Film Analysis Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Writing a Film Analysis:
Un Chien Andalou (1929)
Getting Started: It may be helpful to start by looking at the work of art and identifying the
visual elements. How are the scenes arranged? Are they arranged at all? Is the work balanced? Is
there a purpose to nonsensical elements? You might consider why the artist chose to include
certain surrealistic elements.
The goal of a film analysis is to explain how the surrealist elements of a work of art affect the
representation of the subject matter and expressive content in cinematic form. The emphasis
should be on analyzing 3-5 surrealist motifs—not interpreting the artwork. That said, an
understanding of the meaning of the work is the final goal of any film analysis.
The Thesis Statement: Your thesis should provide a framework for your analysis and suggest
your interpretation of the work. A thesis statement does not necessarily involve a statement of
argument or original insight, but it should let the reader know how the artist’s contextual choices
affect the viewer.
The Analysis: Although description is an important part of a film analysis, description is not
enough on its own. You must introduce and contextualize your descriptions of surrealist motifs,
so the reader understands how each element influences the work’s overall effect on the viewer.
You may include your emotional responses to a work, but you must explain them and back them
up with evidence, the formal elements that elicit your emotional response
Note: All description and analysis should relate to your thesis.
Suggested Structure for a Film Analysis:
Introduction: The introduction should identify the title of the work of the film, the name of the
director, and the date when it was created. You may also indicate the medium and the period it
was created. The creators’ interests or the interests of the period that may have influenced this
work should be included. Typically, your introduction should conclude with your thesis
statement, which will suggest content of the work in order to introduce the surrealist elements
you have chosen to analyze.
Analysis: In the most straightforward organization, each element you discuss in your paper
should be analyzed in its own paragraph. You may find it helpful to begin each paragraph with a
topic sentence about the significance of the element and end with a concluding statement. You
may also organize your analyses of surrealist motifs according to symbolism, stylization, or other
significant effects in the composition.
Conclusion: The conclusion may summarize your findings and relate back to the theme
presented in your introduction; however, you should avoid simply repeating what you offered in
the introduction. You may also include any new ideas, insights, or understandings you gained
about the work through the analysis process.
Requirements: The paper should be written 4-5 pages in length. Chicago-Style format. 3-5
academic sources.
Chicago-Style Format:
-1 in. margins on sides, top and bottom.
-Times New Roman 12 pt. font
-Double-spaced text of paper
-1/2 in. indent for paragraph beginnings
Academic Integrity: All sources MUST be cited. Any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated
and will be reported to the Dean of Students. Any academic dishonesty will result in you failing
the course

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