Posted: March 12th, 2023

Analysis of a Film’s Social Critique

Read the instruction in the file carefully and construction an analysis of the film

For your first essay, your assignment is to analyze and craft an argument around one of
the texts we’ve watched/read so far: Jordan Peele’s Get Out or Nia DaCosta’s
Candyman (2021). DON’T USE OR CONSULT OUTSIDE SOURCES: resist the
temptation to do a web search for other people’s opinions/ analysis of your
chosen film.

What you choose to argue is wholly up to you, but the crucial component of this
assignment is you find both a specific Focus—the parts: one (or more than one if
clearly related) defined aspect of the text—and a genuinely Arguable Assertion—the
whole: something which 1) can be supported by evidence and 2) isn’t obvious or factual
and that can be clearly disagreed with—around which you structure the entire paper. As
we’ve been discussing in class, your argument should center around meaning: what
this film is arguing about our culture, our country, ourselves (your argument should
focus on the US rather than humanity in general).

While trying to come up with an idea for something to write about, don’t immediately
decide upon your Assertion, but instead spend some time being guided by the
evidence. Find an element in the work that intrigues or even bugs you, use that to
develop your Focus, and then finally use your Focus to develop your Arguable
Assertion. My suggestion is to be as specific as possible with your focus. Rather than
tackling everything about the text, you should try to isolate a seemingly small element
which repeats itself in order to find your Arguable Assertion. Looking very close is often
the surest path to surprising yourself and, then, surprising the reader with your insights:
this is the ultimate goal for your argument.

Like with the essays you may have had experience with previously, this essay must be
structured as an academic essay: containing an introduction, body, conclusion, and,
most importantly, a strong thesis which appears as the last line of the first paragraph.
Like with these previous papers, you are making an argument, and in order to make
any successful argument, you’ve got to provide evidence for your assertions. With
analysis, this means your evidence is specific examples from the text. The easiest way
to provide these examples is to give us quotations which you directly analyze; effective
quotations might simply be a line or even a few words. So, these quotations don’t need
to be long or extensive (in fact, you need to be careful to not overload your paper with
quotes that overwhelm your own voice), but they absolutely have to be included. For
films, specific examples include both quotations of dialogue and descriptions of
visuals (shots) from the text. Through quotes, descriptions of visuals, and very brief
summary of scenes, you should describe and discuss specific moments from the
text throughout your paper.

If you think it would strengthen your argument about the film, you are permitted to quote
or refer to any of the readings we have done so far ( Du Bois, hooks, or McDougall
Jones), but this is not required.

Note: For reasons I will cover in class, I suggest choosing Candyman rather than Get
Out as your essay subject, but it is your choice.

Don’t use sources: As mentioned at the beginning, please resist consulting any
outside sources for this essay. The strength of a textual analysis paper is in finding fresh
and surprising takes on the text. Sources will lead you in exactly the opposite direction:
towards the stale and familiar.

Jacky Chen

Professor Damm

ENGL2 Sec-17

22 February, 2023

Working Thesis

By exploring the relationship between art, trauma, and urban legends, the film

“Candyman,” directed by Nia DaCosta, suggests that societal injustices can have long-lasting

effects and that the power of storytelling can be both destructive and transformative. Through the

character of Anthony McCoy, the film shows how the trauma of the past can inform and shape

the present. Additionally, the use of the urban legend of Candyman highlights the cultural legacy

of systemic racism and how it continues to impact marginalized communities. By presenting the

stories of the victims of Candyman, the film urges the audience to confront the past and

acknowledge the injustices that have been perpetrated. Ultimately, “Candyman” argues that art

has the power to both perpetuate and challenge societal injustices, and that the responsibility of

the artist is to use their platform to bring awareness and provoke change.

Constructing Your
Analytic Essay

Thesis

◦ Every thesis should have two parts: FOCUS + ARGUABLE ASSERTION

◦ FOCUS: The aspect of the film you are concentrating on

◦ ARGUABLE ASSERTION: Your argument as to the MEANING of the film,
what you think the author is saying about the U.S., etc.

◦ Basic Template: “By [FOCUS], [Director’s Name] suggests [ARGUABLE
ASSERTION].”

Focus
◦ Again, the aspect of the film you are concentrating on.

◦ This could be technical. Example: “Through the use of documentary-style
cinematography…”

◦ But it is more likely that your focus will be THEMATIC or concerning a specific
set of CHARACTERS or NARRATIVE THREAD.

◦ Thematic Example: “By depicting the connection between cultural
appropriation and the legacy of slavery…”

◦ Character/ Narrative Thread Example: “By emphasizing the similarities
between Anthony and Brianna’s father…

Arguable Assertion Pt. 1
◦ This is the tricky part.

