General Comments

Instead of reading the films as texts, many students approached the films as "history", in other words, something "true". With previous project questions, we've tried to establish that film, and history, manipulate information to a certain extent. Their claims to "truth" are put into doubt. Going on some of these ideas, how do WWWK and Lagaan manipulate the intended viewer (whether African-American, Indian, or a general audience) into following its train of thought about Ali/the villagers identity? How is sports used in this endeavour?

Many noted that identity is fostered/created/reshaped through sports. Yes, that was mentioned in class. Thinking one step ahead, there are other questions that should come to mind: what identity is that? Who is creating it, and for what ends? Whose identity is put forth, at the expense of other identities?

- Why is Ali's identity as a powerful, self-confident African-American man important? To whom? (Think race relations USA. Are race relations elsewhere the same? )

- Why is the villagers identity ( one that has to "accommodate" untouchables, Muslims and Sikhs, while taking Hindus as more essentially "Indian" than the rest) important? To whom? (Think Hindu nationalism in India. We've mentioned in class the difference between the real Indian team and the fictive one.)

- There were a large number of students who romanticised sports, taking on the "identity" of sports as represented in the films. Sports was said to be culturally neutral, and can cross all boundaries. If sports is so neutral, why is it that games like sepak takraw and wushu are not in the Olympics? More broadly, why is there no international arena for these sports, such as there is for a sport such as football? Again, how are we being led to think of sports as neutral, and for what purpose?

Double Tick - Grade 85%

Inspired

Tick Plus - Grade 75%

Moved beyond the basic points of the lectures in some way.

Tick - Grade 65%

You got the basic idea of sport as a metaphor and the ways in which it can help shape our identities.

Tick Minus - Grade 55%

Narrative. A review of the films.

Did not use the films  to support argument.

0% - Zero Points

You did not hand in your paper.