History 101: Western Civilization I
Fall 2012
Writing Assignment
Topic: Choose and watch a movie that depicts historical events. Choose from the attached list; if you are interested in one that isn’t listed, be sure to ask if it would be okay. Your paper will be a short research paper exploring the history presented in the movie: not just the events, but the social/cultural/religious values as well. Your paper should be able to answer the following questions:
– What historical time period or events does the movie portray? Who are the main characters – are they historical people or fictitious?
– What seems to be accurate in the film? If the film is based on fictional characters (like Robin Hood or King Arthur), how accurately do these characters reflect the life and values of the historical period in which they are set?
– Does the film change or confirm your impression of any primary source documents you have read from that time period?
– What liberties does the film take with the past? Why?
– Is the film primarily entertainment, or is it really trying to present an historical period? How can you determine the film maker’s intention?
– What point, if any, is the film trying to make about the modern world? How does this differ from the values that were considered important during the historical period that is presented?
In a movie on the Crusades, for example, you would find out not only if the specific battles and dates are correct, but also look at the movie’s portrayal of religion. Are the religious people always the bad guys? Is the movie trying to say something about the current situation in the Middle East? What are the reasons for the Crusades in the movie, and how do these reasons compare to the actual history of the Crusades? Do the people act like 12th-century people or like 21st-century people? Answering these questions is the basis for your research.
Research: You must engage AT LEAST FOUR SOURCES (none of which can be Wikipedia!). Multiple sources help prevent a biased source from giving you inaccurate information. If all the sources agree, it’s a good sign that there is significant evidence to support their views.
Types of sources:
– BOOKS ARE BEST
– Internet sites: The best sites are ones that have “.edu” in their name. WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT A SITE, EITHER ASK OR DO NOT USE IT.
– The CCBC Libraries webpage has a lot of important information available to help you do research:
http://library.ccbcmd.edu/screens/web/tutorialshowtoguides.html
This page can help you find sources, evaluate websites, search for information, sort through the information you find, and even tells how to cite the sources. I recommend you read these guides before starting on your paper.
Writing Requirements: Five (5) page minimum, double-spaced, standard font (12-pt Times New Roman or 11-pt Calibri), 1-inch margins.
We will be talking about how to write an academic paper in a few weeks, but some early tips: develop an outline that will guide the flow of the paper; do not under any circumstances use text-speak; and seek to use good grammar and correct spelling. This assignment is an opportunity for you to develop your written communication skills, which are crucial to future success both in the academic and “real” worlds. If you want the best grade you can get, take the rough draft to the Writing Center or submit to the Online Writing Lab: they will give you feedback on how to improve your paper.
– Catonsville Writing Center: E-201, Phone: 410-455-4543 (must make an appointment)
– OWL : http://www.ccbcmd.edu/owl/index.html (allow at least 48 hours for email feedback)
Citations: Without proper citations, the best paper in the world will fail. YOU MUST CITE YOUR SOURCES AT THE PLACE WHERE YOU USE IT (footnotes) AS WELL AS LIST ALL SOURCES AT THE END (bibliography). The CCBC library provides an excellent reference on the citation system, called “Chicago”, used by historians: http://library.ccbcmd.edu/screens/web/chicago.pdf
Be warned, however, that the citation system we will use differs from this guide on the issue of “Documenting Sources in the Text of the Paper.” We will discuss these differences in class later on, and I will provide a handout on the proper way to use footnotes.
Plagiarism: CCBC’s Student Code of Conduct on plagiarism:
““Plagiarism” means the use of words or ideas of another source without giving credit to that source.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
? Using another’s opinion
? Facts or data including graphs and tables
? Using quotations and paraphrasing without due credit. “Source” means any published and unpublished works.
http://ccbcmd.edu/catalog/codeofconduct.html
INTENTIONAL plagiarism will result in an automatic failure of this writing assignment. Be warned: if you copy and paste things from the internet, I WILL find out, and you WILL fail the assignment. If there are no citations in your paper, you will fail the assignment.
