Analysis and Review

For this assignment you will choose a feature length movie (Not a documentary) that you can access through cable, TV, Disc, or the Web. You should also select a focused area within sociological theory that you would want to use as a lens to review the movie. This should be a reading that we have covered, or particular theory or concept within a reading. Choose a reading that is different from the one that you chose for your first paper. While I will not prohibit you from using multiple theories and concepts, I strongly advise that you use a specific theory/concept and apply it on the movie so that you can focus and think deeply rather than spread your thoughts wide and thin.

Once you have selected a theme/theory/concept and a movie, read the concept/theory, and then watch the movie critically, thoughtfully, taking notes as you go, and while you do it keep identifying messages, beliefs, values, norms, roles, metaphors, symbolic depictions etc. that have sociological significance.

At the broadest level, I suggest that you think about the movie first on the basis of the theory/concept you chose, and then do the reverse- think about the chapter/theory/concept on the basis of the movie. This strategy allows you to think dialectically, as it lets you test the movie against the reading, and also test the reading against the movie. This strategy will help you see if the movie agrees with, disagrees with, distorts, complicates, or extends the reading, and vice versa. Your ultimate aim should be to have fun doing this assignment, make it engaging for a sociologically informed audience, and demonstrate your familiarity with sociological theory.

You can choose any movie that you like. However, if you need suggestions, you can look up this list:

http://www.angelfire.com/or3/tss4/socmovies.html

Instructor’s approval is required for your chosen movie. Choose a program that you have either watched earlier, or one that you are familiar with as this will allow you to think deeply about it in a theoretical way. Choose something that is either fun, or shocking, or that forces you to contemplate. Write a brief email to the instructor with the movie of your choice, its central idea, and why you think this is a good choice for this assignment. Also mention the concept/theory you will be using to review this film. Once, approved, watch the movie, review it critically, and write a reflection on the basis of the chosen readings and your own thoughts.

This paper should be 5 pages or more in length, with any 12-size font, one-inch margins all over, and double spacing. However, if it works for you better, you may write a longer essay, especially if it is helpful to your own reflection. There will be two formally written references at the end of the essay (exclusive of the 5 pages of text). The first source for reference should be the reading that you choose from the textbook. The second source will be the movie.