How to go about writing your documentary review

Your 1200-word review should critically examine and evaluate the documentary, partly using Doel’s (2010) cultural geography framework (on moodle and elsewhere in this bolog), integrating as much as possible visual and narrative structures into your discussion. 

[good news: you no longer need to write an afterwards reflection 

Here is a sample structure: 

 Introduction (150 words) Briefly introduce the documentary (title, director, subject). State its main argument/purpose and why it’s relevant to cultural geography. 

Analysis (800 words) Apply 2-4 key questions from Doel, weaving in visual/narrative techniques:

e.g., - How/why was it made? illustrate with cinematography, editing, or storytelling choices. 

- What power relationships does it reveal? illustrate with short discourse analysis of one differences in speech of two stakeholders

 - What identities does it promote? Discuss character portrayals or symbolic imagery.). 

Use 2 research sources to support your claims (cite properly and include bibliography): the in-text exploration of the quotation need not be very expanded. It can be as simple as bringing in a concept as defined in the first three introductory articles of our antholoy, pp. 3-45)

Evaluation & Recommendation (250 words) Assess the documentary’s effectiveness: Does it achieve its goals? Are its methods persuasive or problematic? Recommend (or not) based on its cultural/political value, accuracy, and relevance to geography. Suggest how it could be improved or alternative perspectives to consider.

Deadlines: Bring first draft to class on May 14th; deliver final review by June 2