Here are some sample questions for this part of the exam:

1. In at least two of the films we have seen, discuss the representation of control rooms. How are computers represented in these spaces? What is the interaction between the scientists and the computers they use? How does this interaction affect our understanding of these films?

2. How do questions of race, gender, and class affect how we see technology represented in these films? In your answer, use some of the theorectical materials we read, and examples from at least two films.

3. Using examples from at least two films, discuss the relationship between technology and metaphors of embodiment. You can also use materials from any of the readings.

4. Using examples from at least two films, discuss how sexuality is represented in relation to technology. You can also use materials from any of the readings.

The Study Questions that you have prepared for class discussions are also possible midterm questions.

What to do, and what to avoid

As you see, these questions are very open-ended, and this is because I want you to be able to use many directions and research approaches in your answer.

Be specific and concrete in your answer.

Use specific scenes and examples from the films.

Make sure these examples are related to VISUAL representation.

Make sure you do not retell the plot of a scene or film.

Have a position or argument in your answer.

Do not give general and self-obvious responses.

Do not give answers that use cliches.

Do not imagine that there is a "right" answer.

Make sure you allow your answer to show your understanding of the film as a whole.

Making Outlines

To prepare, you should review your class notes and make sure you have seen all the films and read our assigned materials. You can also can start working on short outlines ahead of time.

This is what you do to make an outline:

1. Select the question that you will prepare an outline for.

2. Think about which films and readings you would use to illustrate your answer.

3. Think about which scenes you would choose to respond to the question.

4. Take short notes about the scenes, specifically trying to use visual information from the scenes to answer or illuminate the question.

5. Write down specifically what the implications are of the reading you are offering. What are you arguing? What do you see? What is the point you are making at the end of this process?

6. This is it: you have a beginning for a written answer. You know:

-- what scene you are talking about
-- what elements of that scene you want to focus on
-- what you think is going on with these elements
-- how they interact
-- what you propose about the scene and the film
-- how this reading answers the question.

Course Topics

These topics and questions should be no surprise to you, because we visit and revisit them every class time. In our discussions so far we have focused on:

-- the visual representation of technical or technological moments
-- the representation of artificial people and artificial bodies
-- what types of metaphors are used to expalin technological things
-- how technological representation is affected by gender, race and class
-- how fantasy and reality have been represented in relation to technological innovation
-- how these spectacular moments allow us to see what matters metaphorically for a particular technology.

:-( :-| ;-) :-} ;-D :)

Cheers, and Good luck!

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Contact the instructor: dk2244@yahoo.com