Analytical Paper:

Watch the film: Boys Don’t Cry(1999/Kimberly Peirce)

you must first watch the film then analyze its racial, gender, and sexual politics.

Your argument should primarily answer this question: What are the messages and ideologies that it conveys about race, gender, and sexuality in contemporary American society, and how does it convey them.

- Your argument should address the film/episode as a whole, but I recommend that you choose one or two scenes to illustrate/exemplify your claims in detail. Consider: how do the scenes work to convey a particular perspective on race, gender, and sexuality?

- Take care to Avoid generalization. You should NOT, for example, use one film or TV episode to prove a larger argument about all of American cinema or TV. Your argument should focus specifically on the ideologies conveyed by your film/episode.

- Remember to address from as well as content. More on that below, under “Questions to consider.”

- Use one or more assigned readings to help you construct your argument - that is use at least TWO (2) quotation from at least ONE (1) of the readings to support your claims.

Question to consider:
1. What cultural values are depicted, and what attitude toward them does the film/episode take?
2. Does it question and critique, or reinforce and perpetuate social norms and stereotypes re: gender, race and sexuality? (1)What is the difference, according to the film/episode, between male sex appeal and female sex appeal, between white women’s femininity and that of women of color?(2)How does the film/episode represent racialized femininity and/or masculinity?(3)Does the film/episode assume whiteness/straightness/maleness as the norm and “other” different races, sexualities, and genders? (If so, does the film/episode critique its status as norm, or present it uncritically?)
3. How would you describe the style of the film/episode, and how does it affect your interpretation of its representational politics? How does the film’s style (editing, framing, camera angles, camera movement, use of color, placement and movement of characters within the frame, props, costuming & makeup, sound, etc.), along with its narrative and characterization, help to shape and reinforce (or undermine) these message and ideologies?

The final draft should be about 5 pages (4.5-5.5 is ok) double space. Be sure to properly cite your sources, using MLA guidelines. The essay should have a title - the more creative and eye-catching, the better. The word count does NOT include footnotes or bibliography.

And I will upload a picture of the grading guideline, make sure the essay fulfill the criteria.