Q Topic: Often a story will seem to be deprived of beauty or meaning by the changes made in one filmed version versus another. On other occasions, the experience of both stories will be enriched by watching both filmed versions. Write an analytical essay stating your opinion of the quality of the stories told by the two filmed versions, particularly in terms of the contexts in which they were made. Justify your opinion with direct reference to both films and through research you have conducted into the contexts of the films. Your analysis of both works should be well-thought out and persuasive; make sure to use concrete examples from both films and from your research to support your ideas. You may also enrich your analysis by applying one or more critical theory lenses to the works in order to substantiate your evaluation of the context and significance of the films in comparison to one another. IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to present your observations/arguments/evidence in the form of a coherent essay—unified by a clear argument about which told the story better in terms of the broader context. Which film more meaningfully says something about the culture or society or is more significant artistically or politically? Provide an introduction and a statement of your controlling idea, organize the body of your essay into logical subdivisions, use transitional sentences as needed, and suggest something of the wider significance of your analysis in your concluding sentences. Do not forget to include a Works Cited list, including a minimum 2-3 academic/scholarly sources. And, as a reminder, here is an overview of how to perform contextual analysis of films: Contextual analysis Contextual analysis is analysis of the film as part of a broader context. Think about the culture, time, and place of the film’s creation. What might the film say about the culture that created it? What were/are the social and political concerns of the time period? Or, like researching the author of a novel, you might consider the director, producer, and other people vital to the making of the film. What is the place of this film in the director’s career? Does it align with his/her usual style of directing, or does it move in a new direction? Other examples of contextual approaches might be analyzing the film in terms of a civil rights or feminist movement. For example, Frozen is often linked to the LGBTQ social movement. You might agree or disagree with this interpretation, and, using evidence from the film, support your argument. Some other questions to consider: • How do the meanings of the films change when seen outside of its culture? • What characteristics distinguish the films as being of its particular culture?