is activity is designed to assess your ability to identify themes, symbols, and motifs that are common to myths within the American cultural context. You should watch your film and take notes. You will select one of the films listed below as the focus of your essay:
Superman, directed by Richard Donner (1978)
The Fountain, directed by Daniel Aronofsky
Star Wars: A New Hope, directed by George Lucas(1977)
Blood Diamond, directed by Edward Zwick
The Truman Show, directed by Peter Weir
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson(2001)
The Piano, directed by Jane Campion
Ondine, directed by Neil Jordan
The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Cloud Atlas, directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski
Smoke Signals , directed by Chris Eyre
Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Elizabeth, directed by Shekhar Kapur
The Crow, directed by Alex Proyas (1994)
You will be graded in the following ways:
1. Identify: Explain what myth(s) or mythological material the film contains in terms of their mythological name and function
Example: In Batman Begins many of the characters typically seen in a hero myth are present. Alfred plays the role of the “mentor” , Ra’s al Ghul is the “shadow”, and Jim Gordon is an “Ally”.
2. Assess: Briefly list several predominant symbols and their meaning
Example: The Bat Cave is the mythological cave that births and protects the hero. That Bat Suit is much like the divine weapons and armor given to the hero, such as Achilles in The Iliad, to help them complete their quest.
3. Categorize: Briefly list predominant allusion(s) to other myths or mythic material
Example: The death of Bruce’s parents is an allusion to the Hercules myth. Hercules was not directly responsible for killing his wife and children, as he was stuck with madness by Hera, but carries the guilt of their deaths. Bruce’s hero’ journey is fueled by the same guilt and need to remove the stain of guilt from his soul.
4. Summarize: Briefly summarize the mythological meaning of the film
Example: The film Batman Begins carries a similar meaning and story arch as the myth of Hercules. Bruce caries the sins of others upon him and bears the burdens of crimes he did not commit. Through his journey he is reborn a hero and champions the idea that hard work and commitment leads to success.
Format
The essay should be written in 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacd, and 1-inch margins. Any necessary citations must use MLA format. The essay should be at least 800 words in length.
