‘What is Film?’

This written essay of ~1500 words (4-5 pages) must answer the question: “What is ‘film’?” by drawing on the theoretical perspectives covered by the provided readings of Dulac, Bazin,
Rodowick, Münsterberg, Epstein, Arnheim, Kracauer.

No further research is required for this essay beyond the given reading list.
For sources you can include as few or as many of these readings as you need in order to build your
argument.
However, IF you would like, you may include up to three additional sources in your essay that are not on this list as long as you do so judiciously and by citing them properly.
Outside sources are entirely optional, and must be considered alongside and in addition to
the provided reading(s) in this assignment, not as replacements or substitutes for these.
Hence, essay must include ANY of the given readings.

The essay structure should look like this:
Introduction with a clearly stated thesis about the nature of “film” that connects your argument to
the relevant theory/-ies from the provided readings

Body that presents detailed evidence for the thesis’s claim, coherently organized
(should comprise SEVERAL DISTINCT PARAGRAPHS)

Conclusion that restates the thesis and frames the stakes of your argument.
You are strongly encouraged (though not required) to support your argument using frame captures
from one or more selected film(s) (The link to these films are also provided in this assignment).
For each illustration, make sure to include a caption that explains 1) what we should particularly
look for/at in the image,
and 2) why the image is relevant to your argument.

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