Z's Honor's Thesis Thread
 

So I am planning to graduate in May from the University of Colorado in Boulder. I have been pursuing a BA in Film Studies and a BFA in Creative writing. If all goes well, I should make it out by May.

I have decided, on top of my double-major work load, which is considerable, that I am going to attempt to graduate with Honors. This entails the writing of an honors thesis, which would require a significant amount of original research and analysis.

My application, abstract, and prospectus are not due until December 4th, but it is time I nailed out my topic so i can get a head start on research.

This thread, then, will exist as a discussion on my thesis as it develops, from conception to completion.

A few initial ideas:

• Cinema of New Zealand
  I have always just assumed that this would be my paper topic, though i am not sure. My studies in NZ have given me a bit of a head start on this one, and i am still in touch with professors over there who could offer assistance.
  
• Japanese Animation
  This could work as a thesis topic because i have already written several smaller papers on Japanese Animation. I think it would be a fascinating subject to research because of the incredible socio-political content of Japense Cinema. It is hard to find a national cinema which says so much about the country; Japan is the exception.
  
• Film Ethics
  This idea has crossed my mind in the recent weeks after a discussion I had with a professor about V for Vendetta and the moral responsibilities of modern filmmakers. What is required of filmmakers? What kind of rules should they follow when shaping reality, (or fantasy)? Should there be a set of moral guidelines and responsibilities, or should film be free to do as it will?

So as you can see, I am not even close to nailing down one specific thesis, but I am on my way. Any thoughts?

Re: Z's Honor's Thesis Thread
 

On first look, Japanimation is quite a covered subject, isn't it? Not much room for individual work. The latter would work best i'd imagine if you think you can gather enough to write about on it. National cinema i'd imagine has to be very detailed and knowledgable to culture and history specifically, ideally you'd have to have visited the country i'd say.

On a side, weird that we're born on same day and studying same course....

Re: Z's Honor's Thesis Thread
 

This seems the most interesting to me, and the most electrifying and although not an original topic it is on that can have a wonderfully original outcome. Your creative writing skills should work most in this area so why not capitalize on that? Just my thoughts, but best of luck no matter what you go with. Do not forget to pester your fellow classmates/philosophy majors (they should be taking a few if not a lot of the same classes you are) on this subject, they will love to help, trust me.:)

Re: Z's Honor's Thesis Thread
 

Here's some possible topics I threw away in my college career that I still think would make great works:

1. Commercialism and Ad Spots

I think this is a great concept for a thesis. I only threw it away because I thought it needed more than the 8 to 10 pages I was pigeon holed into. You could illustrate the way that sponsorship has forced varying degrees of ad placement have affected films.

2. The Male Gaze

The male gaze is a concept which permeates feminist film theory. Laura Mulvey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Mulvey) wrote at least one excellent paper on this topic. You could write about the way certain films use the camera's gaze to objectify women, and the purpose this objectification served: whether it was to produce pleasure in male audience, or to introduce a woman purposefully as an object of desire (as in most James Bond films). More interestingly, you could look into instances where men fall under the camera's male gaze (most notably, Saturday Night Fever)

3. Music and Films

You could analyze the use of music in films. Whether it's the way the music replaced dialogue in early silent films, to the way Tarantino picks a song before writing a word. You can track the growth of music with the growth of film, and include perhaps the way a great soundtrack can save a great movie, or vice versa.

Good luck with your thesis! I have some more ideas, and some old topics of mine that I used which you are free to use. If you need any help PM me.

Re: Z's Honor's Thesis Thread
 

Some good ideas there, thanks!

But I've studied Mulvey, actually, and read the majority of her work. Unfortunately I dont see much coming out of a paper on this idea. It has been written to death, and my thesis would turn into nothing more than a clusterf*ck of citations. I'd really like to do some real research of my own.