Theatre UAF course 334 Movies and Film

THR F334w FE1 Movies and Films Tara Maginnis Sample Syllabus from Fall, 2004

2004 Fall THR F334w FE1 Movies and Films Tara Maginnis 3 This course explores rotating thematic topics in the study of the art of classic cinema (films) and the popular mass media (movies). Comparative analysis of classics and recent motion pictures are used to learn elements of film language, analysis and criticism in this writing intensive course. Prerequisites: ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or F213X (or permission of instructor). CRN:75420

Instructor: Tara Maginnis 474-7630 email: fftmm1@uaf.edu web site: http://www.costumes.org Office Hrs: I may be found in the costume shop (room 107 of the Fine Arts Theatre) 1-5pm M, Tu, Th, & F other than when department and production meetings are scheduled. (Not known at this time).

Course description: This semester’s topic will focus on “costume” films, and costume as it is used in modern dress films. Students will write critical essays of the films shown, with a focus on how the costumes are used by the filmmakers to tell the story in the film.

Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to express themselves in writing on the subject of Film, using critical and analytical language. In particular I wish to hone your skills at making your writing clever, witty and cliché-free.

Instructional methods: Students will view a selection of films, followed by a brief class discussion of the characters and themes contained in each. Periodically students will generate critical papers comparing and contrasting the films seen in light of the main class topic, costumes.

Grading: Your semester grade will be based on the following: Participation = 15%, Quizzes = 15%, 6 papers or rewrites = 60%,

UAF Core Curriculum Boilerplate: “This course is designated as Writing-Intensive (W)…The designation applies to upper-division courses and means that a majority of the graded work in the course will be derived from writing activities. Here are the general guidelines for the writing expected in this course:

· Students will complete an ungraded writing sample on or near the first day of class to help the teacher assess writing ability and general competence.

· Students will receive comments from the teacher and/or peers on drafts of written work. In other words, students will work through a draft-and-redraft process so that they can apply feedback and become more effective writers. If students complete a major research project, the teacher will supervise the students’ writing in stages. · Students will meet individually with the teacher at least once during the term to discuss their writing.”

Sept 13 Introduction, Complete ungraded writing samples: “The movie I love, that I most hate admitting I even like, is _________ and I like it because….” Watch Kika. Discussion. Assignment: Read Intro and Chapter 1 of textbook.

Sept 20 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 1. Watch Funny Face. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Describe how the clothing in Funny Face is used as a sign and signifier of sexual states in this G rated movie. OR Compare and contrast between Kika and Funny Face using couture as a weapon of female power. OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 1 of your text.

Sept 27 Paper due. Watch Elizabeth. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 2 of textbook.

Oct 4 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 2. Watch Angels and Insects. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Angels and Insects clearly makes use of the fetishistic power of period dress. Briefly cover some occasions where the film does this, and some examples where the costumes are being used to send other sorts of signals as well. OR How does Elizabeth use costumes to track the changes occurring to the inner life of the title character? How does this compare with changes to the female characters found in Angels and Insects? OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 2 of your text. OR you can submit a longer re-write of an earlier paper as an alternate.

Oct 11 Paper due. Watch Casino. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 3 of textbook.

Oct 18 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 3. Watch The Cotton Club. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Compare examples of assembled masculinity shown on the male gangsters in Casino and The Cotton Club. OR Track any pair of characters through the years of changes in The Cotton Club through the changes in their clothing. Describe where their clothes show they are getting closer to, or farther from, the gangster subculture. OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 3 of your text. OR you can submit a longer re-write of an earlier paper as an alternate

Oct 25 Paper due. Watch Superfly. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 4 of textbook.

Nov 1 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 4. Watch Coming to America. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Zamunda, the mythical kingdom from which the main character in Coming to America hails is an “invented world”, largely shown through a series of elaborate costumes. What sort of place is Zamunda, based on the signals from the clothing? OR Elements of the design of both Superfly, and America are intended to be tributes to the “coolness” of African-American style, while in other spots excessive exaggeration of these styles is used to poke fun at certain characters. Compare cases of both these extremes either in one of these films, or both. OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 4 of your text. OR you can submit a longer re-write of an earlier paper as an alternate.

Nov 8 Paper due. Watch The Last Seduction. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 5 of textbook.

