Acknowledgements
As is with any project of this scale, I could not have accomplished this without
help from an immeasurable number of people. Whether that help was direct or
indirect, intentional or otherwise, I owe them my thanks and appreciation.
Naming everyone who has positively influenced me since I undertook this thesis
is impossible, but I will attempt to highlight a few of the important ones.
First: my advisor, Scott Higgins, who willingly allowed me to rant and rave to
him about films I hold close to my heart once a week for nearly eight months in a
row. His guidance and motivation have been invaluable as I tried to make sense of
these stories.
The faculty of the Wesleyan film department as a whole has shaped me from a
person whose film analysis skills began and ended with “It was good” or “It was
bad” only four years ago. In every class, office hours session, and casual
conversation I found each of them welcoming and prepared to offer me any help
they could. It should go without saying that this paper is the direct product of their
lessons, advice, criticisms, and wisdom, but I will say it anyways. It is because of
them I can watch and appreciate film in the way that I do, and for that I cannot
thank them enough.
To my friends, both from Wesleyan and beyond, whom I will not list by name for
fear of accidental omission: the support and happiness you have supplied me with
throughout my life has been felt. Strongly and lastingly. I apologize for not
naming you individually, but just know that if you are reading this and know me
personally, you have affected my life for the better whether you are aware of it or
not.
To my fellow Class of 2020 film majors: it has been wonderful to learn and grow
with you for the past four years, and I would give anything to sit with you all in
the Goldsmith Family Cinema again and watch one last film. I found myself
consistently in awe of all of your intelligence, warmth, artistic vision, and
eloquence. I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish and know that I will
engage with as much of your future work as I can, for I am certain it will be
beautiful and insightful.
And finally, my family. To my father, whose passion for storytelling has become
mine and sent me on this wonderful journey. To my mother, whose hard work and
ability to fight through adversity inspired me countless times. To my brother
Quinton, my first and oldest friend whom I am glad I cannot remember my life
without. And my brother Matthew, who, despite being the youngest, I look up to
for more reasons than there are words in this thesis. Six or seven lines of twelve-
point font could never fully represent what you mean to me. I love and thank you
all, and I will never stop.