◦ An Arguable Assertion must be ARGUABLE.

◦ That means it must be something that can be DISAGREED WITH by a
reasonable person.

◦ Imagine (or try if possible) handing your Arguable Assertion to a Random
Person who has seen the film but not read your paper.

◦ If this person automatically agrees with your Arguable Assertion without
having to hear anymore of your argument, the odds are good that your thesis
is NOT ARGUABLE.

Arguable Assertion Pt. 2:
What is NOT Arguable

◦ FACTS or a DESCRIPTION of what basically happens or is stated in the film.
◦ Example: “By [Focus], Nia DaCosta suggests that Black Americans are

disproportionately affected by violence…”
◦ Example: “By [Focus], Nia DaCosta suggests that gentrification is a force

destroying low-income communities…”
◦ Example: “By [Focus], Jordan Peele suggests many white Americans consider

being Black as fashionable…”
◦ Example: “By [Focus], Jordan Peele suggests many white Americans desire to

be Black…”

What is NOT Arguable Cont.

◦ An assertion stated so BROADLY that almost anyone who has seen the film
would automatically agree with it.

◦ Example: “Through [Focus], Jordan Peele suggests racism still exists.”

◦ Example: “Through [Focus], Nia DaCosta suggests that racist trauma
continues to impact communities.”

A Pause for Emphasis
◦ If your working thesis is similar to either of the two examples I’ve just offered,

it must be revised. You do NOT have a true Arguable Assertion.
◦ In particular, watch out for any variations of this thesis: “Through [Focus],

Jordan Peele suggests racism still exists.”
◦ Any reasonable person who sees Get Out understands that the film is

referencing racism in the U.S. So, if your thesis looks anything like this
example, odds are good that you do NOT have a true Arguable Assertion.
◦ The Get Out conundrum: Peele’s social commentary is so clearly visible to a

viewer that it can be difficult to find a truly ARGUABLE thesis which can be
DISAGREED with by a reasonable person.

Making an Inarguable Assertion ARGUABLE

◦ There’s no single method for this, but most commonly the trick is to be MORE
SPECIFIC.
◦ So, if your interest is DaCosta’s depiction of gentrification or Peele’s depiction

of racism, you need to DELVE DEEPER into the subject, and come up with
MORE SPECIFIC assertion that could be disagreed with by a reasonable
person who hasn’t yet heard your argument.
◦ To repeat, if a reasonable person would automatically agree with your thesis’s

Arguable Assertion without having to read your paper, your thesis is most
likely NOT ARGUABLE.

Constructing Your Body Paragraphs

◦ You need to construct your entire essay around ARGUMENT rather than
SUMMARY or DESCRIPTION.

◦ The trick here is to use TOPIC SENTENCES to do this.

◦ Your TOPIC SENTENCES need to make ARGUABLE POINTS which support
the thesis’s ARGUABLE ASSERTION about what the DIRECTOR is saying
about the U.S., etc.

Topic Sentences: What NOT To Do

◦ Your topic sentence should NOT be SUMMARY or DESCRIPTION.

◦ Body Paragraphs should NOT begin like this: “Anthony begins to see the
image of Sherman in the mirror.” “Chris’s girlfriend brings him home to meet
her family.”

◦ In general, do NOT use a character as the subject of your Topic Sentences.

Topic Sentences: What TO Do

◦ Use the DIRECTOR as the subject of your topic sentences.

◦ Make the topic sentences a statement of what the director is SAYING through
her/his/their choices.

◦ Again, every TOPIC SENTENCE needs to make an ARGUABLE POINT which
support the thesis’s ARGUABLE ASSERTION about what the DIRECTOR is
saying about the U.S., etc.

◦ By doing this, you are structuring your essay around ARGUMENT.

The Need for Concrete Evidence

◦ Every Body Paragraph requires CONCRETE EVIDENCE which supports and
proves the Topic Sentence’s ARGUABLE POINT.

◦ Summary of scenes and plot details may be necessary but SUMMARY IS
NOT CONCRETE EVIDENCE. You can include it when needed, but it needs
to be balanced with concrete evidence.

◦ CONCRETE EVIDENCE means SPECIFICS: Quotes from dialogue or very
specific description of the visual (shots) or audio (music or sound effects).

Every Body Paragraph Should Offer Concrete
Evidence

◦ As a general rule, you should include a minimum of one short QUOTE from
the film’s dialogue in EVERY Body Paragraph.

◦ I’m posting this slideshow to Canvas as a PDF. Please consult while you are
composing and/or revising your essay.