Views of the Computer Through Celluloid Glasses: Critique Guidelines

1. You are to write a critique for eight of the nine films shown on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. (This gives you one sick-day.)

2. Critiques should be at least two and at most three double-spaced pages, using 12-pt Times Roman font, and 1-inch margins.

3. Each critique should have the usual 3-part structure (introduction, body, conclusion).

4. Each critique should be free of spelling and grammar mistakes. Critiques containing more than one spelling and/or grammar mistake will be returned (ungraded) for rewriting.

5. Here are some topics you might explore in your critique (citing specific details/examples from the film):
   • What role does computing/technology play in the film? Does the film portray technology positively, negatively, or ambiguously?

   • What is the relationship of computing/technology to humans in the film? To what extent does the technology in the film have attributes or take on roles that are today restricted to humans? Is this portrayed as being positive, negative, or ambiguous?

   • If the computing/technology in the film is (or becomes) sentient, does the film explain how this occurred? If an explanation is provided, does it seem plausible?

   • Given what you know of the history of computing technology, what technological elements were "science fiction" when the film was made? What elements in the film remain "science fiction" today? To what extent do these two sets of elements differ?

   • How realistic does the film's portrayal of technology seem? Do the writer and director make any special efforts to make the portrayal seem realistic and/or believable? If so, what are these efforts, and how effective are they?

   • If we consider the "space" of all possible viewpoints on technology and computing, this "space" has multiple dimensions. For example, one dimension is the relationship of technology to humanity, ranging from a "Frankenstein" scenario (in which the technology created by humanity turns on and seeks to destroy its human creators) to a "Utopian" scenario (in which technology enables humanity to achieve its ultimate potential). A different dimension might be the potential of technology to achieve intelligence. Does the film present/explore other dimensions? How do these various dimensions relate to one another? Is there a taxonomy that relates the dimensions in this "space"?

   • Does the film communicate any "religious" values or messages (either overtly or covertly)?? If so, what are the values/message and how does the film communicate them?