For the final essay, you will be asked to respond to one of the two questions below.  Your essay should have a clear thesis and contain SPECIFIC references/quotes from our readings.  

Question One:  Write a historical essay about the film Far From Heaven (2002), placing the film’s characters and themes in the context of readings from For the Record and A People’s History of the United States.  How does the film reflect the different challenges and opportunities faced by different kinds of individuals in 1950s America?

Question Two:  Write a historical essay about the film Taxi Driver (1976), placing the film’s characters and themes in the context of readings from For the Record and A People’s History of the United States.  How does the film reflect the different challenges and opportunities faced by different kinds of individuals in 1970s America?