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April 07, 2005

Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Lecture on MP3

Here's another audio post: an MP3 recording of the introductory lecture from my Contemporary Hollywood Cinema class, originally recorded in Spring '03. I've appended the syllabus below if you'd like to follow along. Since then, the course has been changed slightly, and is now titled American Film History II. You can check out the version I'm teaching this semester here.

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Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
Film 4960, Spring 2003
M/W 3:00-4:15, 204 Aderhold

Dr. Ted Friedman
Office: 738 One Park Place South
Office Hours: M/W 4:30-6:30 and by appointment
Email: tedf@gsu.edu; Phone: (404) 463-9522
Home Page: http://www.tedfriedman.com

Course Description
How do movies reflect and influence American life? How has Hollywood responded to changing market conditions and global influences? Why are so many of today’s movies so big, loud, and pushy? What are the alternatives to Hollywood’s stories?

This class attempts to make sense of the present state of American film by tracing the history of American movies from 1968 to the present. Along the way, we’ll look at the semiotics, aesthetics, economics, and politics of Hollywood movies and the independent underground.

Prerequisites
This course builds on the material covered in Film Aesthetics and Analysis (FILM1010) and History of Motion Pictures (FILM2700). I strongly encourage students to take those two courses before taking this class.

Readings
The coursepack is sold by Bestway Copy Center, 18 Decatur Street SE (on the first floor of One Park Place South). Additional readings will be distributed via the class email list.

Screenings
You are responsible for viewing the assigned film before class each week. The first required film, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, is currently playing in local theaters. After that, the Library Media Center will have a DVD of each week’s film on reserve. In addition, all assigned films are readily available at local video stores for home rental. Recommended alternatives to Blockbuster are Movies Worth Seeing (1409 N Highland; 404-892-1802) and Videodrome (617 N Highland; 404-885-1117).

Email Group
All students will be automatically signed up to the online class discussion group, hosted by Yahoo Groups. I will regularly forward Hollywood news, reviews of upcoming movies, and other useful material to the list. You’re encouraged to forward other interesting information, post your reactions to recent movies, respond to other postings, or continue any other ongoing discussions from class.

Messages can be read online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/conholly, or forwarded to your email account. Likewise, you can post a message from the web site, or send it as an email to conholly@yahoogroups.com.

Schedule

Introduction
M 1/6 Introduction
W 1/8 In-class screening: selections from Saving Private Ryan

Hollywood Today
M 1/13 Read Dyer, Friedman
See The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
W 1/15 In-class screening: Behind the Screen: Hollywood Goes Hypercommercial

Flashback to 1968: A Violent Rupture
M 1/20 Martin Luther King Holiday – No Class
W 1/22 Read Kolker, Prince, McKinney
See Bonnie and Clyde (1968)

The 1970s: Hollywood Renaissance?
M 1/27 Read Ray, George
See Dog Day Afternoon (1974)
W 1/29 In-class screening: American Cinema: The Film School Generation

Blockbusters and Fandom
M 2/3 Read Jones, Jenkins, Schatz
See Star Wars (1976)
W 2/5 In-class screening: George Lucas in Love

Postmodernism and Science Fiction
M 2/10 Read Sobchack, Harvey
See Blade Runner (1984)
W 2/12 In-class screening: Science Fiction Costumes

The Politics of Masculinity in Reagan’s America
M 2/17 Read Jeffords (2 chapters)
See Salvador (1986)
W 2/19 In-class screening: selections on the making of Salvador
Take-home Midterm Due

Documentary and Docudrama
M 2/24 Read Tuchman, Kael, Moore
See Roger & Me (1986)
W 2/26 In-class screening: Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

March 3-9 – Spring Break – No Class

Race and Representation
M 3/10 Read Wiegman, McKelly, Seymour
See Do the Right Thing (1989)
In-class screening: Classified X
W 3/12 Discussion

Pop Feminism
M 3/17 Read White, Faludi
See Thelma & Louise (1991)
W 3/19 In-class screening: selections from I’m the One That I Want

Queer Studies
M 3/24 Ready Doty, Simpson
See Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
W 3/26 In-class screening: selections from Off the Straight & Narrow

War and Film Today
M 3/31 Reading to be distributed via email
See Three Kings (1999)
W 4/2 In-class screening: selections on the making of Three Kings

Globalization and Hybridity
M 4/7 Read Bordwell
See Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
W 4/9 In-class screening: selections from Hong Kong films

The Indies
M 4/14 Read Kleinhans, Schamus, Biskind
See Requiem for a Dream (2000)
W 4/16 In-class screening: American Cinema: The Independents

Narrative and New Technologies
M 4/21 Read Manovich, Friedman
See Being Jon Malkovich (1999)
W 4/23 In-class screening: video games

Class Choice
M 4/28 Reading to be distributed via email
Screening to be voted on by class

The research paper is due in the mailbox on the door of my office (738 One Park Place South) by Wednesday, April 30, 6 PM.

