Watch the film This Changes Everything. It’s a documentary about how women are portrayed in
Hollywood, and efforts to change that portrayal.
The film is available through our video database Films On Demand. The link is https://fod-
infobase-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=283379. If you have difficulty
accessing the film, log in the library and search for the title. The film is also available through
Hoopla, the public library borrowing site [https://www.hoopladigital.com/movie/this-changes-
everything-reese-witherspoon/12403472] and for rental on Amazon
[https://www.amazon.com/This-Changes-Everything-Geena-Davis/dp/B07VDNGWF6/].
After you watch the movie, relate what you’ve seen to what you’ve read in your textbook, and
ideas you’ve read about in discussion posts. Consider such elements as how gatekeepers are
responsible for the view of women presented by the media; how the under-representation of
women, and other groups, affects how society sees them; how advertising sets standards for
expectation of female beauty; and how the media normalizes violence against women.
Use your observations and understanding to write a paper responding to the film. Your paper
must include a cover page, to ensure that you submit full pages of text.
These are the guidelines for all written assignments in CMTC 313. Note that three pages is the
standard length for written work in this class. Use more space if you need it, but you should aim
to be concise. Formal written assignments must be submitted to the appropriate Assignments
folder on D2L. Use standard formatting rules: double-spaced 12 point font with one inch margins
on all sides. Include a cover page, to ensure that you submit full pages of text. Please submit
files in a Microsoft Office compatible file format. D2L cannot read Apples “pages” format, so if
you work on a Mac, please save your documents as “docx” or “pdf.” If I can’t read your paper, I
won’t grade it.
The following are some questions you might consider for your paper. DO NOT ATEMPT TO
ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS. In most case, ONE question would provide you with
enough material for a full paper. You can also write on a topic of your own. Be sure to narrow
your focus and be specific.
The subjects of This Changes Everything talk candidly about their experiences with sexism.
What connections or empathy did you feel with the experiences presented in the film? What are
your personal experiences with such sexism? Note: If you identify as male, you may still have
observed sexism at work or in social environments.
How does a lack of diversity in decision-making roles impact what we see in mainstream media
and advertising? What impact does this have on us as consumers?
Late in the film, there’s a discussion of steps FX took to increase representation of women and
minorities behind the camera. What does this imply for changes in the future?
What power do we have as consumers? How can we change the way media portrays women
and girls and the ways in which women and girls view themselves?
Submit your paper to the Video Response 1 assignment folder. If you have any questions, feel You can find the film of Tubi.
