Prompt:
Pick at least three films from the following list, and trace the way that modern filmmakers have made use of the Middle Ages and its history to discuss or express ideas about gender ideals and gender relations; class and class relationships; nationalist or colonial identity; or heroic ideals.
(Pick one of the idea groups above, not all of them.)
Pick three from the following list for the above prompt.
King Arthur (2004), Dir. J. Bruckheimer
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Dir. Carl Dreyer
The Last Duel (2021), Dir. Ridley Scott
Stealing Heaven (1988), Dir. Clive Donner
The 13th Warrior (1999), Dir. John McTiernan
Robin Hood (1991), Dir. John Irvin
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017), Dir. Guy Ritchie
The Green Knight (2021), Dir. David Lowery
The Lion in Winter (1968), Dir. Anthony Harvey
Ladyhawke (1985), Dir. Richard Donner
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Dir. Peter Jackson
Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke) (1997), Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Dir. John Frances Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Army of Darkness (1992), Dir. Sam Raimi
Sources:
No external research is required. Once you have told me which idea group you choose to write about and which three films you plan on using, I will give you what sources to use. We are required to use sources given to us in the course, not many or any at all outside sources.
-I prefer essays that have a very very clear thesis, and then it is outlined into categories based on arguments or ideas. However, the introduction must accurately display what arguments are going to be made and give an overarching view of how the paper breaks down.
-This is not a summary, it is an analytical essay (clear thesis).
Format:
There is no need for a header that uses your name, the class, etc. Please do not insert one.
Please title your paper with the full text of any prompt to which you are responding, single-spaced and in italics, in the same 12-point font as the body of the paper.
Please do not use a separate title page for your paper (it just means more scrolling!).
The body of your papers must be double-spaced, in a 12 point font, within a 1-inch margins on all sides, free of extra spacing between paragraphs, and indented at the first line of each new paragraphs (5 spaces or 1 tab).
I fully expect all papers to be free of spelling and grammar errors, and to contain no colloquialisms, slang, or foul language (quoting excepted.)
Citations must be in Chicago full-note style. Because Chicago Style footnotes contain all relevant publication data, no bibliography is required in papers written for this class.
-Once you have picked the idea group out of the prompt and the three films, let me know ASAP so I can provide the sources you should use. Please pick these two aspects no later than Wednesday, April 24, so that you have adequate time with the sources to write the paper.
