SPANISH 491/COMPARATIVE LITERATURE 497

Critique of Conference Paper

Questions to ask yourself while listening to the paper:

1. What is the author's basic premise?
2. What methodologies do they employ to approach the problem?
3. What prior theories and criticism have informed their understanding of the problems at hand?
4. How does their approach to this film differ from others that we have read in class?
5. How does the current paper differ from this critic¹s earlier work, if you have read it?
6. Does the author follow a persuasive and coherent train of thought?
7. Are their conclusions persuasively proven?
8. Does the paper maintain your interest? Why?
9. How does the author's presentation style affect the impact of what they are arguing?
10. What is interesting, new or original about this paper?
11. Did the ensuing questions and answers help clarify or deepen your understanding of the author¹s purpose, and if so how?

Your critique, which should be two or three pages long, should concisely analyze the above issues, while avoiding excessive descriptive rsummary, and offering a critique of the overall effectiveness of this conference paper. Please include a list of works cited.

If you are unable to attend the symposium and choose to critique one of the Buñuel films showing at the Grand Illusion instead, please address how the film¹s form and content further develop Buñuel¹s world view, as expressed in the films studied in class. What film genre is he working with? What themes recur? How does the treatment of them differ here? What overall meaning does Buñuel create, and to what extent are visual and aural elements important in the effect? This critique should also be two or three pages in length, and you may find it useful to refer to class readings; please include a list of works cited.

The critique is due in class on Thursday, November 15.