Visual Analysis Assignment

Assignment 1:
Visual Analysis: Into the Wild
DUE TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22

“[Chris McCanless] discovered what Muir and Thoreau already knew: An extended stay in the wilderness inevitably directs one’s attention outward as much as inward, and it is impossible to live off the land without discovering both a subtle understanding of, and a strong emotional bond with, the land and all it holds.”-Author John Krakauer

“I ended up reading [Into the Wild] cover to cover twice in a row..then got up the next day and began pursuing the rights to [direct the movie]…I felt like I’d stumbled upon a story that had everything that I was looking for, everything I thought was worth telling, not the least of which was the American landscape…and a person using it to find their own authenticity.”
-director Sean Penn

Both author John Krakauer and filmmaker Sean Penn see the American wilderness as being a major character, if not the major character in Chris McCandless’s story. Taking into account the different ways we’ve seen the American landscape portrayed in readings and visuals—I want you to examine the director decisions made in the film Into the Wild in terms of their portrayal of “place.” You will be assigned a scene in the film to analyze and expected to pay close attention to how places is depicted in your scene and what that depiction suggests about the filmmaker’s intent. You final analysis should be approximately three to five pages. It should include both what you see as the director’s “claim,” and your own thesis about how the director conveys his message. You will use evidence from your scene to support your thesis.

Planning/Prewriting
Once you’ve been assigned your scene in the film, pay close attention to the details of that scene and the way the landscape has been depicted in the scene. How does the director portray place? How does this representation contribute to the film’s overall thesis?
Jot down notes while we watch the film.

Consider the following:
• use of visuals (people, places, objects, etc.)
• use of audio (narration, quotes, music, etc.)
• pace and tone
• types of emotional appeals meant to persuade the viewer
• the way the character interacts with his environment
• where your scene falls in the film and how the setting contributes to the film’s overall narrative

Overarching questions to keep in mind: What is being framed? What is the director choosing to show? What is the director choosing not to show?

Evaluation Criteria for the Essay
The visual analysis should
• orient the reader by identifying the scene’s place in the movie, the director’s “claim,” and your thesis in the introduction
• refer to very specific visual and audio details as evidence
• organize each paragraphs around strategies used by the director to portray “place” in your scene
• avoid errors that distract the reader's attention
• address the ethical dimensions of the film’s depiction of place and its impact on the movie’s plot
• be specific, analytical, and comply with the standards of “what a college level analytical essay should do”


THIS IS NOT A PLOT SUMMARY OF THE FILM.