HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

Prof. Boreth Ly

HAVC 24: Introduction to the Visual Cultures of Southeast Asia (Fall 2020)

Writing Assignment: An Analysis of Rithy Panh’s (and Mang Sarith’s) film, The Missing Picture (2014)

The Writing Assignment on Rithy Panh’s film, The Missing Picture is due on Monday, November 23 at 11: 59pm. We only accept papers submitted through Canvas. Note: Late papers will not be accepted.

HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

Directions and Guidelines

This writing assignment asks you to write a short paper analyzing Rithy Panh’s film, The Missing Picture (2014) by answering ONE of the following of prompt questions below. In addition, please draw upon materials from assigned reading, class lectures and in-class discussion. For this assignment, you must write a three-page (maximum four-page) essay answering one of the prompt questions below. Your essay should be neatly typed and doubled spaced (with one-inch margins, and be sure to number and collate your pages). More important, please structure your essay around a thesis statement, and organize your visual analysis and discussion of two specific scenes from the film into a cohesive argument.

Note: Please be sure to choose two specific scenes from the film that enable you to substantiate your argument.

Please watch the film on amazon prime before the in-class discussion scheduled for Wednesday, November 18:: https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Picture- Jean-Baptiste- Phou/dp/B00I7NI068/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=rithy+panh&qid=16054 77359&s=instant-video&sr=1-5

N.B.: You can rent this $3.99 on amazon.com. You will need to rewatch the film again after the in-discussion in order to provide close analysis of the film in your writing assignment.

This writing assignment requires no research beyond reading Rithy Panh, “Cambodia: A Wound That Will Not Heal” (note, this article can be found on pages 31, 32 and 33 of the pdf file and Boreth Ly, “Introduction: Traces of Trauma (note: read pages 1-4, both pdf are can be found on Canvas, week 7). Also when appropriate, please reference Panh’s article in proper footnotes (or endnotes) in MLA style. There are many different styles of footnotes and endnotes. Please use the Chicago Style of footnotes and endnotes and you can find instruction and examples at the Perdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html

N.B.: Should you need to learn how to use footnotes, this is a very useful online resource.

HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

Please note also that we do not accept Web sites as sources (i.e., do not use Google or Wikipedia for this assignment). More important, we will only accept essays submitted through Canvas. We will not read drafts of your writing assignment. However, your respective TA would be more than happy to discuss the assignment questions with you. In fact, I would encourage you to see your respective TAs during their office hours.

Note: Please DO NOT fill your pages with a summary of the plot of the film. Keep in mind that you are asked to provide your own analysis, not write a synopsis. Rest assured that we have seen this film many times, so just mention the plot when it is relevant to your argument. You will get an automatic “F” on your paper if you hand in a paper that is simply a summary of the story narrated in the film. More important, please do not submit a report of the film or a report of the short interview with Rithy Panh.

Warning: If you do not follow the above directions and guidelines, you risk failing the writing assignment.

PLAGIARISM: What is plagiarism?

See these websites: http://library.ucsc.edu/help/research/what-is-plagiarism Academic Integrity UCSC: http://www.ue.ucsc.edu/ai_definitions
Student Misconduct: https://www.ue.ucsc.edu/academic_misconduct

N.B.: In the age of great internet access and smart phone, we all turn to google for information and thus it is very important that you avoid copying information and writings from the internet and claim them as your own work. Please be honest and respectful of copyright laws by footnoting and crediting your sources properly.

Warning: If you get caught plagiarizing, you will get an automatic “F” on the assignment and in the course. We will report your misconduct to the provost of your respective colleges and your case will be handled according to the regulations and policies as outlined in the above websites.

HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

Prompt Questions:

1) When you consider the title of the film, The Missing Picture, what do you think the film is about? What kinds of pictures are missing? Who is erasing images of the past? Who do these “missing pictures” belong to? Do you think the “missing pictures” of a bygone culture and of former

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lives can ever be retrieved from an archive or from the collective memories of the survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide and revolution?

2. 2)  How does Rithy Panh (the filmmaker) go about retrieving images from the archive? What kinds of images (still and moving images) did he make use of and integrate into his film? Do you think Panh made effective use of these archival images? In your opinion, to what genre of film (or films) does The Missing Picture belong? Is it a biodocumentary? How effective is Panh’s use of clay figurines (note: the clay figurines are created Cambodian artist, Mang Sarith) as proxies in narrating his life (and the lives of other victims and perpetrators) and in conveying the violence and trauma that happened to him and his family members?
3. 3)  In your own words, please define “archive.” Discuss the different types of archive that Rithy Panh employs in The Missing Picture. Please do not google and just try to think on your terms after having watched the film carefully, what are some of the archives that Panh made use of and how do these different archives destabilized conventional definition of a physical archive?

HAVC 24 An Analysis of The Missing Picture

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