The American Dream – Ideologies in Life and Pop-Culture: A Film Review
During this section you will examine the American Dream, but with a focus on popular culture. You will examine ideologies, ethics, morals, values, and experiences as they pertain to the
American Dream as you interpret it, and as they are represented within
film, music, poetr
y, fiction, and creative nonfiction. For the “essay” you will write an analysis/review of a film chosen from the list below (if you
want to choose your own
film, it must be related to the themes we ha
ve been exploring during
the American Dream essay block, and it must be appr
o
ved by me via email at least one week
before the essay is due).
The
films: choose one for this essay (some of these
films are rated R, and contain adult content.
If you are uncomfortable with any of the
films, please choose another from the list, or request a
film of your own at least one week before the essay is due). I will pr
ovide at least one location
where you can
find the movie (such as Net
flix, or Amazon Video—all can be found here at the
least) but you are free to
find the movie elsewhere (please note that some of these movies may
no longer be a
vailable on the listed platform, if that is the case let me know ASAP!).
• The Pursuit of Happyness (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated PG-13
• An American Tail (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated G
• The Great Gatsby (any version: the 1974 Version Staring Robert Redford is a
vailable on
Net
flix, and the 2013 version staring Leonardo DiCaprio is a
vailable for rent on Amazon
Video, and there is also a 1949 version, though I was unable to locate this online) – PG
and PG-13
• Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – NR
• Little Miss Sunshine (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated R
• Citizen Kane (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video & on YouTube) – NR
• Idiocracy (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated R
• The Immigrant (a
vailable on Net
flix) – Rated R
• Spanglish (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated PG-13
• The Border (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated R
• Moscow On the Hudson (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated R
• Alamo Bay (a
vailable for rent on Amazon Video) – Rated R The Guidelines:
As you view the
film, consider how the cuts, camera angles, shots and mo
vement work to create
particular meanings. Think about how they establish space, privilege certain characters, suggest relationships, emphasize themes, or forward the narrative. In addition to camera angles, editing,
and camera mo
vement, note details of the narrative, setting, characters, lighting, props, costume,
tone, and sound.
Howe
ver, with that in mind, the main purpose of this analysis is to compare and contrast the
film
with our discussions on the American Dream. Think about the characters and the setting, the tone and overall mood, the themes and motifs, and the narrative of the story. How does it
compare to the American Dream narratives? To begin your r
eview/analysis (your intro
paragraph), offer your o
verall impression of the
film while mentioning the movie’s title, director,
and k
ey actors, then as you mo
ve into your body paragraphs, ask yourself the following
questions:
• How is the story in the
film told? (Linear, with
flashbacks,
flash-forwards, episodically)?
What “happens” in the plot of the
film that is similar to “real life?” What is the basic
argument of the
film’s plot? What themes (an abstraction or generalization about life,
humanity, and human/non-human interactions) underlie the plot? What does the
film
show about the people and their values? How does this differ from the values and
ideologies we ha
ve explored, if at all?
• How does the
film cue particular reactions on the part of viewers (sound, editing,
characterization, camera mo
vement, etc.)? Why does the
film encourage such reactions?
Are these reactions similar to those we see in our real lives?
• What objects or settings ser
ve symbolic functions in the
film? What are the objects
and/or settings, and what are their functions?
• What is the music’s purpose in the
film? How does it direct our attention within the
image? How does it shape our interpretation of the image?
• How might industrial, social, and economic factors ha
ve in
fluenced the
film?
• Does the
film follow or critique dominant ideologies? Does it r
e
flect and shape particular
cultural tensions? If you think so, how so? If not, why not? • If the resolution of the film teaches a lesson (they usually do), what is that lesson, and
how can you apply it to your own life?
Once you have answered these questions, you may add to the review any other thoughts or
feelings you have in regards to the film. Remember to “read the film,” don’t just watch it.
Requirements:
A. Essay/review must be 1250 words minimum (about 5 pages)—but, quality over quantity
B. MLA format: double spaced, 12pt font, with a works cited page if you cite any sources.