Grading: Grading for the paper will be based on the following:
o Get approval for your movie choice by October 1: 5%
o Rough draft due by email (through SafeAssign) BY NOON ON NOVEMBER 25: 10%
o Final Draft , DUE BY MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 7: 80%
o Bibliography (due with final draft): 5%
Final drafts will be submitted through Blackboard, which has a “safe assignment” feature that helps guard against unintentional plagiarism. Again, intentional plagiarism of all or part of a paper will automatically result in a failing grade for the assignment. Papers are due DECEMBER 7 – following presentation of papers in class, and before the final exam.
Historical Movies
Ancient Egypt
Land of the Pharaohs (1955) 105 min, NR
Dir. Howard Hawks, With Jack Hawkins and Joan Collins.
Fictional account of the building of the Great Pyramid
The Scorpion King (2002) 92 mins, PG-13
Dir. Chuck Russell, With Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Steven Brand, and Michael Clark Duncan
Story set in Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt (pre-pyramids)
Biblical Epics/Ancient Israel
The Ten Commandments (1956) 220 mins, G
Dir. Cecil B. DeMille, With Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, and Anne Baxter.
Famous epic production of the biblical account of the Exodus
Abraham (1994) (TV movie) 175 mins, NR
Dir. Joseph Sargent, With Vittorio Gassman, Richard Harris, and Barbara Hershey.
Story of the first Hebrew Patriarch
The Prince of Egypt (1998) 98 mins, PG
Dir. Brenda Chapman, With (voices of) Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, et al
Animated version of Exodus
One Night with the King (2006) 123 mins, PG
Dir. Michael Sajbel, With Tiffany Dupont, Luke Goss, and John Noble
Retelling of the story of Esther, set in the Persian Empire
Ancient Greece
The Trojan Women (1971) 109 Min, NR
Dir. Michael Cacoyannis, With Katherine Hepburn, Vanessa Redgrave, and Irene Papas
Based on an ancient Greek play, tells the story of the Trojans after the conquest of the city by the Greeks
Troy (2004) 163 mins, R
Dir. Wolfgang Peterson, With Brad Pitt, Erica Bana, and Orlando Bloom
Based on Homer’s “The Iliad”
Alexander (2004) 175 mins, R
Dir. Oliver Stone, With Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, and Rosario Dawson
King of Macedonia’s conquest of the Persian Empire and most of the known world
300 (2006) 117 mins, R
Dir. Zack Snyder, With Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and David Wenham
The Battle of Thermopylae, an important turning point in the Greek-Persian Wars
Clash of the Titans (2010) 106 mins, PG-13
Dir. Louis Leterrier, With Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes
Fantasy more than history, depicts a cycle of stories from Greek mythology
Roman Empire
Cleopatra (1999) TV mini-series, 177 mins, NR
Dir. Franc Roddam, With, Timothy Dalton, Billy Zane and Rupert Graves
The most famous Egyptian queen. There is also a 1963 version starring Elizabeth Taylor
Gladiator (2000) 154 mins, R
Dir. Ridley Scott, With Russell Crowe.
The end of Marcus Aurelius’ rule and political instability which followed under Commodus
Julius Caesar (2002) TV mini-series, 240 mins, PG-13
Dir. Uli Edel, With Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris, Christopher Walken
Caesar’s rise to power in the army, his victories in Gaul, and his return in triumph to Rome
Warrior Queen (2003) 98 mins, PG-13
Dir. Bill Anderson, With Alex Kingston, Steven Waddington, and Emily Blunt
Portrays the Celtic queen Boudicea as she leads the native Britons into rebellion against Rome
Spartacus (2004) 174 mins, NR
Dir. Howard Fast, With Goran Visnjic, Alan Bates, and Angus Mcfadyen
Slave revolt in Rome, led by a former gladiator
The Eagle (2011) 114 mins, PG-13
Dir. Kevin Macdonald, With Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, and Donald Sutherland
Roman legions in Britain and a look at the Pictish tribes living north of Hadrian’s Wall
Life of Christ
Jesus (1979), 117 mins, G
Dir. John Krish and Peter Sykes, With Brian Deacon as Jesus.
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) 168 mins, R
Dir. Martin Scorcese, With William Dafoe as Jesus.
