Personal and Cultural Identity

ASSIGNMENT 1: Film Analysis

Learning Target (Curricular Competencies):

  • Construct meaningful personal connections between self, text, and world
  • Explore how language constructs personal and cultural identities

Discovering and developing our personal and cultural identity means we need to recognize...

  1. Relationships and cultural contexts
  2. Personal values and choice
  3. Personal strengths and abilities

Task: 

Write a 200 word response to one of the following topics.  Be sure to identify which film you have chosen to view and discuss in your topic sentence.

Choose from one of the 3 choices below. You may need to do a little research on a specific term or element. 

1.  Discuss one of the following literary terms and its contribution to the overall message of the film as it pertains to cultural identity.  Choose one of irony, satire, foreshadowing, setting, plot.  How is a culture being portrayed in the movie?  Are there stereotypes?  Is it positive or negative?  How does this literary device contribute to the development of the cultural identity being portrayed in the movie?  Discuss relationships, context, and values.

OR

2.  Identify and discuss cinematic elements in the film as they pertain to cultural identity.  Cinematic elements include SHOT (framing, angle and camera movement); LIGHTING; EDITING. How is a culture being portrayed in the movie cinematically?  Are there stereotypes?  Is it positive or negative?  How do these elements contribute to the development of the cultural identity being portrayed in the movie?  Discuss relationships, context, and values.

OR

3.  Identify and discuss theatrical elements in the film as they pertain to cultural identity.  Theatrical elements include costume, props, set design, acting choice.  How is a culture being portrayed in the movie theatrically?  Are there stereotypes?  Is it positive or negative?  How do these elements contribute to the development of the cultural identity being portrayed in the movie?  Discuss relationships, context, and values.

Click here for a sample movie critique.

Click here for an explanation on how to write movie critiques.

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target: (Exemplary 6/6): Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective.  Student demonstrates critical, creative, and reflective thinking to construct meaningful personal connections between self, text, and world.  Element is accurately identified and evaluated according to how it pertains to cultural identity. 

Written Expression:  Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Content contributes to the central idea and makes insightful connections with logical organization.

Submission: 

Use the "3.1 Film Analysis" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.