ADVANCE PREPARATION FOR FINAL PAPER: Begin to think seriously about topics for your final research paper. In most cases you should include one of the assigned films. The topic of your research paper can be related to your major if it connects to one of the five main films. In addition to the films you chose from our list of five, you will need to watch a SECOND film, and preferably more, from the same director or genre. I will try to recommend particular films that you can use that correspond well with your chosen film and topic. Here are just a few topic suggestions: You may choose to write about specific film genres, such as how The Deer Hunter fits in the spectrum of Vietnam War movies, or war movies in general. Or you might want to discuss the work of specific filmmakers; for instance, how do other Coen Brothers' films, such as No Country for Old Men resemble or depart from Fargo in terms of theme, style and execution? Where does Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull stand in the canon of highly charged urban realist dramas like On The Waterfront? How does director Scorsese employ the actor Robert De Niro as an instrument of creative expression? (You might compare it with De Niro's work for director Cimino in The Deer Hunter). Acting majors might want to analyze De Niro's performance as the epitome of Method acting. Psychology majors might want to explore the psychological dynamics driving the Jake LaMotta character. How does Blue Velvet subvert traditional film narrative? How does Network stand in the tradition of cinematic satires on the media and how does it anticipate contemporary media commentaries such as The Truman Show and The Hunger Games? How is Blue Velvet a commentary on Reagan-era America and nostalgia for small-town life? You might also want to explore the shared influences of some of these directors, or compare them to others, such as Francis Coppola. Business majors may want to examine the legendarily disastrous production of Heaven's Gate - Michael Cimino's follow-up to The Deer Hunter -- and its lasting impact on the film industry. Business majors may also want to explore David Lynch's recent disillusionment with the movie industry and why he feels that it's no longer a viable outlet for boundary-breaking creativity. These are just a few of the many possibilities our selected films offer for research topics. We may hold "pitch sessions" in class in order to discuss and develop more ideas. Instructions FINAL RESEARCH PAPER is due no later than the end of our final class day on Wednesday 5/8, but early submissions are welcome. Post your final paper to the proper CLASSES Assignments slot, and also please e-mail me a backup copy as a Word attachment. No deadline extensions or incompletes will be permitted on the final paper. Final research paper should be five to eight pages long, should incorporate three to five outside sources, and should conform to MLA style as outlined in Rules for Writers. Additional requirements for this paper have been detailed in the syllabus, in classroom discussions, in feedback on your proposals, in our library research training, and in the drafting process.