Assignment Paper

1. Make an argument for two different ways in which digital technology has impacted cinema. In your answer, make sure to clearly define what dimensions of cinema you are addressing (preproduction, postproduction, film styles and genres, shooting on digital, distribution, marketing, exhibition, etc.). And, make sure to use specific film examples from this week (at least 2) to prove your specific argument. Moreover, in order to demonstrate your knowledge of historical changes over time, please also refer to one other film or film movement from earlier weeks in the quarter. These earlier films or film movements should help you prove your argument about the changes and impact (or lack thereof) of digital technology on cinema.

2. Using both chapters from Halberstam’s reading and the lecture video, please explain the concept (or genre) of Pixarvolt? What are the dominant narrative themes in this genre? Make sure to discuss the film Chicken Run, and provide, at least, one other film example to explain. How does this form of politically revolutionary film differ from others we’ve seen and discussed this quarter? How does it relate to others we’ve studied? Please refer to, at least, two specific films from earlier this quarter to construct your answer.

3. Using the Empire Files episode: “The Rise of History’s Biggest Empire”, Bogg’s chapter, “Media Culture in the Imperial System”, Pardy’s essay, “Selling Marvel’s Cinematic Superheroes through Militarization,” and our last lecture video, explain what Bogg’s means when he says ‘the role of media culture is to legitimate empire’. How can we connect Bogg’s argument about legitimating empire to Pardy’s discussion about ‘militainment’? In other words, how does the imperial ideology of cinema connect to militainment? In your answer, please use the film The Avengers and, at least, one other film to make your argument. You can use either a film discussed in lecture or in the readings, or you can incorporate your own example not discussed in this class (please just make sure to provide a brief synopsis of the film and how it works as an example). Finally, somewhere in your answer engage the question about how this militarized media culture may impact you and your life (as a viewer, as a student, as a citizen of the world, etc.).