ENG3U - Literary Criticism Assignment Due date: Thursday, Oct. 14th Work Periods: Thurs. Sep. 30th and Fri. Oct. 1 On Google Classroom: turn in assignment + rubric On Turnitin.com: turn in assignment copy only . Assignment will not be marked if it is not uploaded to Turnitin.com. Instructions: For this unit assignment, you will write a short paper examining a short film, from the list of choices below, through a Social Criticism lens. You will complete a Close Reading of the chosen film to inform your analysis. Social Criticism is the lens that looks at the extent by which a text supports or criticizes the status quo (i.e. the current situation) of a society. We've also learned about two specific forms of social criticism: Gender and Marxist. You can choose to examine the film through a general social lens, gender lens, or Marxist lens. Short film choices: 1. "Here's the Plan" - by Fernanda Frick (18 mins) 2. "Model Citizen" - by David James Armsby (5 mins) 3. "Best Friend" - by Gobelins (6 mins) Using your close reading and social criticism, write a short paper that: - has an opening sentence that clearly states what social statement the film makes - uses THREE (3) pieces of Close Reading evidence to support that social statement Please review the rubric to ensure you are meeting the expectations for the assignment. You should also review the SAMPLE outline for "The Dinner Party" to aid you in formulating your opening sentence and arguments. You can also review this student exemplar to get a general idea of how a short paper can look like. Your short paper must follow these format requirements: ● ● ● ● ONE (1) single page, maximum 1.5 pages (420 words), double-spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins throughout Include the word count at the end of your paper No title page First and last name, teacher name, course code, date, and title Note: This is a short paper, and not a formal essay, so one (1) large paragraph that encapsulates your whole argument is appropriate. Use transition words to aid with structure and flow. STEP 1 - Complete a Close Reading of your chosen film before you begin your short paper. Consult the PACTSO Significance Checklist to assist you in this step. Check out this SAMPLE PACTSO analysis. PACTSO Element Plot (include 3 points) Significant Example(s) from the film Setting: A dystopian era or world. Story takes place in either a post-industrial or post-digital world. However, the old-style television and newspaper suggest that the setting is in the past (around the 1950s). The protagonists live in Autodale, an automated town where technology and robots have control over the social system and the lives of citizens who live in the town. The protagonists live in a house within Autodale. Exposition: The Robinson family is introduced. Mr. Robinson (father), Mrs. Robinson (mother), and Junior (son) are seen fulfilling their daily responsibilities and tasks. They are living in a cycle, where they repeat the same responsibilities and actions every day. Joe (the robot) checks in on the Robinsons every day to make sure they are fulfilling their individual roles as model citizens. Rising Action: When Junior (the son) grows up and reaches the age to start his own ‘model’ family, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s daily cycle starts to slow down. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s duty to raise their child ends. Climax: Once Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson reach an old age and finish their duty to raise their child, their cycle ends. They are ultimately labeled as ‘ugly’ and executed by the robots because they are no longer needed by the social system. Atmosphere - What is the atmosphere and how is it shown? (include 1 point) Depressing and unsettling Characters - How are the character's personality revealed/developed? (include 3 points) Character Revelation: Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson: dutiful, obedient → Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson abide by the rules of the social system even when they know that they're going to be executed (by the Robots) once they become 'ugly' and worthless to the social system. They even thank Joe before their execution, which shows how obedient they are to this oppressive society. Character Revelation: Mr. Robinson or Father (protagonist): responsible, reliable → He works and provides for his family by earning money. He is the breadwinner and the head of the family. Character Revelation: Mrs. Robinson or Mother (protagonist): affectionate, loving, and caring → She always welcomes her husband home with a hug when he comes back from work and she gives kisses to her husband. Her liking of waltzing also suggests that she is an affectionate, loving and caring person. Character Revelation: Mrs. Robinson or Mother (protagonist): responsible → She is responsible for cooking food/dinner for the family. Theme *sometimes the theme may be the statement made by the author about their society (include 1 point) Stylistic devices (include 1 point) Symbolism: masks are typically associated with a hidden personality or identity → perhaps, the use of masks represents the lack of individualism in society and how uniformity/conformity and perfection itself destroys individualism. The masks symbolize uniformity/conformity → the masks represent how all the citizens lack personality. It represents how they all dress/look the same and act the same. Their faces or identities are covered so that they can fit into the role of being a model citizen in Autodale. fit into the aesthetic of Autodale. The masks that they wear is a symbol of status and uniformity and it is not forced onto them but something they take pride in wearing. The children must grow up and be exactly like their parents and they are not granted the freedom to be original or to be their own person. Other (literary devices) (include 1 point) STEP 2 - Use your understanding of the story which you've detailed in your Close Reading to determine whether the film supports/reinforces or criticizes an aspect or flaw of society. Formulate a statement that you will prove in your short paper. See the SAMPLE outline to guide you in outlining your paper. Literary Criticism - Marking Rubric (40 marks) Level 4 Knowledge (10 marks) Highly accurate and appropriate lens used - accuracy of lens applied and opening statement The Lens is clearly and effectively stated using a well- constructed ‘social statement’ Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Mostly accurate and appropriate lens used Somewhat accurate and appropriate lens used The lens applied is not accurate for the piece being analysed The Lens is well stated using a well constructed ‘social The Lens is somewhat well stated using a The Lens is not well stated and does not use the ‘social statement’ statement’ ‘social statement’ format Thinking (10 marks) Close reading is completed accurately and thoroughly, showing nuanced interpretation Close reading is completed accurately and mostly thoroughly Close reading is somewhat accurate; somewhat thorough Close reading is not completed accurately Thinking (10 marks) Uses highly convincing and appropriate evidence from ‘close reading’ to support criticism Uses mostly convincing and appropriate evidence from ‘close reading’ to support criticism Uses somewhat convincing and appropriate evidence from ‘close reading’ to support criticism Does not use convincing or appropriate evidence from ‘close reading’ to support criticism Communication (10 marks) Writing is free from any spelling or grammatical errors Writing is mostly free from any spelling or grammatical errors Writing has spelling and grammatical errors that distract the reader Writing has too many spelling and grammatical errors which make the piece difficult to read Paragraph is mostly sophisticated, mostly uses the appropriate format, often has smooth transitions and sequence of ideas Paragraph is somewhat sophisticated, somewhat uses the appropriate format, and does not often have smooth transitions or sequence of ideas Paragraph is not sophisticated, does not use the appropriate format, and reads very choppy with little/no sequence of ideas Paragraph is sophisticated, expertly uses the appropriate format, has smooth transitions and sequence of ideas Female gender criticism - The woman wears a dress and headband - Cooks dinner for the family - Welcomes the father home with a hug Male gender criticism - The men all wear pants or suits - Father/man likes to read the newspaper - Father/man works and provides for the family Expectation of gender roles - “Splendid! Taking after his father I hope” - Suggests that their son Junior should also grow up to wear masculine clothes, to work/provide for the family, to be the head of the family, and to have manly hobbies like reading the newspaper after a hard day at work. - Individualism is highly discouraged and everyone is expected to be the same, following the same life cycle The robots check in with the families every day to check if they are taking on their gender roles and responsibilities properly. People that don’t follow these gender roles, get branded as ugly and executed by the robots.
