Essay Structure/Content
Write an argumentative essay based on a comparison of two shows we have watched in class. You can focus on any of the first four episodes of the first season of the shows. The topics/questions are detailed below.
Your essay must apply the terms/approaches we have studied in this course, and ideally should combine technical terms (about editing, cinematography etc.) and one or more of the analytical methodologies covered in class: genre study, semiotics, ideological criticism, etc.
Thesis & Intro Paragraph
Your introduction should briefly introduce (in one or two sentences) the topic of your paper, clearly state what it is that you are going to argue (the conclusion you have come to about the shows, based on your analysis), and a brief description of your paper’s scope (the main points/areas of focus). So Focus, Purpose, Scope—the three key elements of any strong opening paragraph!
References & Research
Your essay must make direct reference to our course textbook (by quoting and paraphrasing) and using terms/concepts studied in class. Essays that do not clearly and regularly reference our course textbook/readings will not receive a passing grade.
You should also do research, where necessary, into the show and/or its critical reception, and cite that research appropriately. All quotations and sources should be cited in MLA or APA style.
This is not a research paper though, and so your references beyond our course texts can be minimal. Your analysis should be based on detailed close-reading of particular moments and scenes from the shows. You should be describing scenes (in brief) quoting dialogue, talking about technical elements where appropriate, etc.
Writing/Thesis Tips
Remember that
• You are discussing the shows and how they create and frame characters (or other elements) in order to try to guide the audience’s response to them. Be wary of discussing characters themselves as though they are real people!
• Your goal is not to evaluate how well the shows execute various technical elements (acting, editing, cinematography), or to explain that certain technical elements are utilized (assume they all will be), or to describe how the show uses them (they will all use them well). This is not a review. It’s an analytical essay. So you are not offering your opinion of how well edited the shows are or pointing out that the music sets the appropriate mood for the episode, etc. You are offering an argument about what you think the shows mean, and how the examples/evidence you have found in the show support your interpretation.
• So ask things like: what do the shows’ representations of xyz characters/situations tell us about the shows’ values? What are its views on gender, race, sexuality, intelligence, ambition, individualism, competition, community, greed/capitalism etc. How do the two shows compare in this regard? Are they similar or different? How and why and what does the difference reveal? A show could be cynical or progressive, an escapist fantasy or biting political commentary.
• Use concrete evidence from the show to back up your argument. How do the cinematography, editing, music, etc. contribute to the representation of specific characters and situations, and indicate how the show expects us to respond? What does the dialogue and character design tell us, etc.
• Distinguish between elements that appear in the show and how the show presents/judges those elements. Eg a show can include a racist or sexist or greedy character, but that doesn’t mean the show itself is racist or sexist or loves greed. The show could include reactions to or consequences of these attitudes that indicate it is in fact critical of racism etc., and expects the audience to be as well.
Essay Questions
Family OR Friends: I Love Lucy, Schitt’s Creek, Stranger Things, Nosedive (Black Mirror), Jane the Virgin, The Queen’s Gambit, Aggretsuko
Compare two shows’ presentation of family or of friends. What do the representations of these relationships tell us about the shows’ values? Do the families/friends reproduce or challenge traditional gender roles or other social categories/stereotypes? Are the relationships dysfunctional or supportive? Why is this interesting?
Genius: Stranger Things (Dr Brenner or Eleven), Sacred Games (Gaitonde), The Queen’s Gambit (Beth), USS Callister (Robert Daly)
Compare two shows’ presentation of “genius” characters. Is their special skill, power, intelligence etc presented as a positive or negative in their lives and in the lives of the people around them? How do the characters cope with being “special”? Are the shows critical of competition, ambition, individualism, fame, power? What does this tell us about the show’s values?
Work: Jim Hopper, Sartaj Singh, Mr./Mrs. Kim, the Brooklyn 99 staff, various Jane the Virgin characters, Robert Daly & crew, Aggretsuko
Pick two shows and compare how they present your chosen characters’ relationship to their jobs. Are these traditional breadwinners, dedicated to work before family? If so, does the show expect the audience to support or feel critical of this? Is work presented as a positive or negative in these characters’ lives, and in the lives of their friends and families? Is there some kind of social critique being forwarded? How do the shows view authority and/or expertise? What does this reveal?
If you have another idea for a comparison topic using our shows, or you want to focus on episodes beyond the first four, or you have any other kind of tweak in mind, let’s talk about it!