Following the film showing, you will write a short (1000-1500 word) paper analyzing one musical number from the film in depth. The overarching question that your essay should address is:
How does music contribute to the construction of gender identity in the film that you selected?
Your paper should include:
An introduction, including a thesis statement that answers the question above.
A one paragraph summary of background information about Bollywood taken from lecture and/or in-class readings. This background should include the role of women in Bollywood films, cited according to course policy guidelines.
A one paragraph summary (NOT a blow-by-blow) of the plot of the film. Who are the main characters? What is the central conflict of the plot? How do the characters attempt to resolve the conflict?
A description of one musical scene in the film that you would like to analyze. Who is there? What is happening? What do you observe in terms of costuming? Dancing? Instruments? Relationships between people of different genders?
A description of the social context for the music in your selected scene. Who is making music? Where? Why? Draw some conclusions about the relationship between music and gender as represented in the film.
Select some lyrics from your chosen theme and discuss how they relate to your broader point about music and gender.
A final paragraph in which you tie together all of the evidence you have provided. End with a declarative statement about the role of music and gender in Bollywood films.
Your film choices are:
Queen (2013) – Netflix
Mother India (1957) – Amazon Prime, YouTube
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) – Netflix
