For my final project, I am interested in writing an essay about Jordan Peele's NOPE (2022) examining film's themes involving the history of African American cinema and the commodification of life in the name of "spectacle." For many, including myself, Peele's film did not immediately resonate upon leaving the theater; however, after researching the film and analyzing scenes, I came away with a much deeper appreciation of Peele's artistry. At this point, NOPE is one of my favorite films of the year, and I believe it is by far the most subtle and nuanced of Peele's filmography thus far. I've found myself thinking about the film's theme of spectacle quite often in the month's following my first viewing, and new elements of the film have continue to occur to me. I hope to write an essay that successfully analyzes NOPE 's thematic preoccupation with cinema's past treatment of African Americans by examining subtleties throughout the film that contribute to this theme.
Very cool idea. I agree with you about it not resonating at first, but even if I didn't enjoy it, I felt it was worthy of critical analysis. Be sure to try to Bogle and/or other critical sources, either regarding "spectacle" in general, or regarding Peele specifically.
FYI, Caroline McKenzie is also thinking about a Jordan Peele paper. You might want to compare notes.