In our last unit, we are exploring one of the most powerful media in contemporary American

society: movies! We are starting by engaging in the claims of Willie Osterweil, who argues in
Hollywoods Love Affair with Surveillance that three recent movies offer us ways of
understanding how total surveillance is being normalized by Hollywood. According to
Osterweil, the film Her, accomplishes this through misogyny, and the readings of Denby (A Fine
Romance) and Cochrane (Where Have All the Women Gone?) take up the issue of gender as
well through their readings of contemporary romantic comedy. Historically a genre that has
showcased the power of equality of women, romantic comedies now seem to reduce the role of
women to vehicles (Denby 295). Finally, through your exploratory journal writing, taking notes,
the connections that youve made to the readings (from unit 1-4) and the movie Her will be
imperative to your final essay.

Your essay #4 task is to make a claim about what Her seems to be saying about surveillance,
gender, and/or technology in contemporary American Culture. Remember NOT to summarize
the movie, though a brief summary may be needed. Your goal to do dig deep and analyze
specific moments in your readings and the movie that support your claim. You must use sources
from units 1-4, not just unit. You should choose at least one crucial scene to critically analyze in
depth.

Benchmarks:

Readings/notes due each assigned day on syllabus

5/19: Begin essay brainstorm (due Monday)

5/22: Workshopping brainstorm ideas/creating an outline

5/24: Classwork: one on one help with starting essay

5/26: Rough Draft due (2 pages)

5/30: Mini circles workshop: Whats unclear? Whats missing in this essay?

5/31: Workshop revising from yesterdays class

6/5: 2nd Rough draft due (4 pages)

6/12: Essay due & Party