BMI-AMED-321E.18
BMA-AMED-321.18, BMVD-015.312.18, BBI-AME-312E.18, BBN-AME-312.18, BBN-AME11-312.18
Blackness in American Film (Feketeség az amerikai filmben) in autumn 2012
Federmayer Éva, Tue 17:00–18:30, R356, host: DAS (R306)
5-credit lecture, 30 h/term; strong prereq: BMI-AMED-230E
description & set texts
This course explores the representation of ”blackness” in American films with a majority black cast or a predominantly black-related theme. Crucial to our analysis will be the changing of images, values, and perspectives when films by white and black filmmakers address important issues typical of American race relations. Our selection of films will span the time from early ”race movies” of the silent era to more recent releases, including THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLE, WITHIN OUR GATES, IMITATION OF LIFE, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, EVE'S BAYOU, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER,GET ON THE BUS. SYLLABUS 1. Registration 2. Introduction. MIDNIGHT RAMBLE (video) 3. WITHIN OUR GATES (1919/20) by Oscar Micheaux 4. Discussion of WOG 5. IMITATION OF LIFE (1959) by Douglas Sirk (video) 6. Discussion of IOL 7. A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961) by Daniel Petrie (dir.) and Lorraine Hansberry (screenplay): discussion 8. Discussion of ROS 9. Fall Break 10. EVE’S BAYOU (1997) by Kasi Lemmons: discussion 11. Discussion of EB 12. GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER (1967) by Stanley Kramer. 13. Discussion of GWICTD 14. GET ON THE BUS (1996) 15. FINAL EXAM (5 page paper on Get ON THE BUS due on this day, OR by midnight, December 17, at the latest)
requirements & assessment
Requirements: 1) regular attendance and active class participation, 2) oral presentation, 3) endterm exam, 4) short formal essay on Get on the Bus (the theme/title will be given in due time). Attendance policy: more than three absences will automatically make your course incomplete, so try to do your best and come regularly. Please note that the movies will be longer than our standard 90 min classtime, so make sure you sit out the film each time. If you have other classes to attend at 6 p.m. or earlier you may want to consider dropping this course this semester. Presentations: You are requested to work in pairs (or groups) and cooperate with your peers well before the presentation is due. Each pair (or group) is expected to consider the following guidelines: a) Give a brief on the critical reception of the film. You are expected to do research on the web, preferably, focusing on the filmmakers, user comments, and external comments. When elaborating on user comments, make a personal assessment on the variety of approaches. When elaborating on external comments, make sure you also focus on two reviews/essays by professional critics so that one should reflect your own opinion (or an opinion you feel close to), the other demonstrating a position that is markedly different from yours. Length of presentation: max. 15 minutes. Handout with a web/bibliography (indication of sites you consulted) is a must. b) Conduct a class discussion on the film, seeking to explore themes suggested by the syllabus as well as working out other relevant ideas/aspects of the movie you feel important. Length of dicsussion: 30 minutes. Handout with the main points / outline of the discussion is required. Required texts: 1) The films (except when noted otherwise) are to be watched before class, which entails that students are expected to be clear about the plot and characters for the class. 2) Texts (in photocopyand pdf) to read: available in the READER and e-learning. Grading policy: class activity+ endterm+presentation+essay averaged