HSB4U0
ISU: FILM ANALYSIS PAPER
Brief Introduction
In addition to entertaining us, movies offer detailed portrayals of human social behavior. Your task in this
assignment is to analyze -- from a social-psychological perspective -- the behaviors and events depicted in one
of the films listed below. You are not being asked to critique the film in terms of its value as a work of art or as
entertainment. Rather, you should think carefully about the human actions and events portrayed in the film.
Then, to make sense of this material, apply what you've learned this semester regarding the factors that predict
and explain human social behavior. This assignment is comprehensive: I urge you to bring any/all concepts
encountered in this course that relate to the issues, interactions, and behaviors portrayed.
Assignment
Choose a movie and view it at least once. (Two viewings may offer a distinct advantage). Then, after
reviewing your notes and readings, identify 3 social-psychological principles that appear to be operating in the
events or individuals depicted in the film (e.g., cognitive dissonance, schemas, self-fulfilling prophecies,
groupthink, de-individuation, conformity, realistic conflict theory, modern racism, etc.). For each principle that
you identify:
(a) briefly describe the relevant scene (you may assume that your reader has seen the film);
(b) describe in detail the social-psychological principle you believe is relevant, bringing in research findings as
much as possible (that is, briefly state the findings of relevant experiments you've read or heard about); and
(c) elaborate on how the selected scene conforms and/or fails to conform to the social-psychological principle
you have identified, as well as to the research findings that support the principle (for example, describe how the
scene is similar to or different from relevant experiments you've read or heard about).
Your written analysis should be succinct and well-written (1250 – 1500 words). Be sure to include a short
introduction to orient the reader.
Due Date: Thursday, January 8th, 2015 (Absolute Deadline)
Proper APA format and style Reference is always required!
f.
a.
Title Page
b.
Running Head starting in the upper left corner
c.
Page Numbers in the upper right corner
d.
In-Text Citations throughout the paper
Reference page done in APA format citing the web pages used, our text book, & the
movie
Have fun!
Rubric: Film Analysis
Criteria
Level 4
(80-100%)
- clearly explains a
multitude of key
concepts and
relationships between
various films’
portrayal of societal
issues and real life
-making excellent
connections to social
issues, terminology
and historical events
with evidence and/or
current events
Level 3
(70-79%)
- explaining the key
concepts and
relationships
between various
films’ portrayal of
societal issues and
real life
-making
considerable
connections to
social issues,
terminology and
historical events
with evidence
and/or current
events
Level 2
(60-69%)
-making some effort
to explain the
relationship between
the film’s portrayal
of the issues and real
life
Level 1
(50-59%)
-making a limited
effort to explain the
relationship
between the film’s
portrayal of the
issues and real life
-Lacking a varied
use of connections to
social issues,
terminology and
historical events with
some evidence
and/or current events
-making little use of
connections to
social issues,
terminology and
historical events
with weak evidence
Thinking /
Inquiry
-providing
exceptional analysis
in the descriptions
and critical
comparisons of
various themes found
in the films and how
and their relation to
society
-provides excellent
connections between
the various films
messages / themes
and makes critical
applications of how
the medium delivers
an effective message
-providing clear
analysis in the
descriptions and
good comparisons
of various themes
found in the films
and how and their
relation to society
-provides clear
connections
between the various
films messages /
themes and makes
applications of how
the medium
delivers an effective
message
-providing some
analysis in the
descriptions and
adequate
comparisons of
various themes
found in the films
and how and their
relation to society
-provides some
connections between
the various films
messages / themes
but needs more clear
applications of how
the medium delivers
an effective message
-provides little
analysis in the
descriptions and
few comparisons of
various themes
found in the films
and how and their
relation to society
-provides few
connections
between the various
films messages /
themes
Communication
-exceptional
introduction that
includes a clear thesis
and outline for
analysis
-ending with a clear
and effective
conclusion, summing
up the evidence
- Information
presented very
organized and
contains exceptional
language conventions
-begins with a clear
introduction with
thesis and overview
of films
-ending with a
clear conclusion,
summing up the
evidence
- Information
presented organized
and contains good
language
conventions
-begins with an intro.
