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Civilizing Primitive Cultures. Communications & Media Essay

Essay Instructions:

A 1,200-1,275 word paper in accordance with the parameters given below. This is not a researchpaper. Rather, the assignment focuses on film analysis and asks you to apply course readings to achosen film.
Reference to, or consultation of, any source that is not listed in this document is prohibited.Choose ONE of these three prompts:
1. Write an analysis of either The Adjuster (dir. A. Egoyan, 1991) OR The Sweet Hereafter (dir.A. Egoyan, 1997). The paper will take one of these two approaches:1A. An analysis of the film’s presentation of identity (whether in general or in terms ofgender or ethnicity) that engages extensively with Russell’s essay, “Role Playing and theWhite Male Imaginary in Atom Egoyan’s Exotica.” (Additionally, the essay may also—ifyou wish—reference the essay by Longfellow that is assigned for Week 10.)1B. An analysis of the film as national allegory that engages extensively with Knee’s essay,“Egoyan’s Exotica: The Uneasy Borders of Desire.” (Additionally, the essay may also—ifyou wish—reference the essay by Longfellow that is assigned for Week 10.)Using one of these approaches, the paper will put forward a thesis about the film that will bedeveloped and defended through analysis of one or two key scenes or moments. The analysisshould not be confined to narrative, but should also take into account visual/stylistic elements.Please note your analysis may be critical of the chosen film, and that your paper may disagree withor critique arguments in the cited readings.
Both of these films are available for streaming through the University of Toronto Library’s“Criterion on Demand” service. Search the library catalogue to locate links to the films. Thisservice does not support all web browsers.
2. Write an analysis of either One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk (dir. Z. Kunuk, 2019) OR TheJournals of Knud Rasmussen (dir. Z. Kunuk and N. Cohn, 2006).The paper will put forward a thesis about the film that will be developed and defended throughanalysis of a specific aspect of the film—for example, a scene or moment in a scene, a visual motif,a distinct theme, the use of setting, etc. Regardless of what aspect is chosen, the analysis shouldnot be confined to narrative content, but should also consider visual style. The paper should featureextensive engagement with one or both of the readings assigned in Week 7. (Additionally, theessay may also—if you wish—reference one of the essays assigned in Week 8 or Week 6.)Please note your analysis may be critical of the chosen film, and that your paper may disagree withor critique arguments in the cited readings.The Journals of Knud Rasmussen will be available for streaming through the course’s Quercussite. One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk can be rented or purchased through a variety ofstreaming services online. (There may also be ways to view the film for free.) If you requireassistance in locating this film, please contact the Instructor or TA as soon as possible.3. Write an analysis of either Maelström (dir. D. Villeneuve, 2000) OR Enemy (dir. D. Villeneuve,2013). The analysis will focus on the representation of space in the film. More specifically, thepaper will put forward a thesis about how the film’s representation of space can be understood interms of Canadian identity (or, if you are working on Maelström, you may, if you wish, specifythis further as Québécois identity). The thesis will be developed and defended through an analysisof the film’s representation of space; the analysis will take into account the visual representationof space, rather than discussing only the role of space in the narrative content of the film. Thepaper should feature extensive engagement with two of the four readings assigned in Weeks 10and 11.Please note your analysis may be critical of the chosen film, and that your paper may disagree withor critique arguments in the cited readings.Maelström is available for streaming through the University of Toronto Library’s “Criterion onDemand” service. Search the library catalogue to locate the link to the film. This service does notsupport all web browsers. Enemy will be available for streaming through the course’s Quercus site.Reference to, or consultation of, any other source than the above readings is strictlyprohibited, and will be considered a violation of Academic Integrity.POOR WRITING WILL BE PENALIZED.DVS Grammar and Spelling Standards for Written Assignments: We expect students enrolled in university courses tohave mastered basic skills in spelling and grammar. All papers must exhibit proper spelling (including proper names,places, and words in foreign languages) and grammar. Refined grammatical points over which there is disagreementeven amongst experts are not at issue. 

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Civilizing 'Primitive' Cultures
One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk was directed by Kunuk, and he seemed to have wanted to tell a story of his community. Kunuk is an Inuit director, and he used his platform to tell how the Canadian government sought to civilize the Inuit people. He attempts to show the problems of forcing people to adopt 'civilization' against their will and the reasons they have to cling on to their ancestral way of life. The movie starts with Piugattuk having warm tea with his wife. It is sugarless, and though they would have wanted it to have sugar, they did not complain a lot about it. Shortly later, Piugattuk goes seal hunting with his neighbors. It is during the hunting that Piugattuk encounters a government official tasked with convincing Piugattuk with his family to move into a government housing facility and take his children to school. The ensuing conversation highlights the dangers of forceful civilization and why it is more destructive than beneficial to the community.
In a letter from Franklin to Collinson in 1753, Franklin points out that you can take an Indian child and bring him up in English ways; he/she would take the earliest opportunity to leave that 'better' life behind and go back to the wilderness (Franklin, 1753). He details a story of an Indian man who had been educated and lived life in the city but exchanged his good life and fortune for a gun and a fur coat to go back to the wilderness. Though these happenings took place nearly two centuries before the time setting in the film, they show reluctance by the community to change their ways in favor of 'civilization.' They prefer to live their seemingly savage life rather than becoming civilized.
In the movie, the government official seems determined to make Piugattuk get to send his child to school. Throughout the conversation, he claims he understands Piugattuk while he clearly doesn't like the meaning and information; he seems to be passing to him is lost in translation. The Boss is adamant about getting a 'moving in date' from Piugattuk. He tries to offer what he considers 'goodies' to Piugattuk. The Boss seems to have equipped himself with two ways to make Piugattuk accept his proposition. First, he entices him with treats. He had a box of sugary and other foods attached to his sled, and he offers it to Piugattuk and his neighbors. His translator also offers them tobacco before they settle to have a conversation. These products were to entice Piugattuk to accept his proposition. He also seems to have a backup plan. He clearly tells Piugattuk that his children must undergo mandatory schooling, and it seems he anticipated resistance to that idea. He had equipped himself with a gun, which shows that he was ready to use force or intimidate the Inuit people into accepting his offer.
He offers a 'wooden shack', which he would rent for two dollars a day in exchange for living near his children as they attend mandatory schooling. While on the surface for the non-Inuit people, this offer may seem better given that they have been living in a semi-permanent house in the snow all year, it is the direct opposite for the Inuit people. They like their house semi-permanent so that they can build and tear them down ...
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