SWEET writing assignment (B-Ran & Enron you would love this)

Topic for Essay Three: Film Analysis

"This Is Your Life, And It Is Ending One Minute At A Time": For your third essay, you will write a 750-minimum-word critical analysis on the highly charged and controversial film, Fight Club. This is an open-ended assignment that will allow you to develop an original argument that focuses on one aspect of the film that grabs your attention. I have put a VHS copy of the film on reserve at the PCC SE Center Library, but you can find this film on VHS and DVD quite easily at any local video rental store. Rated R for its violence and profanity, Fight Club is a challenging film in more ways than one.

Become a Critical Viewer: This essay is harder than you might think. This is not a film "book report." I do not want an endless, bone-dry retelling of the plot. Assume that your reader has already seen the film, but perhaps can be convinced to see it in a new light after reading your effectively supported argument. Only quote or paraphrase scenes that advance your argument. Analyze the film; don't waste time summarizing it. Viewing film with a critical eye requires a different set of practices from those you might use while passively watching a Sunday night sitcom or other distractive fare. Be an active observer while watching Fight Club. Do not just soak up the movie without introspection; take notes as you engage it. :

Making a Critical Analysis: Film analysis is critical analysis, and by this I mean that your readers do not care whether you liked the film or not. This is not a simple "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" assignment; this is not a movie review. Instead, you will be making a complex argument that enlightens the reader to your interpretation of some aspect of the film. You are to limit that analysis strictly to the literary devices of character, theme, and symbolism rather than the film’s overall entertainment value, Oscar-worthiness, or any other attributes that fall outside the needs of this assignment. Create a complex argument; help your readers see the film in new way by focusing on the debatable areas in the film. Assume that you and the reader have seen the same film; however, the reader needs help understanding the film's deeper meaning. Your job is to provide that deeper understanding. Consider the following elements:

1. Character and Conflict: How do the other characters in the movie react to the character you are observing? How does the character behave toward others? What critical choices does the character make, and what conflict (especially if the character is the protagonist) does the character face? How is the character depicted on screen? Does the physical description represent something about the character?

2. Theme and Symbolism: As you know should know, an image that is consistently repeated throughout a story often acquires a meaning or suggestiveness beyond itself. What are the symbols used throughout the film, and is there a dominant symbol in the film?

A novel's theme can usually be summed up into a noun phrase (e.g., the pain of growing up, the struggle against seemingly unbeatable odds, the tragedy of hubris, etc.). When you write about theme, you express the theme as an assertion in your thesis statement. Possible structure of a thesis statement about theme:

In the movie The Thin Red Line, the protagonist's struggle to remain righteous and compassionate even during the battle of Gaudacanal affirms the triumph of human spirituality even in the most inhumane conditions.

Incorporating Literary and Film Criticism: You are allowed to bring up observations from published critics as long as these quotes advance your argument rather than supplant them. Always incorporate outside sources using MLA citation.

What to do Next: Make sure to watch Fight Club or your replacement assignment before the beginning of the next module. The next module will give you several ideas for a thesis. This essay is due by the date indicated in the course calendar.

Wow. It is as if the heavens opened up and spat out a college writing assignment. You are a lucky man.

I agree. Awesome assignment. Congratulations!