The aim of this projectis for you to be the historian and to analyze historical films in
light ofthe material we are learning in this, our History of Religion class.
For this assignment you will choose a film that deals in some significant way with the
material we have studied or will study in this class and watch it critically — as a historian
would.
Your film mustfocus in a significant way on the history of religions –the focus ofthis
class.
A list of films to choose from is given below. – im giving u the option to choose which film
you wantto write aboutfor itto be easier for you from the list below.
AFTER WATCHING THE FILM ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE YOU
ANSWER IT IN THE PAPER IN THIS ORDER
/0x4*
- (Use about 200 words, no more. I’ve seen the film!) Write a synopsis, or
summary, ofthe film, starting by giving the title ofthe film, when it was made,
and who directed it. Make sure that your summary makes sense to a reader
who does not know the movie. - (Use about 100 words) Where is the action setin the film (notthe literal
action — where it was shot– but where it pretends to be filmed)? When does
the action take place in the film’s story? (presentthe time depicted as
accurately as you can: give us some brief context. This question is not asking
when the film was made, but when the action ofthe film pretends to take
place). Is the story chronological (according to the order of time) or does it
have flashbacks? - (Use about 800 words) An important question: Given the material we’ve
explored in our class (textbook, video, primary sources), how historically
accurate is the film in portraying the period its makers have tried to represent
or depict? “Very accurate” or “pretty accurate” is not enough and will earn
you a poor grade. Raise your game: Dissectthe film as an historian would and
show us its historical strengths and weaknesses. (Remember,the historical
accuracy ofthe film is more important in this assignment than its entertainment
value.) - (Use about 200 words) If you were the historical consultant of religion to the
director ofthe film (name him or her), what of significance is missing from this
representation ofthe past(the film)that should be mentioned to the director?
Why should it be mentioned?
