research assignment

Running head: FORREST GUMP 1

FORREST GUMP 6

Torie Robinson

COMM 2120

Annotated Bibliography

7/8/18

Forrest Gump

Feneja, F. L. (2014). Identity and Otherness in Forrest Gump: a Close-up into Twentieth-

century America.

The article emphasizes the ability to shape one’s path in life. The elements that are encountered in life lead people to establishing their identity and otherness. This is the state of being different in some ways. This is a descriptive research which analyzes in detail what defined the identity and alterity of Forrest Gump. It adequately evaluates the political, ideological and socio-cultural aspects of Gump’s life while integrating historical context. It provides different contexts to understand and relate to the film. This article covers the main character’s life holistically including all relevant factors that play part in defining people.

Fiedhawatie, S. D. (2013). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Manifested by the Main Character

In The Forrest Gump The Movie. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa FIB, 1(5).

The author uses theories of Hierarchy of Needs to analyze the main character in Forrest Gump. The article concludes that the lead character displays elements of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The study is a systematic review of the film. There is physiological need displayed when dealing with leg issues which he eventually overcomes. The character develops sense of security from this. Love from his people helps propel him to his destiny and self-actualization. The article is useful in its analysis of the character. It helps understand the use of Maslow’s theory in evaluation of aspects of life.

Ismail, N. M. (2017). “That’s the biggest impact!” Pedagogical values of movies in ELT

classrooms. Studies in English Language and Education, 4(2), 216-225.

There is wide belief that movies help with some language outcomes. The research is based on finding the skills that movies have the most impact on. The language skills include listening, reading, grammar, writing, speaking and vocabulary. The study involved qualitative research with questionnaires and interviews utilized to gain the perspective of school teachers. The outcome showed most teachers agreed that movies most impacted listening and cultural factors. The article covers the implications of movies in language system. There is not as much analysis of Forrest Gump compared to other sources.

Koch, J. (2011). Unreliable and discordant film narration. Journal of Literary Theory, 5(1),

57-80.

The article covers film-theoretic notions of unreliable narration and literary. The author affirms that the film-theoretic notions can be based on literary theory or treated separately. The article is an analysis of irony and contradiction in language used in the film. It gives more knowledge on the language of Forrest and the implications brought about by this. This mainly is based on use of language and accompanying meaning. This critical analysis has different basis to the angle Ismail (2017) took. This article has elements of discord while Ismail discusses convergence of skills.

Moller, S. (2011). Blockbusting history: Forrest Gump as a powerful medium of American

cultural memory. International Social Science Journal, 62(203-204), 67-77.

The article focuses on Forrest’s effect on the history and culture of America. Much emphasis is placed on the political representation in the movie and the significance to the reality of American history. This observational study compares the culture in the film to the reality. The author shows how people interpret the film and relate this to history. The theme is mainly politics. It does a great job of displaying the connection between the culture in the film and history. This article has addressed the symbolism which gives more insight into the political life of Forrest. There is more emphasis on the aspect of American culture which is a different course compared to other sources.

Murray, T. (2018). Forrest Gump. Retrieved from

https://philosophynow.org/issues/83/Forrest_Gump

Murray displays the interpretations and translations that the movie draws from different facets of American people. They display different values and deductions from the film. The author introduces aspect of existentialism in evaluation of characters. The article is effective in communicating the symbolism in the film. People’s choices and reaction to events determine their destiny. This article is similar to Oropeza (2014) in the discussion of fate, destiny and how people govern these elements through what they do.

Oropeza, R. L. (2014). Practicing philosophical pluralism with" Forrest Gump" A speech-act

body-mind analysis. The University of Texas at El Paso.

Oropeza talks about Forrest Gump in relation to philosophy in three levels. Pragmatism and communication is discussed from the different perspectives of Grice and Forrest’s issues with language. The author analyzes the phenomenon of characters’ lives and the viewer’s perspective. Ego and fate are major part of the article. The study is a review with observations made on how the reality of the main characters is not static but changes. The author addresses questions that arise from the film. This article uses the factors of characters’ lives to shows different perspectives. In both pluralism and use of hierarchy theory there is diverse perspectives discussed.

News Articles

Ford, I. (2015). The film that makes me cry – Forrest Gump. Retrieved from

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/23/forrest-gump-film-makes-me-cry

Ford writes about the emotional aspect of the film. Emotions are mainly defined by love, misfortune and grief as displayed in the film. Emotion is used to reinforce elements of the film. This article is quite helpful as it aids the understanding of lived life of Forrest as an aesthetic experience. The article shows how the film as an artifact is influential towards the audience.

Griggs, B. (2014). Why we loved - and hated – ‘Forrest Gump’. CNNentertainment.

Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/04/showbiz/movies/forrest-gump-20-years-later/index.html

Griggs speaks about Forrest as a hero and champion of American values. The film promotes conservative values and gives a lesson on history and culture. Some aspects of historical events are however too simplified. The article is relevant in its articulation of what is being communicated and elements that are critical to the film and history of US. The author emphasizes the importance of catchphrases used such as “stupid is as stupid does” (Griggs, 2014).

Siskel, G. (1994). ‘Forrest Gump’ Upholds a Great American Tradition. Chicago Tribune.

Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-07-08/entertainment/9407080090_1_forrest-gump-winston-groom-water-tower

The article portrays the film as a way to look into 40 years of American history. Forest is used as representation of America though all his activities and achievements. This article looks at the film and what it symbolizes. While the article is not deep in analyses, it verily reflects on the American experience. This provides more meaning to the film and also gives additional basis for analysis of the relevance of the story to American culture.

EXTRA INFORMATION

The artifact I decide to research is Forrest Gump which was filmed in 1994. This film was written by Winston Groom and directed by Robert Zemeckis and is based on a true story. Forrest Gump film is about a man who never saw himself being at a disadvantage, he lived his life as if doesn't have disabilities on a daily basis. With thanks to his mother he doesn't think of himself being lesser than anyone else. 

The potential perspective I will use for this film is close textual analysis. The reason why I chose to use close textual analysis is because how determined he was whether it was him fighting in the Vietnam or domininatina on the gridiron as a college football star. Also, close textual analysis shows how determined and willing he is despite the day by day disabilities he deal with. Many people looked at him with owe knowing that he isn't a normal human being, but he wowed them every time he did something they doubted him on. 

I believe close textual is the right analysis to use because it gives me a better understanding of the different scenes and it gives me more options and better opportunities that I can discuss in my actual paper. With this movie being fiction it gives the me many avenues compared to a non fictional story and with that I plan on giving good details on my analyze to support my claim.