RELS 101 -World Religions
Movie Critical Response
This response is due at the beginning of class one week after we finish watching the movieand should be 1-page (single-spaced, with standard margins). Please post it on Canvas using Turnitin under Assignments on the left of the home page ->Movie Essay.
For this paper, I would like you to begin by summarizing the movie with a focus on its religious aspects. Then, I want you to critically assess the movie's portrayal of religion and how it relates to the course content (summary should be about a 1/3 of your essay and the critical response 2/3). You may also include some personal reflection, not at the expense of critical analysis, but only as it illumines your assessment of religion as presented in the movie and its relevance to the class.
As you watch, take notes and be prepared to ask or look up religious elements that you are not familiar with. Note, e.g., how the movie helps you to understand the religions we have discussed, how it chooses to portray certain religious themes, how it differs from what we have discussed, how it shows the variability within a single religious tradition, how it depicts religious violence, how it uses religion to address life's questions and difficulties, what it says about the characters and how they approach the world, whether the portrayal of religion is sympathetic or not, etc.