S05 Geog301i
THE URBAN SCENE
Assignment 2: Cities of the
World in Film: Urban Feature Films Review
Deadline:
Mon April 25, 18:59, before class starts.
Goals: This assignment is designed to further discussion of some
of the topics we address in the textbook (Ch. 8-14, esp. Chapter 13 plus
extra readings on Russia). Even more useful could be discussion of
themes not addressed but relevant to this part of the textbook. In
short, you need to write a narrative discussing urban issues provoked by
watching two feature films focused primarily on a city/cities outside North
America and made not by American filmmakers.
[Please understand that the following long description of the project is
to help you with ideas and logistical questions. Despite the detailed
and lengthy description, all attempts have been made to keep this as a relatively
small project (worth 15 points). Make sure that you address all the
formal requirements described below, and you will be fine. Use office
hours if you have questions. This is an individual project. Plagiarism
will be punished.]
Choice of films: These should be feature
films with significant urban component or about a city/cities outside North
America. The two films should have some similarities and differences to allow
discussion of urban problems. E.g., one film could be on downtown, another
on suburbia; one on the past and another on the modern landscape of the same
city; both could be contrasted to the textbook etc.
I compiled a list of some films available
in our university library’s (do not use US/Canadian films!) Media Collection
in the basement (videos and DVDs could be borrowed or viewed there). This
list is just a suggestion. You could browse the library collection
on your own: go to coast.library.csulb.edu and type something like "videorecording
and china and city".
I am sure you have other ideas. Feel free to use Long Beach Public
Library or any regular video rental services and/or suggest your own
(favorite and not so) films meeting the criteria explained above.
Procedures: In nutshell, do the same
as with our usual weekly responses and with the first take-home assignment.
Watch the films and write
1. the films' brief summaries presuming that your reader
is not familiar with the films;
2. express your general feeling/opinion about the films
(Did you like them? Were they accessible? Were their aesthetics
challenging? (altogether around 0.5 page)
3. list (initially for yourself) all urban questions you have about
the films, this may help you to develop your argument(s). Make argument(s) (e.g., which of the two
films better illustrates some of our urban themes/concepts? Do they both support/challenge
arguments from the textbook about such topics as comparative urbanism etc.)
4. Write an essay explaining your argument(s) about the
urban dimensions of the films. The main point of the project is to be
able to see and analyze urban issues in such a popular media as films, and
bring in ideas from our readings and lectures. In other words, use
the films to illustrate/challenge terms/concepts/ideas/themes from the textbook.
Therefore, write a narrative (about 3 page long) discussing the questions
of urban nature you have after watching the films. Ideally, the questions
should not be just basic (e.g., the locations of events), but also more fundamental
(e.g., How important is the urban setting in the film? Does the film
support or challenge the opinion(s) expressed in the textbook? What ideas
from the textbook the film helps to understand/visualize? How is urban spatial
morphology organized? etc.). Use urban terms and concepts
from the textbook and lectures. Your ability to think spatially and
to ask geographical questions is very welcome. Wherever appropriate,
address the artistic dimension of the film.
5. Make your paper look "scholarly". Find available
literature on your films and/or relevant urban literature (e.g., literature
with urban ideas/data you could cite). Roughly, as a guideline, the following
would be enough:
-- one book except our textbook and the extra readings (they could and should
be used but would not be counted);
-- or two academic articles (the university library has many urban journals
in the basement; even easier to find relevant articles using search tools
like www.ingenta.com -- just type key words);
-- or three general audience publications such newspaper articles (again,
many newspapers like www.nytimes.com have search tools so that you could
find publications of your interests).
The web is NOT okay this time.
Cite your sources correctly: you should briefly cite
the source in text (e.g., Name Year, page(s) number [Sidorov 2005, 14]);
in the end, provide a References (List of Literature Cited). There are different
systems of citation. For example, in geography it is common to use the
following model.
Book:
Sidorov, D. 2005. The Importance
of Riding Bycicle. Moscow: Honest People's Press.
Paper:
Smith, L. 2005. The Reason Geography
Is Not a Science. The Professional Geographer 10:100-110.
Chapter
in edited volume: Haha, M. 1900. How to Write a Film Review in
Five Hours. In Student's
Survival Guide, ed. Vasiliades,
N., pp.100-111. New York: FYI Ltd.
Newspaper article:
Valentine, F. 2016. I Love Sprawl. The New York Times,
June 17.
Check The Chicago Manual of Style if you have
further questions on citation rules. Or look for examples in our discipline's
flagship journal Annals of the Association of American Geographers
(e.g., here http://www.csulb.edu/~dsidorov/Urban_Materials/Annals_2000.pdf).
6. Edit you essay, make sure it is free of errors and
typos. Pay attention to logic and argumentation. If necessary,
use The Writer's Resource
Lab http://www.csulb.edu/~wrl
Guidelines to Writing
Standards: www.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/writmech.html
Formal Requirements: Your text should be submitted as the conventional
printed paper version; it should be typed, in about 11 point font, 1.5 line
spacing, 1 or 1.25" usual left-right margins. It should include about
0.5 page summary of the films with your opinion. The main body of the
essay should be about 3 pages, followed by a conclusion (about 0.5 page). All together the paper is 4 pages max not counting a list of sources (References
or Cited Literature) which have been briefly cited in text.
Grading: The assignment will be judged on the following grounds:
a. familiarity with/accuracy of usage of urban terms/concepts/ideas (5 points);
b. the quality of citations (5 points); c. writing quality, logical consistency,
and argumentation (5 points). Altogether 15 points. Points would
be deducted for missed deadline or electronic submission (see Syllabus for
details); still, if you unable to be in class that day, better email your
text.
Have fun!
List of Suggested Feature Films with
Urban Themes (again, do not use American or Canadian films or films on
North America).