Sociology 421 Sociology & Film |
Instructor: Dr. Dana Fennell e-mail: Dana.Fennell@usm.edu |
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Fall 2009 LAB 208 T 6:30-9:15 H001 18250 |
Office: LAB 441 Phone #: (601)266-5355 (better to e-mail) Office Hours: T/Th 10:00am-11:00am; 2:30pm-3:00pm or by appointment |
Course Description
and Objectives: This class will
explore the world of film primarily through the eyes of sociology (but include
a variety of interdisciplinary pieces).
Throughout the course we will watch a variety of films from the
*the role of the media in our lives and what makes film unique as a medium,
*techniques for reading film,
*the organization of film industries, and
*representations of race/ethnicity, gender, crime in film.
Course Materials:
Benshoff, Harry M., and Sean Griffin. 2009.
Edition.
Ganti, Tejaswini.
2004. Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema.
Nochimson, Martha P.
2007. Dying To Belong: Gangster Movies in
Publishing.
Additional
Library Holdings
(these can be found through the library’s regular holdings or online at the
designated addresses):
Allison, Anne.
2000. “A Challenge to
Bolton, Christopher A. 2002. “From Wooden Cyborgs to Celluloid Souls: Mechanical bodies in Anime and Japanese Puppet
Theater.” Positions 10(3):729-771. (you only need to read p 729-738, 764-767)
González, Luis Pérez. 2006. “Fansubbing Anime: Insights Into the ‘Butterfly Effect’ of Globalisation on Audiovisual Translation.”
Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 14(4):260-277.
Harrell, Megan.
2007. “Slightly Out of Character:
Shōnen Epics, Doujinshi and Japanese Concepts of Masculinity.” Virginia
Review
of Asian Studies Summer (can be found online at) http://vcas.wlu.edu/VRAS/2007/Harrell.pdf (you only need to read
p 1-3, 12)
Noriega, Chon.
1987. “Godzilla and the Japanese
Nightmare: When ‘Them!’ Is
Snead, James. 1994. White
Screens/Black Images:
Van Peebles, Melvin, and James Surowiecki. 1999. “Making It.” Transition 79:176-192.
Library Course Reserves:
Those indicated by an asterisk in the schedule can be found through online library course reserves. (To get to library reserves, go to the library home page. Click on Reserves, and do a search for the class. Click on the hypertext links to download the reading. If a reading is more than 10 pages there will be multiple hypertext links, so make sure you read all the required pages.)
Bordwell, David. 2009.
“The
Marshall Cohen, eds.
Denzin, Norman K.
1995. The Cinematic Society.
Dudrah, Rajinder Kumar.
2006. Bollywood Goes to the Movies.
Levinson, Jerrold.
2009. “Film Music and Narrative Agency.” Pp. 403-417 in Film Theory and Criticism, Leo Braudy and
Cohen, eds.
McPherson, Tara.
2003. Reconstructing
Classroom Environment: I believe that learning is an interactive experience, which we will partake in together during this class. We will discuss some sensitive topics in this class, so if a topic is ever too explicit for you, please leave the room and meet with me later. I expect you to participate in class activities and discussions, and share your ideas. Everyone will not always agree, but I demand an environment of respect, free from ridicule and harassment. Not following this policy will lead to points being taken from your final grade.
Notes: Policies on Academic Honesty and support for students with disabilities are located in your textbook.
*If a student has a disability
that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires
accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations
(ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by
Address:
The
Office
for Disability Accommodations
Voice
Telephone: (601) 266-5024 or (228)
214-3232 Fax: (601) 266-6035
Individuals with hearing impairments can contact ODA using the
Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu.
Tentative Schedule:
Date |
Topic |
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Aug 25 |
Introduction/ Mass Media in Today’s World and Makes Film Unique |
*Denzin “Cinematic Society” (p 13-41) |
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Sept 1 |
Animation |
Allison “A Challenge to González “Fansubbing Anime” (p 260-277) Harrell “Slightly Out of Character” (p 1-3, 12) |
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Sept 8 |
Animation |
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Sept 15 |
Genres and Gangsters |
Dying to Belong |
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Sept 22 |
Genres and Gangsters |
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Sept 29 |
Techniques of Media Analysis |
Noriega “Godzilla” (p 63-77) Snead “White Screens/Black Images” (p 1-23) Optional: * Levinson “Film Music and Narrative Agency” (p 402-417) |
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Oct 6 |
Blaxploitation |
Van Peebles and Surowiecki “Making It” (p 176-192) |
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Oct 13 |
Blaxploitation |
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Oct 20 |
Images of Southern Women |
*McPherson “Reconstructing |
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Oct 27 |
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Nov 3 |
|
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Nov 10 |
Bollywood |
Bollywood (p 1-95, 113-115,137-144, 173-204) *Dudrah “Reading Popular Hindi Films” (p 65-95) |
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Nov 17 |
Bollywood |
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Nov 24 |
Art Films |
*Bordwell “ |
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Dec 1 |
Final Exams |
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* This syllabus is not set in stone, nor does it provide
all the details of each assignment. I
reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time. If
you miss an assignment for a documented reason, please contact me within a week
by e-mail and be prepared with documentation.
