FINAL PAPER ENGL 145: HONORS ENGLISH II POSTMODERN FILM

PAPER DUE: THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

I will not accept late papers.

You must bring your paper to my office between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The topic

incorporates scholarly research in addition to using any of the readings from class.

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In class, we have been discussing the characteristics of postmodernism, especially

postmodern film. We have also discussed some of the reasons for these characteristics.

For this paper, you must choose one of the films from the list below. You must view the

film, and then, using at least three peer reviewed sources, discuss how the film

reflects at least two characteristics of post modernism. Only two of these sources

may be a (detailed) review of the film. The other must be a scholarly or critical essay about

your film. You must use library resources, both peer reviewed journals and other peer

reviewed sources (such as newspapers and magazines).

To do this, you must describe at least two scenes in the film that reflect each of your

chosen characteristics (four different scenes total) in support of your analysis. Please

describe the scenes in detail, the visual elements as well as the dialogue. You must support

your analyses of these scenes with quotes from your sources. Remember, your focus is

how these scenes embody postmodern characteristics.

You must use correct MLA in-text citation for both your sources and for the film. You must

also include a correct MLA List of Works Cited.

The films from which you may choose are:

Pulp Fiction (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

The Truman Show (dir. Peter Weir)

Inglorious Basterds (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

Blade Runner (dir. Ridley Scott)

Black Swan (dir. Darren Aronofsky)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (dir. Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones)

Looper (dir. Rian Johnson)

Being John Malkovich (dir. Spike Jonze)

Moon (dir. Duncan Jones)

Fight Club (dir. David Fincher)

Zombieland (dir. Ruben Fleischer)

Children of Men (dir. Alfonso Cuarón)

Memento (dir. Christopher Nolan)

Shutter Island (dir. Martin Scorsese)

The Prestige (dir. Christopher Nolan)

Pan’s Labyrinth (dir. Guillermo del Toro)

Please write carefully and well. I estimate that this paper will be 5 to 6 pages in length, but

length is a function of the topic and the way in which your film reflects postmodern

sensibilities. Please be sure to proofread your paper. If you would like me to look at a draft

of your paper, you must get it to me by Sunday, April12, at noon.