Essay Topics

The final research essay is worth 50%. You must write 2000 words (you are allowed to be 10% under or over this, but no more). At least 3 articles or books need to be included in a bibliography that MUST be formatted and cited correctly. You must cite and reference Harvard style. A grading rubric will be posted by Week 7. This should help you understand what is expected of you for this assessment.

In Week 10, on Sept. 21, lecture will be a writing workshop. We expect all students to have an essay plan and some writing completed by this stage. This will give you the opportunity to have feedback and assistance before submission is due.

1. Film theorist ShohiniChaudhuri writes of Mehta's work: "Mehta belongs to a vanguard of South Asian migrant filmmakers whose work attempts to confront aspects of Indian reality left out of the domestic popular cinema." Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, reflect on Chaudhuri's quote. You may use a filmmaker and a film from a national cinema of your choice.

2. Using a psychoanalytic lens, comparatively analyse two films from two different cultures to examine and discuss how gender roles are defined and depicted in these national cinemas.

3. Using two films from two diverse national cinemas, explore and discuss the cinematic representations of the unconscious in these films.

4. Reflecting on Laura Mulvey's seminal essay on the male gaze, research current scholarly writings on the female gaze. Use a film of your choice to examine, discuss and illustrate your research on the female gaze.

5. Psychoanalysis can be helpful in allowing us to look afresh at film. Using the ideas of one theorist discussed in class, explain what they have helped you to see. Use examples from film to illustrate your argument.