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International Films
Instructor: Jennifer (Heuff) van Sijll
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Course Description: This course provides a critical look at
the world and its problems through some of the finest international films.
Films from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and the
United States will be viewed and analyzed to
explore such topics as nationalism, sovereignty, war and peace, ethnic conflict,
economics and immigration.
Units: 3
Credit / No Credit Option
Required Books:
1. Van Sijll, Jennifer.
Cinematic Storytelling. Los Angeles: Michael
Wiese, 2005
2. Chaudhuri, Shohini.
Contemporary World Cinema.Edinburgh
University Press, 2005.
Strongly Recommended but not Required
3. Codell, Julie, F. Editor. Genre,
Gender, Race, and World Cinema: An Anthology.
Malden,
Massachusetts: Blackwell
Publishing: Blackwell Publishing, 2007.
Please Note: Readings from the Codell book are recommended.
Additional required reading in the form of reviews and
articles will be handed out throughout the semester.
Course Structure
The course begins with a review of the beginning of film,
the language of cinema and how movies messaged ideas within the framework of an
entertainment product. We start in the United States where we look at the
powerful studio system that emerged and how it acted as the baseline for world
cinemas and social political messaging. We then examine current films around
the globe and examine how they message political ideas.
We look at what ideas they explore, and how to read a film critically.
We examine both theatrical and documentary forms. We then return to
current American films to observe both new indigenous trends and consider the
implications of new global cross-fertilization of ideas and techniques.
Globalization, in terms of film messaging techniques and
content, will be at the core of many of our discussions.
Outcome:
Students will get a review of the major trends in movie history, narrative and
documentary, to form a better understanding of the language of film and its
method of communicating ideas, as well as a snapshot of the major political
ideas currently being discussed in films around the world. The students will
exit the course with tools with which to analyze films, and media generally
which is increasingly the default source of news and information today. It is
intended that the student will increase their media literacy to be able to
critically dissect the moving image with a new set of tools.
Required
Assignments:
Students will write two short essays, deliver one
presentation and write one final exam.
Students will need to use the MLA standard for referencing
material. All essays will need a
Works Cited page. All material used
from outside sources needs to be referenced.
Essay 1
Choose a film studied this semester and write an analysis of how values
are conveyed to the audience focusing solely on how non-dialog techniques are
used.
Please note that values means social, political and / or
religious values. Please refer to
Cinematic Storytelling.
Essay length is 5
pages.
25 Points
Due Date: September 29
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Essay 2
Media Bias
Choose any film studied this semester and write an analysis
of how fairly you think the writer/director depicted his/her material. You are
encouraged to research alternate historical and political views. Your essay
needs to focus on values depicted that are controversial. You may choose any
film we are studying. If you agree
with the films values then you need to find a reviewer(s) who disagrees and
debate the issues in your essay.
Included in your discussion, there should be reference to film techniques used
to bias the fact-telling or storytelling.
Essay length is 5
pages.
25 points
Due Date: November 10
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Final exam:
The exam will be a combination of short answers and one short essay.
Definitions from lectures and the texts will be included.
A list of definitions will be given out ahead of time as suggested terms
that may be on the test. This will not be a complete list of tested definitions.
25 points
Date: December 15 at 7:00 (Start 7:30) Length:Exam
is two hours.
Student
Presentations: Students will
present one Powerpoint presentation during the semester. Due to class size you
will be assigned a group. The
presentation will be no longer than 10 minutes. The assignments will be made
during class #2.
Grades
Points
Transcript Grade
80 - 100
A - achievement outstanding in relation to the basic requirements of
the course
70 -80
B
- achievement significantly above the basic requirements of the course
60 70
C - achievement that meets the basic requirements of the course
50 60
D - achievement below the basic requirements of the course but earns
credit
Below 50 F -
achievement that fails to meet the basic requirements of the course
Class Schedule
and Readings
1. Tuesday, Sept. 1
Cinematic Storytelling: The Language of Movies
Survey of Principles outlined in
Cinematic Storytelling. How ideas are
messaged in film.
Reading:
Cinematic Storytelling: Intro and Chapter 1 and 2.
