Description
GEO2400: Human Geography Writing Assignment: How Minorities Are Portrayed in Film
Cinema offers an intimate view into a country?s culture and psyche by evoking national pride,
highlighting achievements, or profiling dark moments in history. Australia and New Zealand
have vibrant film industries despite their small market size and are known for producing quirky
films that reflect their national identity as misfits in the English-speaking world. Even so, several
directors have undertaken projects that make the viewer reflect on difficult topics.
For this assignment, you will examine minorities, an extremely sensitive topic in both Australia
and New Zealand, and how they are portrayed in film. The two movies you will be watching for
this assignment are Australia (2008) and Whale Rider (2002), and both are available to rent on
YouTube. Keep in mind that both films are feature-length, so plan accordingly. Your submission
will be digital and it needs to be uploaded as either a Microsoft Word document, or a PDF. Any
other file type will receive a 0.
Watch the movies and answer the following questions:
1. How are minorities portrayed differently in each film? Elements to consider include
number of minority actors/actresses, how prominent is each role, whether the role is
presented positively or negatively, and anything else you may care to add.
2. Is there evidence of racist policies (or policies to correct past racist policies) in each film?
Provide examples and explain.
3. Consider the year in which each movie is set. Do you think the situation for minorities
has changed over time? How so?
4. Find at least two reviews of each movie. Try to find reviews from Australia and/or New
Zealand, if possible. What was the reception of each movie? Be sure to include how the
review discusses the portrayal of minorities (hint: it is also important if they don?t discuss
minorities).
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