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GUIDELINES FOR
WRITING A CRITICAL THEORY FILM PAPER
1.)
Begin your investigation by selecting one film or a group of films
that relate to a central topic:
a.
Example
à
The Femme Fatale within Weimar Films
b.
Example
à
Zombie Films of the horror genre
2.)
Research your topic, drawing on a variety of film criticism,
but also place your argument in historical context:
a.
Example
à
If you are writing a paper on the Weimar Republic, you must discuss the
social and cultural context.
b.
Example
à
If you are writing a paper on zombie horror films, the historical eras
during which zombie films were popular will be relevant to your argument.
3.)
Formulate an argumentative and original thesis, but relate
it to the historical period, social context, or cultural context:
a.
Example
à
Within German expressionistic horror film, normality is constantly
threatened by the monster, reflecting a social desire to challenge
cultural norms.
4.)
Provide topic sentences to guide your reader through the
paper:
a.
Example
à
German horror films force the viewer to question the relation of monster
to creator, stressing Wood’s assertion of conflicting sympathies with the
normal.
5.)
Use mini-shot analyses to prove your points, with analysis
directly after:
a.
Example
à
When Cesare intercedes between Jane and Francis, he signifies sex,
violence and a lust for power as he invades Jane’s bedroom. As such, his
monstrous presence represents the embodiment of repressed wishes.
b.
This is not a shot analysis or film analysis, so you do not need to
describe every single shot- just focus on the ones relating to your
thesis.
c.
Make sure to relate the filmic elements to the historical
information that you discuss.
i.
Example
à
The horror film directly traces the cultural significance of the times.
World War II caused an invasion of death into the world of the living,
which could be taken up by horror films both literally and metaphorically.
6.)
Make sure you have ample critical sources:
a.
Critically
analyze
the authors- do not take their opinion as fact.
b.
Instead, either argue for or against their theories, while always
referencing your own original point and argument.
c.
Example
à
Despite Clover’s assertion that female monsters are not masculinized in
the climax of the film, this is not always the case.
d.
Example
à
Wood’s vision of normality versus the monster lends itself to the theory
that the audience becomes bored with Jonathan’s inept struggles, whereas
the sexually charged Nosferatu is entrancing.
7.)
Conclusion
à
Wrap up the paper by relating your observations and analysis back to your
thesis, and make sure you discuss the relevance and importance of your
argument.
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