Research Essay Questionnaire

Research Essay Questionnaire

1. What is your proposed case study film?
The Dark Knight (2008)


2. Why have you chosen this film? What interests you about it? What wider trends do you think it exemplifies?

I have always admired films from an early age, particular those of the 'superhero' genre and especially the Batman franchise. I also have a strong admiration for a majority of Christopher Nolan's films and enjoy his interpretation of the character of Batman in his trilogy of the films, with this one being my personal favourite. I studied this film during my A-level film studies course, learning that this film had one of the innovative and successful promotional marketing campaigns of a contemporary Hollywood blockbuster and it also received a lot of critical reception and become the most preordered blu-ray film of all time. I believe this film exemplifies many of the aspects of Hollywood that we have covered over the course and I believe by choosing this film as my cast study film will be personally engaging for me.


3. What are your research questions? What do you hope to find out about this film (and its assembly, marketing, reception, etc.) as part of your research process?

o What marketing considerations shaped the assembly of The Dark Knight from the outset?

o What can I find out about the key selling points of the film which persuaded its financial backers to put it into production?

o What useful and/or problematic connotations and public images did stars, director, genre and subject matter bring to the production 'package'?

o What theories and histories are you able to draw on to make sense of the ways in which your film came to be produced, marketed and commented on?

o  Research and analyse some of a range of materials and paratexts in circulation around my film – eg: adverts, reviews and press coverage, 'branded' merchandise, aimed at extending social / cultural reach and establishing for each film one or more marketable identities. 

o What viewing strategies, pleasures, or consequences were proposed by these paratexts? Were there any contradictions or tensions apparent between them?

o What social issues or cultural debates were raised by your film? How did the film portray these themes? How were these factors discussed in journalistic commentary on the film?

4. What issues/critical debates discussed on the module will your essay relate to? (Or please state other relevant topics/academic literature) Which week(s) are most relevant to your essay? What core, recommended and further reading do you think will be most useful?

Form, Thematics and Politics of the New Hollywood Blockbuster (Week 3)

• Peter Kramer - Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
• Thomas Schatz - The New Hollywood

Authorship in Hollywood (Week 5)

• Jon Lewis - The Perfect Money Machines
• Timothy Corrigan - Auteurs and the New Hollywood
• Erin Elizabeth Hill-Parks - The Development of Christopher Nolan's auteur persona

Marketing and Paratexts (Week 8)

• Paul Grainge and Catherine Johnson - Promotional Screen Industries
• Jonathan Gray - Coming Soon! Hype, Intros and Textual Beginnings

Global Hollywood (Week 9)

• Franco Moretti - Planet Hollywood

5. What kind of primary materials will you consult as part of your research? Try to be as specific as you can. How will you find these materials? How will you use them?
- Core and Recommended Readings.
- I own Nolan's Batman trilogy on Blu-Ray, with a Special 'Joker' edition of The Dark Knight, so I can use the bonus features on those discs are a resource.
- Critical Reviews of the film via the website www.mrqe.com and IMdB.
- Online resources such as the film's online promotional materials and fan forums as well as further reading materials.
- Using resources from the library on campus. 


6. Which part of the research essay process do you think will be the most difficult or challenging?
Starting it!
- How many questions should I propose to answer in the essay? I could talk about such an array of topics, I can't quite decide how to approach it.