The Passion of the Christ (2004) 127 mins, R
Dir. Mel Gibson, With Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, and Maia Morgenstern
The Nativity Story (2006) 101 mins, PG
Dir. Catherine Hardwicke, With Keisha Castle-Hughes, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Oscar Isaac
Early Christian/Late Antiquity
Quo Vadis? (1951) 171 min , PG
Dir. Mervyn LeRoy, With Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov
Epic costume drama about Nero’s rule and the early Christians
Peter and Paul (1981) TV movie, 198 mins, NR
Dir. Robert Day, With Anthony Hopkins, Robert Foxworth, Raymond Burr
About Saints Peter and Paul as leaders of the new, fiercely-opposed religion of Christianity
St Patrick: The Irish Legend (2000) TV movie, 100 mins, NR
Dir. Robert Hughes, With Patrick Bergin, Luke Griffin, and Alan Bates
Life of the man who converted the Irish to Christianity
Agora (2009) 127 mins, R
Dir. Alejando Amenábar, With Rachael Weisz, Max Minghella, and Oscar Isaac
The rise of Christianity in Roman-ruled Egypt and the life of Hypatia
The Barbarian/German Influence
Attila (2001) TV mini-series, 177 mins, UR
Dir. Rick Lowry, With Gerard Butler and Tim Curry
Leader of a Germanic tribe, Attila threatens to invade the city of Rome itself
King Arthur (2004) 126 mins, PG-13
Dir. Antoine Fuqua, With Clive Owen, Stephen Dillane, and Keira Knightley
Re-sets the familiar medieval legends of Arthur and company as Romano-British people following the withdrawal of the legions from Britain
Tristan + Isolde (2006) 125 mins, PG-13
Dir. Kevin Reynolds, With James Franco and Sophia Myles
Based on famous cycle of medieval romances, set in the Early Middle Ages among the Celts and Britons
The Last Legion (2007) 102 mins, PG-13
Dir. Doug Lefler, With Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchen
The end of Roman rule in Britian and the withdrawal of the legions
Beowulf (2007) 115 mins, PG-13
Dir. Robert Zemeckis, With Ray Winstone, Crispin Glover, and Angelina Jolie
Retelling of the famous Anglo-Saxon epic poem
Byzantium and Islam
The Last Roman (1968) 92 mins, NR
Dir. Robert Siomak, With Welles, , Syliva Coscina, and Lang Jeffries
Presents the struggle of the daughters of the Gothic king Theodoric for power after his death, and the conquest of their kingdom in Italy by the Byzantine general Belisarius
Mohammad, Messenger of God (1977) 180 mins, PG
Dir. Moustapha Akkad, With Anthony Quinn and Irene Pappas
In accordance with Islamic law, Muhammad is not actually shown on screen, and neither he, nor most of his relatives are allowed to speak. Thus, Muhammad’s uncle is the central character.
Feudalism/ Knighthood
The 13th Warrior (1999) 102 mins, R
Dir. John McTiernan; With Antonio Banderas, Omar Sharif, and Diane Venora
Fictional story that combines elements from the travel writings of Ahmad ibn Fadlan (tenth-century Arab who serves as ambassador to the Russian Vikings from the Caliph of Baghdad) with themes and plot points from the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 90 mins, PG
Dir. Terry Gilliam, With Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle
Spoof of generic conventions of medieval movies – a comedy
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) 144 mins, R
Dir. Ridley Scott, With Orlando Bloom, Eva Geen, and Liam Neeson
A look at the political problems in the Holy Land between the Second and Third Crusades
Sword of War (2009) 139 mins, NR
Dir. Renzo Martinelli, With Rutger Hauer, Raz Degan, and F. Murray Abraham
Rebellion against the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
Ironclad (2011) 121 mins,R
Dir. Jonathan English, With Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng, and Brian Cox
Rebellion against King John in thirteenth-century England
High Middle Ages: Europe
El Cid (1961) 184 mins, NR
Dir. Anthony Mann, With Sophia Loren, Charlton Heston, and John Fraser
Depicts the medieval Spanish epic poem “El Cid”, and shows the dynamic culture of medieval Iberia
Genghis Khan (1965) 124 mins, UR
Dir. Henry Levin, With Omar Sharif, Stephen Boyd, James Mason, and Telly Savalas.
