Eastern Kentucky Beauty and The Beast Film and Feminist Theory Analysis Over the course of the semester, we have been discussing different aspects of femin

Eastern Kentucky Beauty and The Beast Film and Feminist Theory Analysis Over the course of the semester, we have been discussing different aspects of feminism. Now, I want you
to apply what you’ve learned to one of your favorite films by writing a film review. The film review is a
particular type of writing which involves summarizing important plot points as well as developing an
argument and performing close reading. In this essay you must discuss issues of gender and/or sexuality
within the film. I encourage you to incorporate information from our text, and you must include two
peer-reviewed articles from the library’s data base.
Some helpful hints:
Introduction
Within the first paragraph, provide the details of the film production: its title, the year of production,
the director, and any other interesting details about the production. Briefly summarize the plot of the
film—no more than two sentences. (This is hard! You will need to reread and revise in order to capture
the film in a small amount of space.) Your thesis statement should indicate some message that contains
sex, gender, or sexuality in some way.
Thesis and Focus
To form your thesis, think about the messages that the film conveys. If you’re struggling, go to the
WGS Capstone Terminology list and look for the major concepts that the film contains. For example, a
thesis statement could focus on the misogyny and biphobia of a heteronormative narrative between minor
characters in a film. Attempt to make an argument about gender or sexuality. Simply put this might come
in the form of a sentence that says “This film seems to be about x, but it is really about y.” Or, “The film
portrays women/sexuality in x way.”
Body
Most often, a film will contain a key scene or a specific character that most illustrates the message
you’ve identified. Analyze this scene closely, picking out cinematic aspects as well as literary, dramatic,
and technical components. Include these features:
?
Provide the names of the most important characters followed by the actors’ names in parentheses.
?
Provide brief context of the scene in relation to the whole film.
?
Include specific dialogue of characters.
?
Use feminist terminology in your analysis, preferably as part of your thesis and focus throughout
the paper.
?
Pick up on cinematic details—e.g., camera angle, lighting, zoom, background music, scenery,
repetitive colors.
?
Analyze literary and dramatic components—e.g., genre of the film, symbolism, dramatic irony,
point of view, conflict, costuming, sets, locations.
?
Throughout the paper, support or challenge your analysis with at least two sources of feminist
theory. Conclusion
Conclude by suggesting how the scene or character reflects and defines the movie as a whole, making
a point about sex, gender, or sexuality that doesn’t just repeat the thesis.
Greg Smith urged us to remember: “Nothing in a final film is there without having been examined by
scores of professionals who have carefully chosen the components. You can trust that if something is in a
film, it’s there for a reason.” So, if you think something in the film is symbolic and you can support your
opinion, it probably is.
(I suggest you stay away from reading reviews about your film, but instead consult reviews on other films
to help you understand the genre of the review.)
Requirements: 4 – 5 page minimum
MLA Format (double spaced, Times New Roman, MLA Heading)
Our text + 2 other peer-reviewed sources (use the EKU Library Database)
MLA In-text Citations
Works Cited Page (not included in the 4-5 page word count)
Some ideas. You are not limited to these films: Imitation of Life (1959)
Juno (2007)
Knocked Up (2007)
Maltese Falcon (1941)
Mannequin (1987)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Miss Representation (2012) (documentary)
Murder My Sweet (1945)
My Beautiful Launderette (1985)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Orlando (1992)
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Rebecca (1940)
(Hitchcock) Saved! (2004)
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Some Like it Hot (1959)
The Color Purple (1985)
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
The Single Man (2009)
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Tootsie (1982)
Vertigo (1958)
(Hitchcock) XXY (2007)
Yentl (1983)
See also this list from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/list/nHCF08M1ie0/ Women & Gender Studies: Feminist Theory and Practice
Film Review & Analysis
Over the course of the semester, we have been discussing different aspects of feminism. Now, I want you
to apply what you’ve learned to one of your favorite films by writing a film review. The film review is a
particular type of writing which involves summarizing important plot points as well as developing an
argument and performing close reading. In this essay you must discuss issues of gender and/or sexuality
within the film. I encourage you to incorporate information from our text, and you must include two
peer-reviewed articles from the library’s data base.
Some helpful hints:
Introduction
Within the first paragraph, provide the details of the film production: its title, the year of
production, the director, and any other interesting details about the production. Briefly summarize the
plot of the film—no more than two sentences. (This is hard! You will need to reread and revise in order
to capture the film in a small amount of space.) Your thesis statement should indicate some message that
contains sex, gender, or sexuality in some way.
Thesis and Focus
To form your thesis, think about the messages that the film conveys. If you’re struggling, go to
the WGS Capstone Terminology list and look for the major concepts that the film contains. For example,
a thesis statement could focus on the misogyny and biphobia of a heteronormative narrative between
minor characters in a film. Attempt to make an argument about gender or sexuality. Simply put this might
come in the form of a sentence that says “This film seems to be about x, but it is really about y.” Or, “The
film portrays women/sexuality in x way.”
Body
Most often, a film will contain a key scene or a specific character that most illustrates the
message you’ve identified. Analyze this scene closely, picking out cinematic aspects as well as literary,
dramatic, and technical components. Include these features:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provide the names of the most important characters followed by the actors’ names in parentheses.
Provide brief context of the scene in relation to the whole film.
Include specific dialogue of characters.
