Analyze the film Do the Right Thing by issues presented in one of the following documentaries/articles:
The Black Power Mixtape
Classified X
the article “Musing New Hoods”
The ideas in the documentaries or the article will serve as your theoretical base.
What exactly are you looking for us to write about?
Pick an idea from one of the documentaries or readings that you believe applies to the film Do the Right Thing. This will be your these and you should start with it upfront. What some consider to be the conclusion is actually stated upfront in your thesis and the majority of the paper justifies the thesis. There is no “conclusion” in your paper — instead, you end by exploring the larger implications of your thesis. Give your thesis and then offer 2-3 detailed justifications for why you believe it applies. The paper must be a minimum of 650 words long and follow rubric guidelines.
Which documentary/reading? Pick a theoretical perspective from your choice of documentary or reading to set up your these. Take a key point from the choice to construct an argument around the idea. If you use a shallow point, it will be reflected in your grade. Reference other course material and the mise en scene from the film to justify your thesis. Review the rubric (on the D2L toolbar) for more specifics about how to write a paper for this class.
You can also consider what the documentaries say about hip-hop culture and African American experiences. End your paper with speculation about how your analysis/ideas are also useful today, briefly projecting your ideas to a contemporary film or TV show. This screening is available in the video folder in the content section under its module.
Remember fictional films are NOT reality. They are the materialization of expressions of ideologies or refutation of those beliefs that exist in society, sometimes from Hollywood, sometimes from a black perspective. Your job is to use academic writings and your own interpretations to produce a Paper that analyzes words, themes, mise en scene as they project beliefs.
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Create an annotated bibliography of current research (within the last five years), and develop research questions.