PLEASE FOLLOW MY PROPOSAL AND MY PROFESSOR’s FEED BACK! It’s attached. design a research project for a paper of about 1000-1250 words (4 to 5 pages) on the movie Get Out. The paper should be thesis-driven, with research serving two functions:
o As evidence illustrating and supporting your main point
o As a means of positioning your view within the existing critical conversation surrounding your topic
• Research: There are two kinds of information you will look for in your research—facts and opinions.
FACTS- Find factual, or background, information in many different kinds of places. A website like IMDB.com will give you lots of technical facts on the filmmakers and actors.
OPINION-locate at least one secondary source with a view or argument relevant to your topic or your texts. For full credit, include a quotation or paraphrased view from at least one such source.
ESSAY PROPOSAL:
I. Introduction
A. “Get Out” by Jordan Peele illustrates the underlying racial tensions in our modern day society.
II. Body
A. 1st paragraph- His idea for the film stemmed from President Obama being elected in 2008. He believes we are living in a “post-racial lie” so he directed this film to discuss the horrors of African Americans.
B. 2nd paragraph- He had alternative endings for the movie. Peele noticed people were getting more upset with the deaths of black men like Trayvon Martin, and he wanted to avoid the typical ending with Chris as a victim. He feared not having enough White viewers because they might feel uncomfortable in the audience. Nevertheless, the movie made 255 million in the box office. (I may include Dyers Stars Theory?)
C. 3rd paragraph- He includes soundtracks that have hidden messages. “Redbone” by Childish Gambino which is the intro song says “stay woke”. The Swahili music says “ listen to your ancestors” and the song’s lyrics mean “something bad is coming. Run. This basically sums up the whole movie warning Chris to GET OUT.
D. 4th paragraph- Armond White criticizes Get Out and hits their 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. He argues that “Exploiting black people’s tears, paranoia, and pain without providing reflex is offensive.”
III. Conclusion
Peele has created a film that has explored larger issues of race within audiences who might have not realized that these conflicts were still ongoing.
PROFESSOR’s FEEDBACK:
–Fix your thesis a bit. It’s not really controversial or un-observed that Peele’s film has race as a core theme. How can you say something a bit more fresh or un-obvious about race in the film? Maybe tell us WHAT the filmmakers are showing us about race, not just that they are saying “something.”
–For your source, the critic on Rotten Tomatoes, explain whether you agree or disagree, and why. If you find the critic’s points all wrong, you could consider revising your thesis to form a direct refutation of their views. (As in: “Some people, including X, say _____ about the film Get Out; they’re totally wrong, and here’s why…”)
–Great idea to give a close-reading of some of the songs from the soundtrack!