PSYC/GEND 3660 DOCUMENTARY REFLECTION PAPER GUIDELINES You will be choosing a do

PSYC/GEND 3660 DOCUMENTARY REFLECTION PAPER GUIDELINES
You will be choosing a documentary (from an approved/provided list) to
watch and about which to write a reflection paper. ALL OPTIONS ARE
PROVIDED FOR YOU BY KAREN!!!!!
➢ Your paper is to be 5-7 pages in length (not including title page) double
spaced please
➢ Paper is worth 55 points
➢ Use the first person, this is an informal, reaction paper rather than an
academic one; This is a paper so it should be in paragraph form (not bullet-
points, etc..)
➢ Spelling and grammar are expected to be at a college level and will
factor into your grade; 12 pt font only
➢ If you use sources (even the doc) be sure you quote/cite source as appropriate &
necessary (you do NOT need to make a Works Cited page)
➢ APA format is highly recommended but will not count against your grade if it’s
not perfect APA
➢ You may use UP TO THREE quotes from the documentary, no more (quotes
are not required)
Include all of the following elements in your papers:
➢ Title of the chosen documentary about which you are writing
➢ A brief synopsis of the documentary as a whole -ONE PARAGRAPH!
➢ Pick 5 topics, facts, stories, etc.. from the documentary and for each topic:
o Describe it briefly – why did this particular element jump out to or stick
with you?
o How does it relate to our semester, textbook, discussions etc. –
This is where you will analyze, compare, and explain how the topic you’re
discussing RELATES to what you have learned in this course – be
thorough and insightful- this is the main point of this paper!
o What are your feelings and thoughts about this issue now versus before
watching.
➢ Anything in the documentary that you felt was not genuine or didn’t “fit” for you,
and why you felt this way – be introspective and thorough
➢ The way(s) in which watching the documentary has affected you in general (if it
has)
➢ If you are glad to have watched this documentary, or if you are not; briefly
explain your answer
*TIP: This paper should NOT be a descriiption of all the events in your
chosen film! I’ve seen them all more than once!
Approved and Provided Documentaries:
▪ The Disappearance of Shere Hite: This is a brand-new (2023) AMAZING documentary about a woman named
Shere Hite who was a pioneer in sex research but has been more or less erased from history. I literally knew
nothing about her until this year (2024). She is not mentioned in our textbook OR in my old Human Sexuality
course textbooks. I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND this. I even considered making this a mandatory 4th film for
everyone to watch, it’s so good.
▪ Aftershock: A new (2022) documentary about the insane discrepancy in Black women dying after childbirth.
Following the preventable deaths of their loved ones due to childbirth complications, two families galvanize
activists, birth-workers and physicians to reckon with one of the most pressing American crises of our time – the
US maternal health crisis. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
▪ Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo: A new (2022) documentary about horrifying sexual abuse in this
“church”. Absolutely stunning; I cannot believe I had never heard of this before this doc came out in December
of 2022. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Please note that this is a long one – technically consists of three episodes.
▪ The Janes: Another new (2022) film: The Janes tells the story of a group of unlikely outlaws. Defying the state
legislature that outlawed abortion, the Catholic Church that condemned it, and the Chicago Mob that was
profiting from it, the members of Jane risked their personal and professional lives to help women in need. In the
pre-Roe v. Wade era –– a time when abortion was a crime in most states and even circulating information about
abortion was a felony in Illinois –– the Janes provided low-cost and free abortions to an estimated 11,000
women. Particularly timely in the post Roe v. Wade repealed-world.
▪ pretty baby: Brooke Shields: A brand-new (2023) documentary film (that consists of two episodes). This is super
interesting, if you were not aware of Brooke Shield’s history of being really the first very young
girl/model/actress to be publicly sexualized in film and ad campaigns. Very well-done documentary that touches
on many themes that we discuss in this class. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
▪ Amanda Knox: An incredibly informative doc about the infamous case of Amanda Knox, who was an American
student living in Italy, who was accused of murdering her roommate, and the pervasive sexism that made one
Italian detective become obsessed with her guilt.
▪ Hot Girls Wanted: Produced by Rashida Jones, about the amateur Florida porn industry. Disturbing.
▪ The Case Against 8: This is a stunningly beautiful and surprisingly recent examination of the landmark Supreme
Court case that overturned California’s Proposition 8 and its ban on same-sex marriage.
▪ The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (2011): The very strange story of the 1993 American policy of
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” of LGBT+ in the armed forces and its repeal in 2011. Amazing that this was not long ago,
but is rarely talked about and many don’t know anything about it!
You will find these documentaries in the Canvas Module or
below
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AdquEvNq86Cw4o
VT9nABs1DSBpoTh_1W?usp=sharing