Many commercial movies bear Buddhist themes and elements. Some are explicitly about Buddhism, such as Little Buddha (1993), Seven Years in Tibet (1997), Kundun (1997), Samsara (2001), Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring (2003), and Zen Noir (2004). Some are regarded, at least by some critics, as being influenced by Buddhist ideas, even if in a distorted way, such as Groundhog Day (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998), Fight Club (1999), The Matrix (1999), American Beauty (1999), Waking Life (2001), The Last Samurai (2003), I Heart Huckabees (2004), The Fountain (2006), Departures (2008), and the first two trilogies of Star Wars.
Students will view one movie from the given choices above ad write a review in approximately 4 pages (1,000-1,200 words), analyzing and critiquing its representation of Buddhist messages and/or its misuse of Buddhist ideas. You MUST include the following questions answered in your paper: What Buddhist concepts/symbols/images does the movie invoke?
How do they relate to the material we covered in class?
Are the representations accurate, misleading, or flat-out wrong?
How do the representations reflect the producer’s or director’s own religious or cultural background?
You are expected to cite at least three class readings, and perhaps even some additional research, to support your critiques or analysis.
