Fictive Kin and The Blind Side
Order Description
Movie: The Blind Side
Anthropology Concept/Topic: Fictive Kin
For this assignment you will be required to view one popular “Hollywood Style” feature film that you will select from the list providedfor you. You will
criticallydiscuss the film, how it connects to the principles that you have learned in class, as well as how popular film presentations compare to the ethnographic
films you have viewed throughout the semester. Additional research (at least 3 scholarly articlesor books) is required. The paper will be eight (8)pages in length (of
text-does not include bibliography or title page)and double spaced with normal fonts and margins (i.e. 12 pt. font and 1 ” margins). I check. Don’t try and fudge.Your
film choice, topic choice,and three references (30points) aredue for approvalSunday, October15thby 11:59pm.I have posted an example of what this should look like in
the Critical Review Papercontentfolder.PLEASE look at this!Use the “Critical Review Paper Topic and References Submit” link located in theWeek 8 contentfolder on
Canvas to submit your film choice, topic choice,and three references. The paper (100points)is dueSunday, November19thby 11:59pm.Use the “Critical Review Paper Submit”
link located in the Week 13 content folder in Canvas to submit the paper.The point of this assignment:Too often, studentsmay bring a “seeing is believing” attitude to
popular cultural/historically based films, forgetting how editing and subject selection influence the perspective of the people and history involved. Many films of
this type are so far off the mark that the film contributes to an alternate popular view of a culture which is inaccurate. Your scholarly sources will help you
differentiate between what is “real” anthropologically and what is being portrayed with artistic license.The “training” you have received in this course as it pertains
to viewing films will help youto be more visually literate in other domains as well. Because of this course you will be able to view “Hollywood Style” feature films
with a critical eye.Several students have remarked that “regular” movies have more value to them after learning to “read” ethnographic films. What is a scholarly
articleor book?A scholarly article or book is generally based on original research or experimentation. It is written by a researcheror expertin the field who is often
affiliated with a college or university. Scholarly writing includes footnotes and/or a bibliography and may include graphs or charts as illustrations as opposed to
glossy pictures. Acceptable references will consist of articlesthat appear in scholarly journalsor booksthat are published by academic presses.These type of references
aresubject to a peer-review process, which means that other “experts” or specialist in the field evaluate the quality and originality of the research as
2precondition of publication. The peer-review (as opposed to editorial review) process sets scholarly journals apart from journals and magazines that may otherwise
seem quite similar. If a reference does not fit these criteria you may not use it!You may use your textbook as an additionalreference. It does notcount toward the
required three scholarly references. Try these databases first:1. https://scholar.google.com/You can find references and then follow the trail of who cited them to
find more.2. JstorGo to the UNF libraries homepage. Select “Databases A-Z”. Selectthe “Jstor” database. This database holds thousands of journals. I’d search rather
than browse. You find more that way.3. Project MUSEThe UNF library has recently acquired a subscription to a new database dedicated solely to social science academic
journals. Go to the library website.Go to databases A-ZSelect the Project MUSEdatabaseBe creative. When wording your search use as many different variations of your
topic as you can think of. Research takes time. Be patient and you will find good sources. Some of the movie choices on the list have been written about by
anthropologists as well as other academics. Try typing in your film name. You may get results!Source: Adapted from
library.queensu.ca/webisi/survivalguide/glossary.htmlOn your bibliographyDO NOT include the database you got the article from!!!ALL articles found on Jstor ect… were
originally published in a journal. Databases contain articlesfrom MANY different journals. I just want the original source information. Please see the example posted
in the critical review folder to see what a reference citation shouldlook
3like and take a look at the AAA style guide I posted to see how to properly cite your sources in the text of your paper.Do not turn in web links!!!How to write a
critical review paper:Therearea varietyofwaystowritea critical review paper.Iamonly givingyouoneandthereare othermethodologiesavailable. Ifyouwanttotry
somethingdifferent,discussyourmethod withme.1.Watchthefilmandtakenotes on themainideaspresentedinthefilm,yourfeelingsarousedby thematerial,andyour reactionsto
thefilm.2.Useyournotesandsummarize/describetheinformationinthefilminnomorethan1/4ofyourpaper.3.Criticallyreacttoandpersonallyinteractwiththefilmas it pertains to your
anthropological topicintheother3/4ormoreofyour paper(see the film list for instructions how to do this).Youcandothisby using all, or a combination, of the following:
(a)Explaintheinsightsyouhavegainedfromthefilm.(b)Explain in detail how the film relates to a particular anthropological topic.
(c)Identifywhatyoulikedand/ordislikedinthefilm.(d)Suggestadditionalmaterial that couldhaveand/orshouldhavebeenincludedinthe film.(e)Relate thefilmtoothersources
(namethem)thathaveaddressedthissubject.(f)Relate thefilmtoyourownpersonalexperience.(g)Evaluatetheimpactthat thefilmmighthaveon itsviewersandits impactonyou.
(h)Explainhowtheculturalsystem
(e.g.,ideas,ethics,morality,economics,politics,personalbehavior,religion,kinshipandrelatives,worldview,schooling,lifeexperiences,culturechange,marriagepatterns,customs
,normsanddeviance,waysoflookingat things)showninthefilmdiffersfromwhat is “real” anthropologically(i.e. how these things relate to your topic).Your scholarly sources
will help you with this.(i)Papers filled with opinions not related to the film will be marked down.4. You MUSTuse a standard essay format (introduction, body, and
conclusion).You MUSTprovide a thesis statement at the end of your introduction! There are many style guides and online sources available to help you with this.5. You
must properly cite the referencesyou usein the body of your paper and provide a bibliography.Feel free to use your text book as a referencebut you must cite it. Use
the style guide you are most familiar with, but be consistent. I have posted the American Anthropological Associations Style guide for your use if you choose.
46. Essays should be “free-standing.” This means that a person can read the essay and, while not having seen the film, can understand the point you are trying to make.
7. Again, you MUSTprovide a bibliography with your final paper.You initial submittal for approval does not count. Some other things to keep in mind:?Proper grammar and
mechanics count. Papers will be evaluated both on proper grammar and on content. ?Cite specific examples from the film as basis for your points. Rehashing the plot
does not say much unless you then go on to explain what the actions in the plot mean.?Do not make generalizations unless you have data to back it up. For instance, do
not assert that arranged marriages have a higher divorce rate than traditional marriages (or vice versa), unless you can back the assertion up by citing a source for
the assertion.?Always use characters’ names in your writing. This avoids confusion and strengthens the essay. You can keep track of names by taking notes.?In formal
writing, like these assignments, avoid contractions (i.e. don’t, can’t). Use full words (do not, can not).?Avoid slang or informal terms unless you are quoting
dialogue. If so, identify it with quotation marks.?Do not over use the firstperson (i.e. “I think that…,” “It seems to me…,” “I noticed…,”). Although this is not
grammatically incorrect and some use is perfectly all right, over use tends to make the paper sound too informal.?Proofread your papers. Spell-check will not catch
every mistake. Read the finished copy of your paper out loud. By doing this, you can really see if it sounds okay