Assignment Instructions
The goal of this assignment is to assess your ability to produce a coherent synthesis of how different aspects of film content and film form connect to what we are learning in class about historical representation through documentary film.
For Film Analysis # 2 your object of analysis is the documentary 500 Years: Life in Resistance (Pamela Yates, 2017).
Assignment due date: Monday, July 19, noon
Assignment Value: 15%
Evaluation Criteria:
• Write a clear, organized, and coherent text of approximately 500-600 words.
• Your analysis and interpretation of the film content should show familiarity with the whole film, as well as an ability to engage in detail with a specific part of the film and integrate cinematographic scale (brief explanation).
• It is essential that you synthesize in what ways this documentary serves as a vehicle for historical knowledge.
• When referring to the film content, you may refer to situations and information learned through the film, but you should also incorporate what you have learned about documentary film.
• When referring to aspects of film form, it is important to use the correct terminology, and to offer a very detailed description.
Notetaking:
As preparation for writing, you will need to watch the film more than once, and take notes as you watch it. Try to answer these questions:
On first viewing:
Where does the film take place?
Who are the people who are given a voice?
What did you learn through this documentary?
What are the time frames in which the different events documented occur? -Why is it a documentary and not a narrative film?
On second viewing:
Select a significant moment or scene in the documentary that engages directly with historically useful information
Which elements of film form help convey this information in a powerful way?
At the writing stage:
-Incorporate relevant information from your notes
1 Assignment Submission:
• The assignment is due on Monday, July 19, at noon. Late assignments will not be accepted
. • The assignment needs to be submitted on Moodle: Click on Film Analysis # 2, then click on “Add submission”, and submit your file.
• Assignments must be in PDF format, typed, Times New Roman, 12-pt font, and double-spaced with page numbers.
• Writing a clear, organized, and coherent text is an important skill. You also need to familiarize yourself with the conventions of academic writing. refer to the “Writing Tips for Film Analysis” slides shared through Moodle.
• At the end of your document, indicate your word count, and whether you will require written feedback.
• File naming convention: LastName_FirstName_Film Analysis 2.pdf
Example: Rozsa_Irene_Film Analysis 2.pdf
Refer to the full Assignment Submission Policy and Late Assignment Policy described in the course outline.
