ENGL 3377: The Art of Film
Dr. Gardner Campbell

Course goals:

1. To examine film as both a text and an adaptation of text (verbal, cinematic, musical, dramatic, etc.).
2. To examine film in its cultural context--as a product of culture, a reflection of culture, and a shaper of culture.

PLEASE NOTE:
1. Many of the materials in this class—films, books, lectures, discussions—concern issues and topics including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, religion, and politics. In particular, some films and books include depictions of violence and/or sexuality that some readers/viewers may find objectionable or offensive. I will do my best to treat these matters discreetly and with the highest standards of professional good conduct. In turn, I expect you to help me create a community in which these challenging and potentially uncomfortable issues can be discussed in a mature, sensitive, and tolerant manner.
2. With rare exceptions, you will need to see these films outside of class meetings. I will arrange group screenings. You may also view the films in Crouch Fine Arts Library, or on your own at your convenience.

SYLLABUS (subject to change)
Introduction: Film, Text, and Culture

I. The Glass Key: Genre, Gender, and Culture. Film Theory and Criticism 657-669 (ending with “vital interplay between them….”), 680-690, 703-716. Recommended for further reading: FTC 691-702.

Hammett, The Glass Key (1931)
Hammett, The Glass Key
In-class screening, Heisler, The Glass Key (1942) (part one)
In-class screening, Heisler, The Glass Key (part two)
Discuss The Glass Key
Kurosawa, Yojimbo (1961)
Kurosawa, Yojimbo
Film Theory and Criticism Day
FTC Day
Coen, Miller’s Crossing (1990)
Coen, Miller’s Crossing

Cognate: Leone, A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

II. Little Women: Text, Gender, and Culture. FTC GROUP 2.1: 435-460 (Chatman, Andrew); FTC GROUP 2.2 634-651 (Hansen) 727-741 (Williams). Recommended for further reading: 473-486 (Chatman).

Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868-69)
Alcott, Little Women
Alcott, Little Women
George Cukor (1933)
Cukor/Mervyn Le Roy (1949)
class TBD
Le Roy
FTC Day (group presentation)
FTC Day (group presentation)
Gillian Armstrong (1994)
Armstrong

Cognate: Armstrong, My Brilliant Career (1978)

III. Errol Morris: Fact, Fiction, Style, Metaphysics. FTC 3.1 135-153 (Intro, Kracauer), 166-173 (Bazin); FTC 3.2 183-198 (Arnheim, Deren) 270-282 (Prince). Recommended for further reading: FTC 206-223 (Baudry).

Gates of Heaven (1978)
Gates of Heaven (Gender analysis due)
Vernon, Florida (1982)
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
The Thin Blue Line
FTC Day (group presentation)
FTC Day (group presentation)

Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control (1997)
Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control
Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control

Cognates: Mr. Death (1999), The Fog of War (2004)

IV. Love and its Discontents. FTC 4.1 620-633 (Haskell), FTC 4.2 717-726 (Wood), 742-763 (Freeland).

Robert Nathan, Portrait of Jennie (1940)
Nathan, Portrait of Jennie
William Dieterle, Portrait of Jennie (1948)
Dieterle, Portrait of Jennie
FTC Day (group presentation)
FTC Day (group presentation)
Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo (1958)
Hitchcock, Vertigo
Hitchcock, Vertigo, conclusion. TERM PAPER DUE; must be posted to your blog by noon.

Cognates: Hitchcock, The Birds (1962); Campion, The Piano (1994)

FINAL EXAM

ASSIGNMENTS (I will explain each assignment in more detail as the time approaches):
· An analysis of femininity as constructed by a film in unit I, or masculinity as constructed by a film in unit II (3-4 pp.). You must analyze at least one scene in detail as part of your commentary.
· With a team of your peers, leading a discussion of a unit’s assigned FTC readings on one of the “FTC days”
· One substantive post per class meeting to your Learning Web blog.
· A term paper of 3000-3500 words, posted to your class blog, analyzing a “cognate” film in relation to one or more films/books in its unit. The paper must make substantial use of at least two of the FTC essays, and may include other secondary sources as well. All papers are due in class on the day assigned. Late papers will receive no credit. I will grant extensions for genuine emergencies only, at my discretion.
· A final exam.


Weighting for each assignment:
Gender Analysis 15%
Term Paper 30%
FTC presentation 15%
Blog participation 20%
Final exam 20%