Sociology Foothill Film Analysis

Extra Credit: Film Analysis: Due Monday June 21st in Class.

Instructions: View one of the films listed below and write a one page
sociological analysis. Do NOT write just a film review of the plot synopsis,
instead analysis the film as a sociologist. Paper should be about 1 page single
spaced, 12 point font. This assignment is worth up to 20 points. Use the
sociological perspective, your sociological imagination and concepts from the
textbook to analysis and evaluate the film. Don't just say it was good or bad,
write something critical. Below are some questions to think about when
writing your paper.

1. Watch the film closely, take notes. Then write a synopsis of the film.
Give specific details about the narrative structure of the film (look on the
back of this handout for more on media literacy).

2. Then answer a few questions about the film:

a. Throughout the course you have been reading about the field of
sociology, how does the film you watched explore the different topics we
have covered in the course?
b. What evidence do you see in the film that represents core issues we
have explored in the class (the sociological perspective, sociological research
methods, the sociological imagination, race, class, gender, sex, religion,
health & medicine, education, crime & justice, the environment, the
economy, war & peace, and social change) give specific connections to the
course readings.

3. Finally add a short response to the film, rate it in terms of it’s

usefulness to discuss and explore sociological topics covered this term—the
sociological imagination, race, class, gender, sex, discrimination, social
change.

Film Choices: The film can one from below or you can choose another
film, but you must have the instructors permission, this means you
must ask if the film is appropriate.
1. “Roger and Me”*** A satirical documentary exploring the General
Motors shut downs in Flint Michigan.
2. “Crips and Bloods: Made in America” This documentary explores
the late 1960s conditions that have given rise to decades of bloodshed
and heartache for generations of black Angelenos.
3. “Standard Operating Procedures” Documents the scandal that
erupted in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, where mistreatment of detainees
at the hands of members of the U.S. military was captured on film.
4. “Black Gold” A film exposing the inequalities in the global coffee
trade.
5. “Sicko”*** A critical documentary on the U.S. health care system.
6. “Food Inc” A documentary exploring the food industry's detrimental
effects on our health and environment.
7. “The Inconvenient Truth”*** The critical documentary about global
warming.
Sociology Foothill Film Analysis

*** This symbol denotes films available in the Foothill Library Media
Center.
NOTE: All films are available on Net Flix.

Everything you see in a film (or any form of media) represents an intentional
choice by the director, editor or cinematographer. Since we get most of our
information about the world from media, it’s important to understand how to
make sense of media images. Use these questions to help you make sense of
these images.

1. What are the physical qualities of the motion picture (check where
applicable):

____ Music
____ Narration
____ Special effects
____ Color
____ Live action
____ Background noise
____ Animation
____ Dramatizations
____ “Talking Heads”
____ Historic Footage
____ Subject Interviews
____ Newspaper Headlines

2. Note how camera angles, lighting, music, narration, and/or editing

contribute to creating an atmosphere in this film. What is the mood or tone of
the film?

3. Does this film appeal to the viewer's reason or emotion? Does it intend to
make you think or feel? How does it make you feel?

4. Consider the effectiveness of the film in communicating its message. As a

tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?

5. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond?

6. What information do you gain about this event that would not be conveyed
by a written source? Be specific.