that attempts to set
the scene
-ending with a
conclusion and
attempts to sum up
the evidence
- Information
presented is
somewhat organized
and contains some
errors in language
conventions
-Begins with an
intro. that does not
set the scene
-ending with a
conclusion and
makes little attempt
to sum up the
evidence
- Information lacks
clear organization
and contains
numerous errors in
language
conventions
Knowledge
Application
Movies Illustrating Social Psychological Phenomenon:
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, attitude change, person perception, self, social
influence, helping behaviour, empirical methods, parenting styles commentary, competition
Lord of the Rings
Issues dealing with attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, obedience, person perception, self, altruism,
interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Chocolat
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, compliance, conformity, obedience, attitude change,
person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping behaviour
One-hour Photo
Issues dealing with social construct theory, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, attitude change,
person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, aggression
Footloose
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, obedience, attitude change, person perception, self,
social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships
The Breakfast Club
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, violence, compliance, conformity, obedience, attitude
change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping
behaviour, social facilitation
Titanic
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, compliance, conformity, obedience, attitude change,
person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping behaviour,
competition
The Cell
Issues dealing with attitudes, violence, deception, person perception, self, social influence, personal
relationships, aggression
Pulp Fiction
Issues dealing with attitudes, violence, obedience, person perception, self, aggression
Braveheart
Issues dealing with prejudice, discrimination, attitudes, violence, compliance, conformity, obedience, person
perception, self, personal relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Forrest Gump
Issues dealing with optimism, discrimination, attitudes, deception, compliance, obedience, attitude change,
person perception, self, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping behaviour
Goodfellas
Issues dealing with prejudice, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity, obedience, attitude
change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping
behaviour, aggression
Saving Private Ryan
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Beauty and the Beast
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
The Shawshank Redemption
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Fear
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Silence of the Lambs
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
The Fugitive
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Toy Story
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Monsters Inc.
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Single White Female
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Matrix
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
The Unforgiven
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Chicken Run
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Shrek
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, violence, deception, compliance, conformity,
obedience, attitude change, person perception, self, social influence, interpersonal attraction, personal
relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Being John Malkovich
Examines person perception, self, attitudes, attitude change, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships,
gender
Summer of Sam
Deals with person perception, prejudice, social influence, aggression
Boys Don’t Cry
Issues dealing with prejudice, gender, discrimination, attitudes, attitude change, person perception, self, social
influence, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, helping behaviour, aggression
Pretty Woman
Addresses person perception, attitude change, interpersonal attraction, personal relationships, gender, helping
behaviour, aggression
Philadelphia
Examines social cognition, person perception, self, attitude change, prejudice, personal relationships,
aggression
Remember the Titans
Addresses social cognition, person perception, attitude change, prejudice, interpersonal attraction, group
behaviour
Quiz Show
Examines social cognition, person perception, attitudes and attitude change
Twelve Angry Men
Issues with social cognition, person perception, attitudes, prejudice, social influence, group behaviour,
aggression, helping behaviour
The Joy Luck Club
Addresses social cognition, person perception, self, attitudes, and personal relationships
Other possible movies:
Pinocchio
Fight Club
Role models
American Beauty
Up!
Fantastic Mr. Fox II
Harry Potter
Miss Congeniality
Thelma and Louise
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Hurt Locker
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Shutter Island
The Book of Eli
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Catch Me If You Can
A Beautiful Mind
Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Hunger Games
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Se7en
Pan’s Labyrinth
9
Sex and the City
Super 8
The Hangover
Chronicle
The Expendables
300
Pandorum
The Lorax
8 mile
Shawn of the Dead
Seven Pounds
A Streetcar Named Desire
The Pursuit of Happyness
The Bucket List
Batman Begins
As Good as it Gets
Clockwork Orange
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Planet of the Apes
Slumdog Millionaire
The Help
Mean Girls
This is England
Inglorious Bastards
2001 Space Odyssey
Sweet Home Alabama
To Kill a Mockingbird
Fried Green Tomatoes
Vanilla Sky
Dead Poets’ Society
Invictus
Trainspotting
Gran Torino
Glengarry Glen Ross
The Bang Bang Club
Cinderella Man
The Last Samurai
Radio
Australia
Rudy
Memoirs of a Geisha
John Q.
Hairspray
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Godfather
The Sixth Sense
The Freedom Writers
The Blindside
Law Abiding Citizen
Grease
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
West Side Story
American Psycho
Gone with the Wind
Double Jeopardy
The Departed
An Education
The Butterfly Effect
The Outsiders
Avatar
American History X
Inception
Reservoir Dogs
Training Day
The Wedding Planner
Blow
Requiem for a Dream
Lion King
Big Fish
Restrepo
Mission Impossible
Taken
Little Miss Sunshine
Scarface
The Way we Were
Pirates of the Caribbean
Crash
Edward Scissor Hands
Sweeney Todd
Enough
Fracture
Crazy, Stupid Love