SPANISH 42: Iberian Cultures WINTER 2012 Film Review Essay Guidelines *Format:* MLA Style, 3-4 pages

s (max.), Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, 1" margins on all sides.1 *Due: March 14. Turn a printed copy of your paper in to your TA before the beginning of lecture. This paper represents 10% of your final grade. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade. It is highly recommended that you visit your TA with a draft of thefilm critique in advance of the due date. You must submit a *paper copy* to your TA. Structure Introduction (here you can add a brief summary of the film, however, plot summary should not extend past the first page of the essay.) Thesis Analysis Conclusion

You must include in your essay: - Historical context/background and references to lecture material - Original thought2 - Clear opinion on the film - Strong analysis *Topic:* There is no singular topic; however, the theme of the film should tie back into the major themes of this course. You do not have to review a historical film, per se, so consider the many films on famous artists, architects, battles, regions, artistic movements, etc., and/or a plotline or theme that illustrates any of Spain or Portugal's decisive periods of transformation. Your TA must approve the film you select in advance. Among the *topics* and *themes* you may wish to examine:
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Modern Language Association. For MLA formatting guidelines, see: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ 2 Please note that this is not a research paper, however, as always, any outside resources you may choose to utilize must be properly referenced and/or cited. Improperly referenced or plagiarized material will result in appropriate disciplinary proceedings.

- Immigration, past/present/future - The Spanish Civil War; its aftermath in the years to follow - Projects for the recuperation of historical memory; consciousness-based projects; mass graves, justice delayed, and Truth commissions - Religion, sexuality, stereotypes - The Transition to Democracy - Ethnic/racial/religious and other cultural and individual identity-based tensions - Regionalism/separatism/nationalism: past/present - Geography, and the tensions experienced between Africa/Spain/Portugal/Europe - Legends, such as "La Cava," St. James - Territorial gains and Imperialism: the "Reconquest," exploration, and expansion in the 15th17th centuries - The problem of National identity, regional identity - Generational tensions and the death of traditions - The Spanish Inquisition - Spanish and Portuguese rulers, scandals, life - Purity, honor, traditional values - Tourism and international investment in Spain/Portugal - Pilgrims, spirituality - Visions and tensions which stress a contrast or struggle between old/new, past/present, tradition/change, ideals/reality, the real/the fantastic