Final Options

War & Cinema: Final Presentation Options

Choose an option below and construct a 10-12 minute presentation, including visuals (either powerpoint with stills or clips from a film you are analyzing).  The response to each option should be at least three paragraphs and posted to the blog – the template is helpful to use when appropriate.

First claim, first serve. You can reserve your show/film/game of choice at the end of class week 7 or email me as soon as you decide. I will be posting taken shows on the blog (on this post under the option), so please check this post before you email me. Certain options have unlimited possibilities – this is to ensure that no one presents the same media twice

You must use three sources, limited to scholarly articles, newspapers or magazine (no on-line reviews or forum quotes). Most option include at least one mandatory source—it is your responsibility to research and find the remaining sources. As always, cite all sources.

Make sure your presentation and clearly presenting an argument or analysis.

Option A:

Television & Violence: Episodic Battle

Read: Television violence and behavior: A research summary and use it to contextualize an episodic television show that revolves around war or battle.

You are free to choose the show but note that no show can be presented twice.

Use the following quote as a jumping point:

 Research...has revealed that violence on television plays an important role in communicating the social order and in leading to perceptions of the world as a mean and dangerous place. Symbolic victimization on television and real world fear among women and minorities, even if contrary to the facts, are highly relate

Please find and deconstruct the social order and symbolic victimization in the series and include a clip or visual to support your argument.

Some suggestions: Band of Brothers, Birdsong, Generation Kill, Game of Thrones, Battlestar Galactia.

Ben H - M*A*S*H
Jake - The Wire

 Option B:

The War Reporter

Read: The depiction of war reporters in Hollywood feature

films from the Vietnam war to the present and use it to frame a film that features a war reporter.

Present a singular film, with a developed war reporter as a character and present them  in relation to the time period the film was made. The essay chronicles a history of this archetype, it is important that the function of the character is presented in its historical context.

Some ideas worth presenting – authenticity, gender issues, journalistic ethics

Some suggestions: The Bedford Incident (1965), We Were Soldiers (2002), The Green Berets ( 1968), The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), Under Fire (1983), Three Kings (1999), War Photographer (2001) – documentary

Bradley Davis - War Photographer

Option C:

Propaganda and Horror Films of the 40’s

Read: OWI Meets the Monsters: Hollywood Horror Films and War Propaganda, 1942 to 1945, and use it to frame a horror film from the 1940’s.

Describe the relationship between OWI and Hollywood, specifically related to the film at hand if possible, and present the most obvious metaphors and symbols deployed.

Keep in mind the distinction between good and evil and the possibility of cold war or anti-communist sentiment. Draw distinction between horror and pathos.

Suggestions: Dead of Night (1945), The Body Snatcher (1945), The Devil Commands, The (1941), The Ghost Breakers (1940), Man Made Monster (1941), Beast with Five Fingers, The (1946), Bedlam (1946), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Lady and the Monster (1944), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), The Wolf Man (1941)

Option D:

War & Comedy

Choose a particular comedic film and present its simplification of violence or use of satire to reveal truths. Consider the article, The best humour is satire, and there's a reason we have so little of it today

You are required to use professional reviews or articles about your specific film as your remaining sources.

Suggestions: Stripes, The Great Dictator, Hot Shot! Part Deux, Catch-22, Kelly's Heroes, To Be Or Not To Be, Starship Troopers, Bananas

Kerry Kutzer - Catch 22
Christiane Butler - Starship Troopers

Carol Ostling
Aaron Charney - Bananas
Kevin Fisk - Hot Shots

Option E:

Video Games and the Military

Read, Video games gaining clout as military training tools & Adapting video games for military application and present a particular game that promotes engagement with war.

There are two additional sources Video games sub reading 1 & 2 posted on ecompanion that you should read as well.

Create a powerpoint with stills and argue in support or against the use of these games in the military.

The game must contain actual battle or a game cleared for training purposes.

Mike Mitchell - Mass Effect

Option F:

War Comic Books in America

Read, The Dream of Total War and choose a particular war comic and present the clear distinction of good and evil within a historical and social context.

Bryan Tosh - Sgt. Rock

Option G

The Auteur & War Cinema

With Auteur Theory as a base, describe how one of the following directors imprinted their markedly stylistic tendencies in a war film.

Read, The Auteur Theory of Film: Holy or Just Full of Holes? And make a case in support of or suspicion of auteur theory.

 

Must choose from one of the following directors:

Yi Man­hui (article provided) - Taken by Jin

Errol Morris - Taken by Mark

Steven Soderbergh

Akira Kurosawa
David Lean - Taken by Andrew

Option H

Feminism & War 

Read, Feminist folkloristics and women's cinema: Towards a methodology.

“Koven argues that the deciding factor of gendered cinema is not to be found in the biological sex of the director or screenwriter, and that the only way a feminine voice can be heard is by a radical shift in the narrative codes.”

Use this idea as a jumping point to analyze Courage Under Fire, A Few Good Men or G.I Jane.