Film: Compare and contrast The film Seven Beauties, and 9 to 5

Description

(5-7 pages)   Your first short paper should represent your own original thought, and respond to one of the following prompts OR if you would like to write about something else, be pre-approved by me.  Essential to a good essay are:  Having read the assigned material for the class and watched the films Having engaged critically with what you’ve seen Watching the film(s) about which you are writing multiple times, with close attention to at least TWO scenes that you will describe and analyze both for their meaning within the film, and for their composition with regard to mis-en-scene or montage.  In other words, I don’t just want to hear what the film is about, but also how the visuals reinforce, or comment on, or cut against what is being said.  Grammatically correct and clearly written, with strong connective language and clear topic sentences. A clearly articulated thesis in the first paragraph that is supported by the argument of the paper. Quotes from the Monaco or other articles that we have read, when relevant. A conclusion that answers the “so what” of your paper – why does this matter?   You do NOT need outside sources, or to watch any films other than those that we have seen in class.   POSSIBLE TOPICS:    We have talked some about the social functions of comedy.  What do you think that comedy, as a genre, can accomplish that other genres cannot?  Argue against Aristotle for the importance of comedy, using two of the films that we have watched this semester to make your point.  Make sure to use specific scenes to highlight your argument.   With both THE DICTATOR and SEVEN BEAUTIES, one might argue that certain subject matter is best not treated in a comic/satirical manner.  In conversation with the Bettelheim, write about whether or not you think that the material covered in either of those two moves is good fodder for comedy.  Do you think that it is socially responsible to satirize something as serious as the concentration camps?  Does it allow to easily for misreading the films, or is Bettelheim’s argument missing something? Compare and contrast two of the films that we have watched this semester in how they depict gender roles.  Pay particular attention to ironic/satirical moments that attempt to lampoon certain visions of masculinity and femininity.  In these films, what is the social function of rigid or fluid gender roles/depictions?