Second assignment: a "Yes" and Yes" pair of essays 15% of Final Grade Due: Wednesday, October 23rd Write a pair of two-and-one-half-page essays (five pages or 1,500 words total), each of which affirms a point of view that is incompatible with the other. In each essay, do NOT refer to the other essay. Both "Yes" essays must discuss the same film, either Born on the Fourth of July or My Left Foot. Try to view the film twice before writing your essays. Place the film you choose in dialogue with itself, but avoid summarizing the film's narrative. Discuss the representation of disability in the film you choose in light of the issues raised by Martin Norden's "Politics, Movies, and Physical Disability" (course reader). Cite this piece at least once in each essay. Consider your audience to be those who have seen the film you are discussing but who have not read Norden. Do NOT critique Norden's argument. In a similar vein, avoid analyzing the film's plot and characters. Instead, focus on disability stereotypes. In the first "Yes" paper, make the case that the film illustrates the disability stereotypes Norden identifies. For example, how do the movies portraying the lives of Ron Kovic and Christy Brown rehash the same old theme of "extraordinary (an often initially embittered) individuals whose lonely struggles against incredible odds make for . . . heart-warming stories of courage and triumph"? Summarize just enough of Norden's piece so that your references to it will make sense to someone who has not read it. Explain the parts of it you use to justify your argument. In the second "Yes" essay, challenge the first essay's thesis by arguing that the opposite is the case, that the film you are discussing goes beyond the cliches and stereotypes Norden describes. Explain how the film represents a new, interesting, fresh approach by showing the complex, flawed, and all-too-human lives of the disabled. Again, keep your summary of Norden's essay to a minimum, but do explain the parts of it you use. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to consider varying perspectives seriously and to practice working with counter-arguments and citations. This assignment has two goals. The most important goal is to develop two strong, mutually exclusive theses. You will support these theses with evidence drawn from the same pool of sources (the Norden essay and one of the films). You also may use the N.Y.U. Film Database (keyword: Disability) as well as other sources. The second goal involves citing sources. Use MLA style to guide you in creating endnotes and in-text citations (see pp. 516+ in the handbook). By the way, when referring to the film in the body of your text, be specific: because you cannot cite a page number when discussing an incident or scene in a movie, make certain that your references to these elements are intelligible. Put your email address along with your name on the first page of this assignment. Remember to plan ahead: this assignment is due at the beginning of class Wednesday, October 23th. Back to top |
Site designed and produced
by
D. Christopher
Gabbard
last modified: 09/25/00