Critical Thinking and Analysis:
With our second writing assingment, we are going to take some of the things we have learned in class and use criticial thinking and analysis to take a look at politics in film.
Prompt:
Watch a film relating to American politics/government and analyze it using what we have learned in this course. Does it portray government/campaigns/elections in a positive light? A negative light? How are politicians and political operatives portrayed? Does it seem accurate in terms of what we have learned this semester? Do you spot any other things we have learned in this course?
Instructions:
Papers are to be double spaced, 12 point font, and should be between 3-5 pages. Do not include any headers–just a title and your name. Please use the text box below or upload to Blackboard in a compatible format (.pdf or .docx). Outside research is not necessary–this is your analysis of the film. You may provide a brief synopsis or summary of the movie, but the bulk of your paper should be dedicated to the analysis.
You may choose one of the films listed below, or you may choose your own. If you do select your own, you must have it approved by instructor.
Film Suggestions:
Primary Colors
The American President
All the King’s Men
The Contender
The Candidate
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Bulworth
Wag the Dog
The Distinguished Gentleman
Frost/Nixon
JFK
Election
Black Sheep
Game Change (HBO)
Recount (HBO)
Selma
Lincoln
Show Me A Hero (mini series)
Dave
Hamilton
The Ides of March
Malcolm X
The Conversation
Citizen Kane
Milk
The Manchurian Candidate
The Post
All the Way
Iron Jawed Angels
Vice
