Two-three pages, 750 words, approx.

Choose ONE of the two prompts below. Use your syllabus to check film release dates, relevant readings and topics, to help improve and support your ideas.

1. Focusing on gender politics, address the strong female “masculinized” lead in both Queen Christina and His Girl Friday, two celebrated classical Hollywood films.

Part 1: Describe the similarities between Christina and Hildy, as far as their agency, power, influence, control of the narrative, and masculinized traits. Here you might address the two different genres, and how each genre influences the portrayal of the powerful female lead.

Part 2: Briefly describe one key scene from each film that undermines or challenges the female lead’s power, by suggesting her dependence on a man.

Part 3: Conclude by getting creative: speculate on a scene, for either film, that follows upon the last shot… Describe briefly an extra “ending” scene, where you illustrate what you imagine happens next, for Hildy or Christina. Why do you end the film this way?

You will need to watch some film.