Clips and Several Shorts
2. Tuesday, Sept. 8
Introduction Studio Films
Baseline
Glamour Politics
- Sabotaging Genres
Imitation of Life
(1959)
Reading CWC: Introduction
Director: Douglas Sirk
Novelist: Fannie Hurst Writer: Eleanore Griffin
R/T: 125 minutes
3. Tuesday, Sept. 15
European
The Face of Post-War
Bicycle Thief
(1948)
Reading CWC: Chapter 1
Director: Vittoria
de Sica
Story: R/T: 93 minutes
4. Tuesday, Sept. 22
Spain - Lives of Women
Reading:
GGR and World Cinema p. 38 - 54
All About My Mother (1999)
Pedro Almodovar
Reading CWC: Chapter 1 See
pages:25-6
R/T: 101 minutes
#1 Student Presentations:
5. Tuesday, Sept. 29
USA Lives of Men
Reading:
GGR and World Cinema p. 56 77
Fight Club (1999)
Director: David Fincher
Novel: Chuck Palahniuk
Screenplay: Jim Uhls
# 2 Student Presentations:
Essay 1 Due
6. Tuesday, Oct. 6
Poverty Ethnicity Marginalized Lives
Slum Dog
Reading CWC: Chapter 7
#3 Student Presentations:
7. Tuesday, Oct. 13
Integration and Government Policy
Rabbit- Proof Fence
2002 (Australia)
Director: Phillip Noyce
Writers: Doris Pilkington and Christine Olsen
R/T: 94 minutes
#4 Student
Presentations:
8. Tuesday, October
20
Hierarchies of Values
Reading:
Cinematic Storytelling: Ch. 3-4
The Piano 1993 (Australia)
Written and Directed by Jane Campion
R/T: 120 minutes
#5 Student
Presentations:
9. Tuesday, Oct. 27
Urban Dislocation and Isolation
Reading:
Cinematic Storytelling Ch. 5 8
Reading: CWC: Chapter 1 see
pages 21-23
Amelie
2001 (France)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Screenplay: Guillaume Laurent & Jean-Pierre Jeunet
R/T: 122 minutes
#6 Student Presentations:
10. Tuesday,
November 3
Women, Globalism and Hegemony
Reading: Cinematic
Storytelling: Chapter 9 - 13
Reading: CWC: Chapter 6.
Crouching Tiger /
Hidden Dragon
Director: Ang Lee
Writer: Hui-Ling Wang
Book: Du Lu Wang
R/T 120 minutes
#7 Student Presentations:
11. Tuesday,
November 10
Media Messages and Public Access
See Interview on www.Ted.com
Control Room
(2004)
Directed by Jehane Noujaim
Writing Credits: Julia Bacha and Jehane Noujaim
R/T: 84 minutes
Student Presentations:
Essay 2 Due
# 8 Student Presentations
12. Tuesday,
November 17
Political Biography and Revisionism
TBA: Handout:
Fog of War (2003)
Directed by Errol Morris
R/T: 107
minutes
Student Presentations:
#9 Student Presentations
13. Tuesday, Nov. 24
New China / Political Criticism
Not One Less / To
Live
TBA: Handout
# 10 Student Presentations:
Reading CWC: Chapter 5
14. Tuesday, Dec. 1
Marginalized Characters and War
Persepolis
Reading CWC: Chapter 4
Directed by Vincent Paronnaud /
Marjane Satrapi
Writers: Marjane satrapi (Comic) /Vincent Paronnaud
(scenario)
Student Presentations:
#11 Student Presentations:
15. Tuesday, Dec. 8
International Stories at Home
Reading:
Projecting Politics: Chapter 11
Film and the Politics of Race
Reading: Projecting
Politics: p. 237 - 248
14. Baadasssss
(2003)
Directed by Mario van Peebles
Book: Melvin van Peebles
R/T: 109 minutes
#12 Student Presentations:
16. Tuesday, Dec. 15
Final Exam (Arrive at 7pm for instructions
and film viewing. Film will not be replayed twice. Written test begins at
7:30. Test continues until 9:30.
Reading
and Film Selections
Handouts and additional readings, if applicable, will be
given or suggested throughout the course.
Schedule of films is open to revision. Due to large number of students
and the need to schedule class time for presentations, we may have to cancel one
of the films scheduled.
Reading TBA: This means that the reading for that class
is to be announced. In this
context it means that nothing is yet assigned.
I may add a reading during the semester.
Film suggestions are always welcome.
Let me know what films you think might add to the course. I am always
looking to show films that connect with the audience.
Hope you enjoy the course. JVS
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