Write a paper (4-6 pages) examining a movie, miniseries, short subject, or fictional book’s portrayal of a particular time in American history, and with the help of at least two (2) outside sources critically analyze the film. There are any number of ways this assignment can be done. The most straightforward way might be simply selecting one movie and two secondary sources, but, it is also perfectly acceptable (if not encouraged) that students can select an early movie and a later movie about similar events or themes, to discuss changing perceptions. So, for instance, if one were interested in the retelling of the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944, one might watch The Longest Day (1962) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), and compare how a thirty-six-year difference shapes the telling of a similar story. Another option might be to choose movies such as Mississippi Burning (1988) and Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) to describe the Civil Rights movement. For fictional movies in the list, such as On the Beach, Fail Safe, Dr. Strangelove, or Wargames, the objective would be to examine more what these movies tell about Cold War society and fear, and examine how these movies are representative of the time and society that created them — with analysis of their historical accuracy focusing more on analysis of the society of the time. Please note: in all cases, you must use two secondary sources.
Sample Solution
