Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

- Pick a US film from the period 1960-present.
- You may write a comparative paper if you so wish, but please do not write about more than 3 films.
- You must use at least 4-5 sources you have found during research. All 5 sources may be secondary, but if you want to include primary sources, limit these to 2, with the other 3 being scholarly, secondary sources rather than popular sources (check with your TA if you are unsure which is which).
- The choice of film is yours, you may use a film from the syllabus, or from off the syllabus, but you must have access to the film (so you can watch it repeatedly in order to write your paper). If a film is unavailable through Kanopy, you will not be able to order it. Also check Swank for availability or other streaming services you have access to.
- Write a research based paper in which you critically analyze and discuss the film through a historical framework. When thinking about which kind of framework or focus you want to take, consider some of these potential avenues:
1. How concepts of authorship or film style were affected by the political environment in which the film was made e.g. under fascism, post-colonialism…
- Or how the film industry was affected by other changesg. conglomeration, the emergence of independent production companies and distributors, the rise of home viewing technologies.
- How the film represents a social issue – e.g. sexuality, gender, race relations, war, crime, youth and counterculture
- How the film fits into a particular genre or cycle of films – e.g. counterculture/psychedelic films, Blaxploitation, action films, “smart” films, chick flicks, New Queer Cinema.


- Try to identify a question you want to answer through writing the paper. You can make this question the title of your paper. Answering this question will result in your thesis.
- Show your research in your writing – include information from primary sources you have used, and cite/quote what other film scholars have written about your chosen topic. However, remember to keep the thesis original and your own.
- Use your chosen film to support your argument and discuss your topic. There should be a good balance between presenting your research, and analyzing the film/s.