FYS100-0765: The Reel World: Globalization and Ideology in Film
Dr. Candyce Leonard / Fall 1998

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

With the collapse of the Hollywood studio system and the rise of film schools in the 1960s, movies became a common social denominator that bound together a generation of young adults. In spite of the influence and popularity of movies, spectators seldom study film within an academic or otherwise critical context. Further, market demands as well as economic and ideological considerations tend to discourage a multicultural praxis in favor of promoting American/Eurocentric norms. In order to gain an understanding of the ways in which ideological precepts inform a movie's representational discourse, we will concentrate on how a film embodies ideological systems: political, social, and cultural. Further, this course is an attempt to modify the way that we watch movies and also to look for the interrelatedness between film study and other learning sites--history, political science, philosophy, religion, and anthropology, to name a few. While acknowledging the foundation of information that early films provide, we will principally view films made in the 1990s with the purpose of examining concerns that peoples are struggling with at present.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the conclusion of the course, the student will be able:

• to identify films made in non-American English speaking countries
• to analyze a director's technical strategies that support the film's ideology
• to name the issues that are both distinctive and common to various countries
• to read and write film criticism
• to determine the methods of "reading" a film as an active rather than a passive spectator
• to recognize subtle subtexts or technques that influence the spectator
• to learn to ask questions of films in order to access multiple levels of perspective

NOTE: We will view some film clips in class, but all full-length vilms are viewed outside of class

GRADING SCALE:

New grading system is in effect:

ATTENDANCE:

"Students are considered sufficiently mature to appreciate the necessity of regular attendance, to accept this personal responsibility, to demonstrate the self-discipline essential for such performance, and to recognize and accept the consequences of failure to attend" (p. 27). Your grade will reflect your absences; no make-up work; in the event of an emergency, please contact your professor immediately. Due to the highly interactive nature of this class, your active participation is essential. In addition to student flim clips, movie analyses, etc., participation means that you have prepared the material, that you are active in class discussion, and that you demonstrate a positive attitude in class.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

This class is conducted in strict accordance with the honor systems and its policies (please see student hanbook).

Students will be notified of changes in this course outline and syllabus

COURSE SCHEDULE: