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Meeting: 01/14/2015-01/30/2015 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (6:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.).
Sample film TrailerAbout Course |
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General Description: Interpretation and analysis of intercultural communication concepts and identity politics as represented in critically acclaimed international films. (Also see Course Catalog for description of COM 353: "Special Topics in Communication.")
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Some films include very explicit content, including those of a violent and sexual nature (e.g., nudity, sex, blood, and torture). You will be made aware of these films in advance and provided alternative films to watch if this type of content should violate your personal, religious, political, or philosophical beliefs. However, this is not an ideal situation and many of the movies without explicit content cover uncomfortable topics. So please register only if you are open to watching movies that will make you uncomfortable.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Some films include very explicit content, including those of a violent and sexual nature (e.g., nudity, sex, blood, and torture). You will be made aware of these films in advance and provided alternative films to watch if this type of content should violate your personal, religious, political, or philosophical beliefs. However, this is not an ideal situation and many of the movies without explicit content cover uncomfortable topics. So please register only if you are open to watching movies that will make you uncomfortable.
Course Objectives
- Understand identity as both construction and representation.
- Apply communication and intercultural communication theories to the analysis of film.
- Critique films through various media theories, becoming active, critical viewers of film.
- Be aware of the representation of identity politics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, class, and ideology on the screen.
- Gain knowledge of terms and theory to adequately analyze identity issues of race, class, gender, national origins in film.
- Have an improved appreciation of independent and global films
- Develop and apply their own criteria for judging the artistic merits, entertainment value, and ethical implications of the movies that they watch.
- Write film reviews, documented essays, or film treatments that demonstrate critical analysis, research skills, and creative judgment
- Understand how to prepare for and participate in panel discussions, providing extemporaneous and impromptu responses.
- Gain knowledge of a selected number of global films and directors from around the world
- Understand how identities are often represented as stereotypes in films
- Understand how film can dismantle and critique stereotypes, as well as present them
- Gain sophistication in analyses of how film genres represent complex issues of racial national and gendered identities together
- Learn how other cultures make and understand film experiences
Readings /Assignments
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I am finalizing the reading packet. No textbook is required for this course. There will be required reading before our first class meeting and each subsequent class meeting (10-15 pages) .
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For assignment information, see the course outline (link at top of page).
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Reading materials will be made available on Blackboard.
Films (Short-List)
- Smoke Signals (Canada, U.S.)
- Omar (Palestine)
- Let the Right One In (Sweden)
- The Band's Visit (Israel)
- Quinceañera (U.S., in Spanish)
- Babi Leto (Czech Republic)
- Waltz with Bashir (Multiple Countries)
- Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (India)
- Kavkazskiy Plennik: Prisoner of the Mountains (Russia)
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist (U.S., U.K., Qatar)
- The Intouchables (France)
- Whale Rider (New Zealand)
- City of God (Brazil)
- A Separation (Iran)
- Poetry (South Korea)
- Lost in Translation (U.S.)
Alternatives (Wish I Could Show)
- Skin (South Africa)
- Funny Games (Germany)
- The Singing Revolution (Estonia)
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch (U.S.)
- Persepolis (France)
- Central Station
- American Beauty
- Do the Right Thing
- Baran
- Burnt Money
- Winter's Bone
- Gran Torino
- Salmon Fishing in Yemen
- West is West
- Nationale 7
- East is East (1999, Damien O’Donnell)
- Bicycle Thieves (1948, Vittorio De Sica)
- Dirty Pretty Things (2002,Stephen Frears)
- The Singing Revolution (2006, James Tusty, Maureen Castle Tusty)
- The Namesake (2006, Mira Nair)
- La Misma Luna (2007, Patricia Rigging)
- Good Bye Lenin! (2003, Wolfgang Becker)
- Chinaman (2005, Henrik Ruben Genz)
- Jalla! Jalla! (2000, Josef Faras)
- Hsi Yen (1993, Ang Lee)
- Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002, Phillip Noyce)
Resources
- Submit Tumblr Post
- Intercultural Film Series (UK)
- Intercultural film database
- International Movie Database (IMDb)
- Roger Ebert's Reviews
- How to Write a Film Script Treatment
- How to Write a Film Review
- Logline vs. Tagline (also frame your script pitch in terms of movies we watch)
Pedagogy
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Methods of Instruction
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Assignments
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FAQ
Will films be subtitled? Yes, it's the best way to watch films. Hearing the tones and expressions of actors is important. So, for the films that include non-English dialogue, you will be reading subtitles. Dubbing is B.S.
Will there be reading? Yes. This is a college-level course.
Will we be meeting the whole time, from 6:00 to 9:45 p.m.? Yup. Some of the films are over three hours long and, at least on days we watch shorter films, we'll have a double feature.
But what if I miss a class? You'll be watching a make-up film and doing a little extra writing.
Of course, there will be a lot of discussion and I have tentative agreement from a few actors and directors for some Skype calls. I think, ultimately, you will have a lot of fun.
Will there be reading? Yes. This is a college-level course.
Will we be meeting the whole time, from 6:00 to 9:45 p.m.? Yup. Some of the films are over three hours long and, at least on days we watch shorter films, we'll have a double feature.
But what if I miss a class? You'll be watching a make-up film and doing a little extra writing.
Of course, there will be a lot of discussion and I have tentative agreement from a few actors and directors for some Skype calls. I think, ultimately, you will have a lot of fun.