Culture through Film and Television

Essay #2: Culture through Film and Television

answer with A,B, or C  and then explain in a couple of sentences what you might say. (WRITE IT SEPARATELY FROM THE ESSAY)

Choose ONE of the following:

1. A) Using Gabler’s essay as a framework, discuss a television series that is a “wish fulfillment” and contrast it with one that is, in your opinion, more “realistic” (For example, This is Us Shameless; Jane the Virgin vs. Vida). What insights about cultural mythology can you draw from these differences? Use general summaries of the shows, specific examples of scenes and/or episodes and dialogue, and quotes/paraphrase from at least two outside sources (could be essays from our book) to support and illustrate.
2. B) Using the stages of the hero’s journey (monomyth), compare two films from different eras or different cultures. Analyze the connection of each film to its own time or place. In what ways do the films diverge from the hero myth? In what ways do the films show similar and/or different cultural mythologies through the monomyth? What conclusions can you draw from their similarities or differences? Use general summaries of the films, specific examples of scenes and dialogue, and quotes/paraphrases from at least two outside sources (could be essays from our book) to support and illustrate.
3. C) Pick a genre of film (sci-fi, horror, teen comedy, western, rom-com, superhero, animated, etc.) and analyze at least one film from our current era (something in the last 5 years) and one film from at least one previous era (something from the 1950s-2010). Discuss their similarities (how they fit the conventions of their genre) and then discuss how their differences reflect the cultural mythologies of the eras in which they were produced. This should be the main point you are making in the essay. For instance, if you are analyzing superhero films, you might notice that in the early 80s all superheros were white males, while superheros now are more diverse. Maybe you’ll see that the 80s films’ plots were about stopping villains from taking over Earth, while today’s villains are destroying Earth. Perhaps that reflects the collective fears of corporate takeover of the 80s vs the collective fear of climate change today.Use general summaries of the films, specific examples of scenes and dialogue, and quotes/paraphrase from at least two outside sources (could be essays from our book or credible online sources like Vox, The Atlantic, The New York Times–particularly articles by A.O. Scott) to support and illustrate. (Note: You could also do this with TV shows).

Essay should be 5-6 double-spaced pages in MLA format and a Works Cited page. You must use at least one quote from at least three different outside sources (could be essays from our book).

• Should have a title that states the topic and hints at the thesis.
• Introduction should begin with 3-5 sentences introducing the topic of how television and film reflect and/or distort social reality.
• A thesis statement should end the introduction making an analytical argument—that is detailed, developed, and dynamic—about the particular shows or films you will be discussing.
• Body paragraphs should begin with clearly articulated topic sentences that develop individual points helping to support your overall thesis.
• Evidence should describe the shows/films and be connected to quotes, paraphrase, and/or summary from outside sources (could be essays from the book).
• Conclusion should bring these individual points back to the overall thesis and make it clear what the implications are between the differences you pointed out in the shows or films.