Film Analysis Assignment

Overview (Definition)

As simplified by John Rawls (1971), "[C]ivil disobedience is a public, non-violent and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim of bringing about a change in laws or government policies. On this account, people who engage in civil disobedience are willing to accept the legal consequences of their actions, as this shows their fidelity to the rule of law. Civil disobedience, given its place at the boundary of fidelity to law, is said to fall between legal protest, on the one hand, and conscientious refusal, revolutionary action, militant protest and [organized] forcible resistance, on the other hand."

Writing Prompt:

Considering this brief definition, your assigned readings and lecture videos concerning civil disobedience, how has your film portrayed the act of civil disobedience? What is the creator's message about the political and/or civil unrest in the film and civil disobedience, and more importantly, how does the various narrative and cinematic techniques function to rely the creator's message?

Also, as you review your film, consider the following questions:

How does the changing consciousness and the developing awareness of the major characters affect the story and help the audience discover the theme?

What acts in the movie do you consider civil disobedience?

Do the results justify the means?

To support your answer, reflect on the various visual elements used. Remember, the author uses these elements to help guide readers to his or her message. Your analysis will explain how these elements influence the audience and solidify the creator's message.

Select one of the following films for your analysis:
· Gandhi (1982)
· V for Vendetta (2006)
· Milk (2008) · Selma (2014)
· Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Length:

In standard written English, write 750-word (850 max) essay using MLA conventions for formatting, in-text citations, and a works cited list. Your essay should be an analytical essay that explains the overall message and/or effectiveness of a visual piece. You must provide an explicit thesis -located in your introduction- that will provide a focus for your paper.