The research essay is a case study of one Hollywood film made after 1967

B. Research essay (4,500 words) (70% of module grade)
The research essay is a case study of one Hollywood film
made after 1967, which locates it in some of its commercial
and cultural contexts.
This is not primarily a textual analysis as such, but rather a
study that traces connections between your chosen film and
some of its historical contexts.
The film text is important to your study. However, you will be
investigating it via their assembly, marketing, and critical
reception, although the exact balance between these areas
of inquiry will vary from case to case. (For instance, if your
film is from an earlier decade, you might want to pursue how
their critical and cultural reputation has changed over time.)
The choice of film is up to you. It could be anything from a
low budget ‘independent’ production to a blockbuster. Either
way, your choice must be agreed in discussion with your
tutor, and should not be one of the set films screened during
the module. You may obviously draw on existing published
commentaries on your film, if they exist, but you must clearly
reference this work, and show evidence of your own
independent research and analysis.
Tutorials to discuss your research essay will be available in
week 12.
Some initial questions to ask about your case study film:
o Marketing considerations shape the assembly of
Hollywood films from the outset. What can you find out about
the key selling points of your film which persuaded its
financial backers to put it into production?
o What useful and / or problematic connotations and public
images did stars, director, genre and subject matter bring to
the production 'package'?
o What theories and histories are you able to draw on to
make sense of the ways in which your film came to be
produced, marketed and commented on?
o You will need to research and analyse some of a range of
materials and paratexts in circulation around your film – eg:
adverts, reviews and press coverage, 'branded'
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merchandise (if applicable), aimed at extending social /
cultural reach and establishing for each film one or more
marketable identities. What viewing strategies, pleasures, or
consequences were proposed by these paratexts? Were
there any contradictions or tensions apparent between
them?
o What social issues or cultural debates were raised by your
film? How did the film portray these themes? How were
these factors discussed in journalistic commentary on the
film?
o In addition to analysing these materials, which ‘surround’
your film commercially and culturally, you should also draw
on reading about contemporary Hollywood to put your choice
into relevant contexts (for example, as a blockbuster
franchise or an 'auteur' film, etc).
Remember, the exercise should be analytical rather than
simply a descriptive account of production, marketing and
critical reception.
Remember that you are not trying to evaluate the 'quality' of
your chosen film, nor to assess its success or audience
reactions.
Alongside the generic grading criteria, your work will be
graded according to the following:
• How well and imaginatively have you gathered primary
materials relating to the film?
• How effectively have you related these to relevant issues
and approaches of the module?
• How effectively have you linked the analysis of your film —
in commercial and cultural terms — to your
understanding of their production and circulation
processes?
• How well structured and written is your argument?

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