
draw on what we’ve learned in class to connect the past to the present. Furthermore,
you should explore the relationship these films have to the contemporary world.
3. Exploring and analyzing the films from a filmmaking perspective. Film style and
film history go hand in hand. Place these films in a creative context.
