Overview
Choose one Director: Focusing on Chen Kaige, discuss what you see as the director's cinematic vision in their early movies and how it has evolved in their more recent ones. For Chen and Zhang, students must see at least four of their films, including the ones shown in class. For Jia, students must see at least three of his films – including one of his latest films "Ash is Purest White" or “Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue."
Provide a very short biography of your subject, then examine his films. Address subject matter, theme, characterization, cinematography, production value, and other aspects you think relevant – does the director have themes he returns to again and again? What are they, and how are they handled in the films, and how have the themes changed over time? Which film is your favorite and why?
Be sure to be specific -- cite scenes, dialog, or cinematographic techniques to support your point, and make relevant comparisons with other directors, either Chinese or Western.
REQUIREMENTS: The final paper must be 6 - 8 pages (minimum 1500 words, try to keep within 2500 words), typed, double-spaced, with citations where necessary according to MLA/Chicago style. Indicate the topic you have chosen and your name at the top your paper.
This paper should be written as an essay, with an introduction, middle, and conclusion. A bibliography citing at least four text sources (sources other than the movies, our textbook, or Wikipedia) should be provided, which does not count towards the required written pages.
NOTE FOR ALL PAPERS: DO NOT PLAGIARIZE, and no more than 15% of your paper can consist of quotes.