The Take-Home Final Exam is due in the mailbox on the door of my office by Monday, May 5, 6 PM.

Assignments

The class assignments add up to total of 100 possible points. Your final grade for the class is determined by adding up your grades for each assignment, adjusting for attendance, then applying the final number to the following scale:

90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 0-59=F

1. Take-Home Midterm – 30 points
The take-home midterm will require you to relate concepts from the readings and lectures to the films screened for class. Due in class February 19.

2. Research Paper – 40 points
You will produce a 7-9 page research paper on an American film made since 1968.
• You will write a one-page proposal outlining your topic and mode of research. We will meet in March during my office hours to discuss your proposal.
• Optional drafts of the paper can be submitted at any time in class or via email up to Tuesday, April 22. I will return each draft with recommendations for revision and expansion. If you choose, I will also let you know what grade the paper would receive if it were handed in as the final draft. You’re welcome to submit multiple drafts before the deadline.
• The final draft of the paper is due in the mailbox on the door of my office (739 One Park Place South) by Wednesday, April 30, 6 PM.
• More details on the research paper will follow in a separate handout.

3. Take-Home Final – 30 points
The take-home final will be structured just like the midterm, covering the second half of the semester. It will be due in the mailbox on the door of my office by Monday, May 5, 6 PM.

4. Film Element Observations
For every film after LOTR, students will sign up to closely observe specific film elements and report back to the class. You will observe two films, one in the first half of the semester, one in the second half. You will not be graded on this assignment, but if you miss class without advance notice on a week you’re signed up, you will be marked for an additional unexcused absence.

5. Attendance Adjustment
As Woody Allen put it, “80 percent of success is showing up.” It’s less than that in this formula, but the bottom line is that you can’t contribute to the class if you’re not there. You’re allowed one unexcused absence for the semester. After that, each unexcused absence subtracts one point from your grade total. Excused absences include medical and family emergencies. You will be expected to schedule any employment responsibilities around this class, or accept the consequences of missed classes for your grade. If you do need to miss a class, please contact me ahead of time, and make arrangements to catch up on missed material.

Policies

Re-Writes and Makeup Tests
Opportunities for revision and improvement will be available for the midterm, the presentation, and the research paper prospectus. In addition, I will look at optional drafts of the research paper submitted on or before April 22. One rule: a 24-hour cool-down period after the return of any assignment. Wait a day before coming to talk to me, and I’ll be happy to listen to your concerns and help you improve your work.

Late and Unsubmitted Papers
Late papers will be marked off by ½ point for every day overdue unless an extension is agreed upon before the due date. No work can be accepted after the deadline for the take-home final. Any unsubmitted papers will receive a 0. Likewise, any unanswered exam questions will receive a 0. So, if you answer only 2 out of 3 required exam questions, you will get a 0 on the third question.

Academic Honesty
The university’s policy on academic honesty is published in On Campus: The Undergraduate Co-Curricular Affairs Handbook, available online at http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwcam. The policy prohibits plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple submissions. Violation of the policy will result in failing the class, in addition to disciplinary sanctions.

The Internet makes it easy to plagiarize, but also easy to track down plagiarism. Bottom line: Don’t plagiarize. It’s wrong, and it’s not worth it. There’s always a better way. Cite all your sources, put all direct quotations in quotation marks, and clearly note when you are paraphrasing other authors’ work.

Withdrawals
Students withdrawing on or before March 10 will receive a W provided they are passing the course. Students who withdraw after March 10 will not be eligible for a W except in cases of hardship. If you withdraw after March 10, you will be assigned a WF, except in those cases in which (1) hardship status is determined by the office of the dean of students because of emergency, employment, or health reasons, and (2) you are passing the course.

Incompletes
Incompletes may be given only in special hardship cases. Incompletes will not be used merely for extending the time for completion of course requirements.

Changes to the Syllabus
This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. Deviations may be necessary.

Posted by tedf at April 7, 2005 12:15 AM

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