Nov 15 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 5. Watch Sunset Boulevard. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Hyper feminized sexy clothing is the hallmark of the femme fatale in cinema, an unusual situation because we are used to seeing femininity portrayed as weak. Compare and contrast the last two films female characters, and how their clothes are used as power objects. OR In both these films, male characters are manipulated as sex objects. How do these male characters relate to their own clothes, and what does it tell you about their positions in the stories? OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 5 of your text. OR you can submit a longer re-write of an earlier paper as an alternate

Nov 22 Paper due. Watch Victor/Victoria. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 6 of textbook.

Nov 29 Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 6. Watch Some Like it Hot. Discussion. Assignment: Write a short paper (3-4 pages) on one of the following topics: Cross gender dressing in cinema can both create a sense of unease and a sense of heightened sexual tension that lends itself to romantic comedy. Compare how this unease/tension is used in the cases of the two genders in the two films. OR Compare the gendered clothing choices of the non cross-dressing leads in one or both of the films with the clothes choices of the cross-dressed characters. OR Compare and contrast between one of the two films you have just seen, and another one you have seen on your own outside of class on issues relating to the topics found in chapter 6 of your text. OR you can submit a longer re-write of an earlier paper as an alternate

Dec 6 Paper due. Watch The Crying Game. Discussion. Assignment: Read Chapter 7 of textbook.

Dec 13 Final 7-10pm Very brief quiz on textbook chapter 7. Watch Velvet Goldmine. Discussion.

Class participation (or alternatively, Message board participation) providing helpful commentary, ideas, and moral support to your fellow students is 15% of your grade. If you find you cannot fully participate in the face-to-face class at any time due to travel, illness, or a show, you may participate in “virtual” form on the class message board during that week, and thus need not get behind. The online message board is located at http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thr334movies

Attendance, Punctuality & Common Politeness: It is difficult to earn full participation credit (15% of grade, remember?) if you miss a lot of the class presentations, or regularly come in late. There is no specific number of absences that is a “cutoff” line for full credit, rather it is the amount of time I see your shining faces, the extent to which you do or don’t participate in the discussions, and above all, the frequency of times I have to shout to be heard over your private non-class-related conversations that influence my judgments on this matter. I know that sitting watching movies induces a state of pleasant relaxation and group camaraderie that encourages talk, (and this is fine) but there are times, most obviously when I’m trying to address the whole class, that you need to stop your private conversations and let me be heard. Repeated brainlessness in this matter WILL lose you points.

Making up a missed film: Inevitably there will be an occasion when you will be unable to make it to class. On that occasion, please hunt down and view the missed class film on your own ASAP, and post your reflections on the film on the class eGroup. This will make it clear to me that you are not some flaky git who can’t even drag your behind into a class that largely consists of watching movies, but rather a diligent student who was unavoidably detained, yet who is anxious to keep up in class.

Important selections from the UAF Student Code of Conduct: “UAF requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly, and to respect the rights of others. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the learning environment or that violates the rights of others is prohibited…. Honesty is a primary responsibility of you and every other UAF student. The following are common guidelines regarding academic integrity:

1. Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that will contribute to their grade in a course, unless permission is granted by the instructor of the course. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.

2. Students will not represent the work of others as their own. A student will attribute the source of information not original with himself or herself (direct quotes or paraphrases) in compositions, theses and other reports.

3. No work submitted for one course may be submitted for credit in another course without the explicit approval of both instructors.”

Evaluation: Papers will be graded on the following criteria: Grammar and Spelling 25%, Sticking to a clear subject 25%, Coherent analysis with examples given 25%, Literate wit 25%.

Support Services: UAF Student Support Services office is located in 508 Gruening Building Phone: (907) 474 6844 Fax: (907) 474 7480 and further information may be obtained at http://www.uaf.edu/sssp or by E-mail: fysssp@uaf.edu The UAF Writing Center is in 801 Gruening Bldg. 474.5314 house listed on their website: http://www.uaf.edu/english/writingcenter/index.html Both these offices can assist you with writing problems and one on one tutoring.

Disabilities Services: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. I will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.

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University of Alaska Fairbanks
Theatre Department
311 Tanana Drive
Great Hall, Suite 302
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5700
Office: (907) 474-6590 Fax: (907) 474-7048
fythtr@uaf.edu

09/02/2004 -12/17/2004	Time: 6:00pm- 9:00pm	Days: Mon
Campus: Fairbanks	Building: THEA	Room: 101