ESSAYS

Every year the School of Film gives awards for the best essay or essays submitted for consideration. The judges are PSU film faculty and any paper written in a film class during the year is eligible.

Winner

"Persona's Projection"

by Sage Hall

Class: Winter 2024 FILM 383

Film History III (Instructor: Ben Mendelsohn)

Persona's Projection

Bio: Sage Hall is in her third year of college, and has found a deep passion for both writing and discussing film, as well as editing. She's deeply inspired by the likes of Maya Deren and Linda Williams, who she credits as the film theorists who made her fall in love with film theory. She's deeply passionate about all things feminist, queer, and David Lynch.

Writer's Statement: Persona was a film that instantly was something I could identify with, and I still fondly remember now the discussion I had in my Film History 2 class with Professor Ruth about it. I fell in love with the themes of Persona, and it being an important historical film that is primarily about women was something that gave me genuine inspiration to write this essay. It's still all too often that women aren't centered at the heart of film narratives, and are used simply to advance the plot of the male lead or other male characters within the story, especially in historical filmic works. Persona is a brilliant example of a historical filmic work that chooses women, and for this it has become a film that has endlessly inspired me to do the same.

Runner Up

"Who Are You?"

by Ben Mansfield

Class: Winter 2024 FILM 382

Film History II (Instructor: Jennifer Ruth)

Bio: Ben Mansfield is a third year film student here at Portland State University. He is very excited to have placed as a runner up in the School of Film Essay Contest, and was happy to create an introspective video essay that involved his parents, brother, and sister-in-law about the importance of identity in film and how identity is represented. Outside of classes, Ben enjoys spending time at home with his spouse, playing games, and tinkering with tech and film.

Writer's Statement: In the following essay, two films by directors Avi Mograbi and Marlon Riggs, are analyzed on how they use narrative, mise-en-scene, and editing, to depict their respective identities, the history of their identities, and the importance of depicting their identities, to audiences who may not know about or be a part of that community. Images such as a man covering his body while shrouded in darkness can depict how society shuns or ignores him in their daily lives, or how reversing footage can be a look into the mind of the director, of a want to return to the root of a problem. All of these elements come together in order to show the effectiveness of how film can be used in having one identify with themselves, and have others ask who they are.

Runner Up

"The Representation of Teenage Girls in 1980s Japanese Media: A Case Study of The Island Closest to Heaven (1984) by Obayashi Nobuhiko"

by Amy Brito

Class: Spring 2023 FILM 487 Japanese Pop Cinema: Kadokawa Auteurs (Instructor: Patrick Terry)

Bio: Amy Brito Martinez is a dedicated film editor in her final year at Portland State University. Her passion for storytelling extends beyond the cutting room; she loves writing and discussing film theory. Amy enjoys engaging with various aspects of filmmaking, always seeking to deepen her understanding and appreciation for the art form. Outside of work and school, she enjoys swimming, surfing, and playing tennis.

Representation of Teenage Girls

Statement: My essay, titled "The Representation of Teenage Girls in 1980s Japanese Media: A Case Study of The Island Closest to Heaven (1984) by Obayashi Nobuhiko" argues that 1980s Japanese media depicted teenage girls in an empowering light that challenged traditional gender norms, which reflected a broader social and cultural in Japan at the time. My core argument is supported by an analysis of my chosen film. I examine how the film's narrative, visual aesthetics, and thematic elements portray the protagonist, Mari, as a young woman with agency, independence, and resilience. Mari's journey, driven by a promise to her late father, symbolizes her empowerment and challenges submissive stereotypes of young women in Japanese media. The essay contextualises these representations within the historical backdrop of Japan's feminist movement, changing societal norms, and economic struggles. By exploring themes of grief, memory, nostalgia, and identity, I argue that the film provides a nuanced portrayal of adolescence, self discovery, and personal growth outside of traditional gender roles. My essay highlights how Obayashi's film contributes to a more empowered and complex representation of teenage girls in 1980s Japanese cinema.