In place of your discussion for the week, you will be completing a research assignment that tasks you with analyzing a piece of film criticism that you discover. The purpose of this assignment is to engage with current film criticism and explore the variety of writing styles found within this practice.

Follow the instructions below closely before posting in this discussion!

1. Read a Piece of Film Criticism

Find and read a work of film criticism from a film journal or online criticism site. It can be about any film you like but must have been written within the last 18 months. Consider using a film that you intend to analyze for your final project. 

Some suggested sources for this assignment:

• Communication and Mass Media Index (UCF library database) Links to an external site.
• Film and Literature Television Index (UCF library database) Links to an external site.
• Senses of Cinema Links to an external site.
• Society for Cinema and Media Studies Links to an external site.(database of journals)
• Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media Links to an external site.
• Film Comment Links to an external site.
• BrightLights Film Journal Links to an external site.
• Another Gaze Links to an external site.
• ReverseShot Links to an external site.
• Moving Image Source Links to an external site.(database of journals)

DO NOT USE the following sources for this assignment:

• Letterboxd
• IMDB
• Fan blogs (unless authored by a professional critic or scholar)

2. Analyze the article you read

Think about not only the content of the article, but how it is written, how it is structured, and the overall tone of the piece. Who is the intended audience for this writing? How can you tell? 

3. Write a Post!

Below, link us to the article you read and briefly (100-300 words) respond to the following questions:

• Who is the intended audience for this article? What sort of knowledge do they expect the reader to have and how can you tell?
• What is the writing style and how is the article structured?
• What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the criticism itself?

The focus of this analysis is the writing itself: its structure, tone, reader expectations etc. Don't focus too much on ideas you think the critic got "right" or "wrong" about the film.

4. Read More & Reply/Comment

Pick one of the articles posted by your classmates and read it!

Comment below their post with 50-100 words in response to their analysis of the article.

Agreement or disagreement is OK but make sure to explain your thoughts with details from the article.