These exceptional situations will be handled on an individual basis.
Grading and Assignments:
Participation: 6%
Short Papers: 15% each
Final Paper: 29%
Final Presentation: 20%
Participation and In Class Responses: I would like this to be a discussion-based class so attendance and participation is vital. After you miss one class (for an undocumented reason), I will begin to take 4 points off your final grade for each class you miss. If you are late this will count as half an absence. After watching movies in class, I will often ask you to sketch out some of your initial thoughts. These will contribute to your participation grade.
Short Papers: Throughout the semester we will be covering a variety of topics and important concepts in not only a sociological approach to film but in film theory and film criticism. You are required to write three different short papers of 4 pages each in length. Each paper requires you to watch a certain type of film and analyze it using class concepts. For each paper you also need to reference 1-2 popular critiques such as those found online (but obviously feel free to disagree with the critics’ analyses!). The following are the due dates and topics for these papers. You need to choose three of the topics—
Animation Due Sept 8: In class we will talk about animation in general as a form of communication different from live action, and then more specifically about anime and Disney. Pick an animated feature length film or animated episode in a larger series to watch. Then use concepts from your readings and class discussion to analyze this film (or episode).
Gangsters
Due Sept 22: You will read a book comparing American and
Blaxploitation Due Oct 13: In class we will watch a documentary about Blaxploitation films and discuss this genre. Watch a Blaxploitation film (either one from the 70s or one that was made later to revive/build off the genre) and analyze it using concepts from readings and class. (If you really want to branch out, you can choose to not watch a Blaxploitation film but watch a film by a Black director and compare/contrast it to the Blaxploitation genre).
Music Due Nov 24: In class we will discuss the role of music in film. Take any film of your choice and analyze the use of music in the film employing class concepts. For example, you can analyze how music furthers the narrative, genre, portrayal of race/class/gender etc (do not feel you just have to psychoanalyze the way sound is heard).
Images of the South Due Oct 27: In class we will discuss the representation of gender in film, and more specifically images of the South and southern femininity. Pick any film that represents the South and analyze how the South is represented. Include in your analysis how gender/race/class are illustrated in creating this picture of the South.
Bollywood Due Nov 17: In class we will read about the structure of the Hindi film industry and the narratives used in such films. Take any film from India (it does not necessarily need to be a Hindi film but just be aware of what type of film you are choosing) or any American film that can be considered as a crossover (for example employing some Bollywood techniques or employing high profile Bollywood stars) and analyze it using concepts form readings and class.
Art
Film Due Nov 24: In class we will discuss different film industries and art
films in general. Take an art film of
your choice and use class concepts to analyze it.
Create Your Own: If you don’t like any of these topics, create your own, but you must get it approved by me first.
Final Paper (Genre): This paper should be 8-10 pages in length. For this paper you need to discuss a particular genre. By Oct 20 you need to pick the genre and 4 movies you are going to watch that fall within this genre. The book Dying to Belong will help convey what a genre is and what you are looking for. Other potential examples of genre are westerns, romantic comedies, and horror. In this paper explain how these films are part of genre, what conventions they follow and what conventions they put a twist on. Further, as we will be discussing representations of race, class, and gender throughout the semester—you need to explore how some of these dimensions play out in the genre of your choice.
You need to cite 4 scholarly sources and 3 critics’ reviews (these can come from the Internet). However, this being said, I am concerned that you develop your own ideas and perspective on that genre.
Final Presentation: In class you will present the results of your final paper in a 10-minute presentation. This presentation can be of any format, from powerpoint to something more visual.
General Assignment Guidelines: All assignments are due in class as hard copies within the first 10 minutes of class unless otherwise specified. If you turn in an assignment late but the day it is due, I will take 20 points of your assignment. If it is turned in after the day it is due, I will not accept it. Participation, no matter how shy you are, is expected. Your participation in class discussions, in class activities, and short writing exercises makes up 10% of your grade. If you miss class for a documented reason, let me know. In all papers, make sure you follow a standard citation format and are consistent. Do not plagiarize, and do not cite wikipedia unless you are trying to talk about popular culture. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point Times New Roman font.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism happens when you use someone else’s ideas in your writing and pass them off as your own. You must cite whenever you use ideas that are not common knowledge and are not your own. If you are referencing classroom texts, you still must cite. If you plagiarize administrative consequences will follow up to failing the course and being reported to higher administration.
Plagiarism happens:
-When you directly quote from a source and do not mention the source
-When you paraphrase from a source and do not mention the source
-When you directly quote from a source and do not use quotation marks
-When you incorrectly paraphrase from a source