Use feminist terminology in your analysis, preferably as part of your thesis and focus throughout
the paper.
Pick up on cinematic details—e.g., camera angle, lighting, zoom, background music, scenery,
repetitive colors.
Analyze literary and dramatic components—e.g., genre of the film, symbolism, dramatic irony,
point of view, conflict, costuming, sets, locations.
Throughout the paper, support or challenge your analysis with at least two sources of feminist
theory.
Conclusion
Conclude by suggesting how the scene or character reflects and defines the movie as a whole,
making a point about sex, gender, or sexuality that doesn’t just repeat the thesis.
Greg Smith urged us to remember: “Nothing in a final film is there without having been examined by
scores of professionals who have carefully chosen the components. You can trust that if something is in a
film, it’s there for a reason.” So, if you think something in the film is symbolic and you can support your
opinion, it probably is.
(I suggest you stay away from reading reviews about your film, but instead consult reviews on other films
to help you understand the genre of the review.)
Requirements:
4 – 5 page minimum
MLA Format (double spaced, Times New Roman, MLA Heading)
Our text + 2 other peer-reviewed sources (use the EKU Library Database)
MLA In-text Citations
Works Cited Page (not included in the 4-5 page word count)
Some ideas. You are not limited to these films:
A League of Their Own (1992) A
Question of Silence (1982)
A Woman’s Face (1941)
Alien (1979) All About Eve (1950) Amelie
(2001) Antonia’s Line (1995)
Batman Returns (1992)
Beauty and the Beast (1991 or the most recent)
Black Is…Black Ain’t (1994) (documentary)
Blowup (1966)
Born in Flames (1983)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Cat Woman (2004)
Chocolat (2000)
Cruel Intentions(1999)
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
Double Indeminity (1944)
Elizabeth (1998)
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Female Trouble (1974)
G.I. Jane (1997)
Gentlemen Prefer Blonds (1953)
I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)
Imitation of Life (1959)
Juno (2007)
Knocked Up (2007)
Maltese Falcon (1941)
Mannequin (1987)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Miss Representation (2012) (documentary)
Murder My Sweet (1945)
My Beautiful Launderette (1985)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Orlando (1992)
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Rebecca (1940)
(Hitchcock) Saved! (2004)
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Some Like it Hot (1959)
The Color Purple (1985)
The Joy Luck Club (1993) The
Single Man (2009)
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Tootsie (1982)
Vertigo (1958)
(Hitchcock) XXY (2007)
Yentl (1983)
See also this list from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/list/nHCF08M1ie0/
Criteria Weak Introduction
0 to 4
points
The paper is weak in
several areas. The paper
veers off from the thesis
or does not stay focused
on the film.
Good
Organization
5 to 10 points The paper
omits one or more of the
assignment criteria.
Transitions are rough.
Content
Feminist
Support
0 to 4 points
The paper is
underdeveloped with less
than three full pages.
0 to 4 points
The paper summarizes
the film.
0 to 4 points
The paper does not make
it clear that any feminist
source was consulted for
the paper.
Documentation 0 to 2 points and
Citation The paper does not document or
cite its sources.
Very Good
5 to 10 points The paper
does not cover the film’s plot
or omits a major main point.
5 to 10 points The scope is
too broad with the paper’s
attempt to cover the whole
film instead of focus on
one particularly salient
scene.
5 to 10 points The paper
hardly mentions the feminist
source or seems to tack it on
as an afterthought.
3 to 4 points The paper
needs to depend closely
on MLA or APA style.
11 to 15 points The film’s plot
and/or the paper’s thesis is implied.
The paper omits an identifying part
of the film.
11 to 15 points The paper
follows the assignment
guidelines in a close manner.
Transitions are mostly smooth
between major points.
a mostly correct manner according to MLA
or APA format.
Excellent
16 to 20 points The paper includes a
paraphrased version of the film’s plot and the
paper’s main thesis. The intro includes
filmmaker’s name, major actors, title of film,
and year of production. Feminist terminology
is correctly employed in the thesis.
16 to 20 points The paper covers the
assignment in an orderly but not too rigid
structure. The body offers an insightful
analysis in an engaging manner with smooth
transitions between major points.
Development is 4-5 pages.
11 to 15 points The paper covers the
film in a mostly linear style; the
paper focuses on a specific scene but
does not connect it with the full film.
Analysis of main points could be
more insightful and detailed with
scenes, techniques, and motifs.
16 to 20 points The analysis of main points is
appropriate and clear. The paper provides a
detailed description of at least one scene with
examples of dialogue, relevant film
techniques, and dramatic/literary motifs to
illustrate the thesis.
11 to 15 points The paper contains a
feminist source, but it needs to be
incorporated more smoothly or
consistently.
16 to 20 points The paper smoothly
incorporates a feminist source to prove the
thesis throughout the paper.
5 to 7 points The paper
documents and cites all sources in
WGS 201 Feminist Theory & Practice Film Response
8 to 10 points The paper documents and cites
the film and at least one feminist source
according to MLA or APA format.
Usage and Editing
Total _________/100
to 2 points
The paper’s errors in
editing and usage detract
from the content.
to 4 points
The paper contains several
errors in editing and usage.
to 7 points
The paper shows minimal errors in
editing and usage.
to 10 points
The paper shows polished editing and uses
standard American English.

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