Directions
1. Develop THREE (3) well-developed paragraphs about “Grand Torino” film’s connection to the American Dream.
In the first paragraph and second paragraphs, discuss how specific scenes in the film reflect the achievement of the American Dream OR the disillusionment with the American Dream by one or more of the characters or the plot, setting or other elements of the film.
In the third paragraph, discuss how the American Dream is achieved (or falls short) in context with ONE of the readings on the American dream assigned in this unit (see Assignment 1).
2. Provide clear and specific examples from the film, including quotes or paraphrases from the selected reading as necessary to support your assertions. Be sure to properly integration any in text citations in MLA format.
3. Add a Works Cited at the end of your analysis. (Don’t forget to cite the film you watched, as well as the articles you referenced in your post).
4. Post your analysis in Film Discussion in the Group Forum by creating a thread within the discussion board. NOTE: Do not post in the Forum page itself but within the discussion forum for which you will have to create a thread.
Purpose
This activity will deepen your understanding of the American Dream in film and provide some practice with critical thinking and analysis in preparation for the analysis essay due at the end of this unit.
Grading
I will grade this assignment on the thoroughness of your understanding of the American Dream, the clarity of the points you develop, and the support your provide from the film and selected reading(s). (50 points)
Assignment 1: Film Viewing
NOTE: You will work with your peer group for some components of this unit.
Directions
Read the articles in The American Dream–Definitions and Perspectives section provided in the Unit and General Resources Tab (see left) under the Unit 4 folder.
Go to the Group Forum tab at left and find your group.
In the Discussion Board of the Group’s forum, find the name of the film assigned to your group.
Then, go to the Films tab at left and use SWANK to watch the film assigned to your group. As you watch, take notes and respond to the three (3) questions provided in SWANK.
Finally, identify specific scenes in the film which reflect the achievement of the American Dream OR the disillusionment with the American Dream by one or more of the characters. Your answers to the SWANK questions, along with your additional observations will help you to develop a research argument essay on the film in the next week. For the purposes of this class a scene is: “a single piece of action that happens in one place in a film”(source: Longman English Dictionary Online). Here are some tips that can help you in key scenes of the film and what to look for are you analyze them:
Select a significant 2-5 minute scene that will provoke your reader to think about the central argument (depiction of the American Dream) in your upcoming Film Essay (Scroll down to view “Film Argument Essay Overview” for more information about your upcoming essay).
In addition to describing the dialogue and action in the scene, analyze visual elements – such as camera angles, lighting, setting, dialogue, clothing, facial expressions, music and other sounds, representations of cultures, gender, race, ethnicity, or class that may support your assertions about how the American dream is depicted in the film.
Purpose
This activity provides practice in critically analyzing film.