Human rights connected Enlightenment
Human rights connected Enlightenment
You must choose one film from this list to examine and connect to the themes covered in class. The film will be the primary source of your paper, but will NOT be the only source you should use to support your argument. You will be expected to connect the movie to at least one major theme covered in class.
These are the themes that were covered in class:
1. The rise of the importance of human rights connected Enlightenment, from the foundation of the nation through the slave issues leading to the Civil War.
2. The ideas of religion that brought respite from persecution, built colonial settlements, caused conflicts, brought solace in times of upheaval and rapid change.
3. The institution of slavery from its conception in the Atlantic Slave Trade through the Civil War including moral, religious, cultural, and racial connections.
4. The development of the nation politically including the institution of a two party system, the creation of the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the debates surrounding these founding documents based on political beliefs.
5. The Industrial Revolution and the changes it sparked in society, including but not limited to, connections to nature, social reforms, and the impact on slavery.
6. An understanding of relations with Native Americans from contact through attempts at segregation and/or assimilation to removal of Native Americans.
7. The Frontier Myth, the development of the idea of Frontier Democracy and why this myth still persists.
8. The development of class structure, the causes of class definitions, and how these class structures developed.
You should review the themes before you view the movie.
Reading the Film:
Remember, this paper is not a summary of the plot of the film, but rather an examination of the message conveyed in the film as it relates to the major themes. You are expected to clearly document the theme(s) within the paper using the film as evidence of that theme. You should also include an examination of the historical accuracy and why this may or may have been modified using artistic license. Also take into consideration when the film was released as this is relevant to the message that the film is conveying. All of this will help you to “read” the film, rather than merely watch the story.
Writing the Paper:
• Start your paper with a general introduction that offers the reader some background into the major themes to which your movie will relate. Then follow through with a connection to your film choice and tie your intro into the thesis statement.
• The body of your paper should give specific examples and evidence relating the film to the themes. The more evidence, the stronger your paper will be.
• Finish your paper with a conclusion that goes beyond summarizing your paper but instead analyze the importance of the message of the film and relate it to its contemporary settings. Why was the film released at this particular time? Why are these themes relevant to the release date? Are the themes still relevant to major socio-political issues of today?
Please remember to cite any quotes or paraphrased ideas from your sources. Any citation style is acceptable as long as it is consistent throughout the essay. Must have works cited page.
MOVIE CHOICES:
Avatar (2009)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
The Crucible (1996)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)
Lincoln (2012)
Black Panther (2018)
Sons of Liberty (2015)
Django Unchained (2012)
A More Perfect Union (2010)
Gangs of New York (2002)
The Revenant (2015)
How the West Was Won (1962)
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