Georgia Southern University History Question – Description
Hollywood rarely makes films that are historically accurate or even portray events in the past that are remotely based in reality. This is not a critique so much as an admission to the reality of what filmmakers do: they are not in the business of educating the masses, but instead seek to entertain and make profits. With that in mind, I rarely watch a movie expecting to learn much about the past. Yet, a recent film has done just that. Steve McQueen’s recent adaption of the slave narrative 12 Years a Slave (2013) does an excellent job of portraying the past while also filling the needs of the business. The completed result is a powerful film, and in my opinion an incredible teaching device.For this assignment, you are required to watch the entire film 12 Years a Slave. It is 134 minutes long, and available on Netflix, but a paid membership is required to access it. A link to the film can also be found in folio in the Test 2 Extra Credit folder. The quality of the free version I am providing is not optimal, so you may want to find it in another source. Also, the free version is being provided for this educational activity, so it should not be used for financial gain or redistribution.Once you watch the entire film, you will write an argumentative essay about the film examining its’ value as a learning experience. The purpose of this assignment is to answer two basic questions: 1) Identify three things you learned about slavery from the film? 2) How did the presentation of these three things in the film stand out for you in a way you did not get when these subjects were presented in class or a textbook? To answer these two questions, I want your argumentative essay to also examine whether this film was a good medium through which to teach history. Please provide examples from the film to prove your point. I do not want you to cite outside materials for this essay; it is supposed to be your opinion based on what you learned.Since you are writing an argumentative essay, your paper must be at least five paragraphs long, have a clear thesis, and include an introduction and conclusion. Each paragraph must have at least four sentences. Grammar will matter, so please edit it before turning it in. Your paper should be 1000-1500 words long, in 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, and have 1 inch margins. At the top of the first page put your name at the left, one hard return and then your title and nothing else. See below:
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