Overview
This the first one
For our final discussion board, we're going to think about Memphis on-screen—i.e. cinematic representations of Memphis, both fictional and in documentary fashion.
Select one of the following films to view, and write a discussion board post analyzing that film (see below for questions). The films on Kanopy are available for free. I've included several other options, but if you select one of those films, you will need to access them via your own streaming service or pay to stream the film.
Film options from Kanopy
Mystery Train (fictional, Jim Jarmusch, 1989—about tourists, Elvis, and a collection of interesting people...)
https://www.kanopy.com/en/memphis/video/113097
At the River I Stand (about the 1968 Sanitation Strike) -
https://www.kanopy.com/en/memphis/video/62799
Juvenile Court (Frederick Wiseman, 1973, about Juvenile Court in Memphis)— [documentary]
https://www.kanopy.com/en/memphis/video/2257196
Other film options
Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin' (2011) [available via Apple TV or Amazon] [documentary]
Hustle & Flow (2005) [on Amazon Prime, Hulu] [fictional]
Priscilla (2023) [multiple streaming platforms]
**For your response, I know it’s tempting to look at Wikipedia or utilize AI, but please do not use unattributed ideas or employ AI generated content. I want to know what you think about the film, and the best responses are ones where students analyze the film on their own (no bots, no websites ? ). As long as you try to support your claims with specific examples, it’s very difficult to be “wrong” with assignments like this one. Plagiarized or AI generated posts will receive no credit, and will be reported (sorry for the stern warning!).
Questions (respond to all that apply to your film—everyone answers #1 and then must answer either #2 or #3):
How is the city of Memphis portrayed in the film you selected? Use at least two examples from the film specifically and provide time stamps to correspond with your examples. (e.g. 1:20:03).
If your film is fictional, what types of characters inhabit the city, and what do you think those characters suggest about Memphis as a place? As a site of history? Give at least two specific examples, and include time stamps as your citations. If you chose a documentary, what historical figures and/or people related to Memphis are highlighted? What does the film make you feel about Memphis, and why? Give specific examples and time stamps.
If the film is a documentary, what is the subject matter, how does the film explore their topic, and what does it reveal about the history of Memphis and the history of Tennessee? What does the film make you feel about Memphis, and why? Give specific examples and time stamps.
This the second one
Researched Argument Final Draft Assignment Sheet
It’s time to showcase your knowledge of academic argumentation and rhetorical savvy. Everything we’ve gone over this semester should find its way into the final draft of your researched argument. I want to see you effectively use ethos, pathos, and logos. In other words, I want to see your argument supported with personal experience, the human element, and cold, hard facts. I want to see the evidence of solid research in the form of academic sources. I want those sources to be successfully integrated into your essay using the three-step process we learned about. I want to see you utilize all five parts of good argumentation (debatable claim, reasons, evidence, counterarguments, and rebuttals). I don’t want to see clichés. I want to see active verbs. I want to see the end result of the writing process. I want you to earn the respect of a difficult job well done.