Joan of Arc (1999) TV movie, 140 mins, UR
Dir. Christian Duguay, With Leelee Sobieski, Chad Willett, and Jacqueline Bisse,
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) 158 mins, R
Dir. Luc Besson, With Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, and Rab Affleck
High Middle Ages: England and Scotland
Becket (1964) 148 mins, PG-13
Dir. Peter Glenville, With Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton
Story of the infamous murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, on the orders of the English King Henry II
The Lion in Winter (1968) 135 mins, PG
Dir. Anthony Harvey, With Katherine Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, and Anthony Hopkins
Depicts the dysfunctions of the Angevin royal family in twelfth-century England
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) 138 mins, PG-13
Dir. Kevin Reynolds, With Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Christian Slater
Ivanhoe (1997) TV mini-series, 270 mins, NR
Dir. Stuart Orme, With David Barrass, Ralph Brown, and Jimm Chisholm
Retelling of Sir Walter Scott’s famous story, set in twelfth-century England
First Knight (1995) 132 mins, PG-13
Dir. Jerry Zucker, With Sean Connery, Richard Gere), Julia Ormond
Adaptation of the Arthurian legends to the High Middle Ages
Braveheart (1995) 177 mins, R
Dir. Mel Gibson, With Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, and Patrick McGoohan
Conflict between the Scots, led by William Wallace, and the English, led by King Edward I
Robin Hood (2010) 140 mins, PG-13
Dir. Ridley Scott, With Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, and Matthew Macfadyen
Pillars of the Earth (2010) TV mini-series, 60 mins per episode, TV-MA
Starring Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, and Matthew Macfadyen
England during the civil war between Stephen and his cousin Matilda; focuses on the building of a cathedral
Religion and Religious Life
Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1973) 121 mins, PG
Dir. Franco Zeffirelli; With Graham Faulkner, Judi Bowker, and Alec Guinness
Dramatization of the life of St Francis of Assisi
The Sorceress (1987) 97 mins, UR
Dir. Suzanne Schiffman; With Tchéky Karyo, Christine Boisson, and Jean Carmet
Screenplay was written by a professional medieval historian, based on a 13th-century text about a Dominican inquisition in southern France
Stealing Heaven (1988) 108 min, R
Dir. Cliver Donner; With Derek de Lint, Kim Thomson, and Denholm Elliott
WARNING: This is a HIGHLY explicit account of the sexual as well as romantic love story between Abelard and Heloise; don’t watch if you are offended by explicit content.
Anchoress (1993) 108 mins, UR
Dir. Chris Newby, With Natalie Morse, Gene Bervoets, and Toyah Willcox
Set in the early Middle Ages, about a young woman who chooses to the religious life of an anchoress
Renaissance/Reformation
The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) 111 mins, UR
Dir. Daniel Vigne, With Gerard Depardieu, Nathalie Baye, and Maurice Barrier
Based secondary source written by historian Natalie Zemon Davis, it explores the issues surrounding the trial of an imposter in 16th century southern France – Try to get the version with subtitles, not the dubbed one!
A Man for All Seasons (1988) TV movie, 120 mins, UR
Dir. Charlton Heston, With Charlton Heston, Vanessa Redgrave, and John Gielgud
Story of death of Sir Thomas More, chancellor to King Henry VIII. More was later made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) 145 mins, PG-13
Dir. Ridley Scott, With Gerard Depardieu, Armand Assante, and Sigourney Weaver
Columbus’ voyages and the impact on the indigenous peoples
Elizabeth (1998) 124 mins, R
Dir. Shekhar Kapur, With Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, and Christopher Eccleston
The early years of the reign of Elizabeth I in England
Luther (2003) 123 mins, PG-13
Dir. Eric Till, With Joseph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, and Peter Ustinov
Portrays the events leading up to Luther’s “95 Theses” and the Diet of Worms
The Conclave (2006) 100 mins, UR
Dir. Christophe Schrewe, With Manu Fullola, Brian Blessed, and James Faulkner
About the papal election of 1458, complete with corruption and the power-grabs of the Borgia family
Black Death (2010) 102 mins, R
Dir. Christopher Smith, With Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, and Carice van Houten
Depicts first outbreak of the plague in England in 1348
