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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS/GDR 353"
COURSE NAME: "Women in Film"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Kwame Phillips
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 3:30 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces the issues that feminist theories pose for the analysis of films and culture. These issues are usually framed in reference to women’s access to and roles in the production of media and women’s representation within these media. Correspondingly, the course offers two major sections of investigation. First, we will explore the historical development of women’s roles in the cinema as creative artists. Second, we will explore the various ways in which women’s roles in the film industry intersect with the wider identity political issues of race, class, sexuality, and national identity.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course is divided into weekly screenings and lectures of films created primarily by film/video/media makers who self identify as women. You will have the opportunity to develop and write a final essay on a germane topic of your choice, and to use this text to construct a final video essay.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course will introduce key issues that feminist theories pose for the analysis of films and contemporary culture, emphasizing radical gestures in form, identity, fantasy and agency, and provide a solid overview of the history of women’s place in film, both in front of and behind the camera. By the end of the term, students will be able to employ various critical perspectives in order to analyze how a film represents gender and sexuality, will be able to critique and evaluate an author’s thesis about the relations between feminism and film. 

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and Participation 10
Screening notes and weekly observations 10
Literature review 5
Draft 10
Weekly video reflections 10
Outlines 5
Final research project 30
Final video essay 20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

All students are expected to be active participants in their own and each other’s learning process. SIMPLY SHOWING UP IS NOT “ATTENDING” or “PARTICIPATING”.

•   Please make sure that all observations, comments, and criticisms are constructive, respectful, and spoken in a neutral tone.

•   Students may use laptops provided they are assisting in the educational process in the moment. Please silence all electronic devices for the consideration of others. 

•   Please do not use social media or email during class if it is not relevant to the topic/discussion at hand. 

•   Sleeping and side conversations in class are not permitted. Excessive occurrences will lead to consequences at the professor’s discretion.

•   You are allowed 2 unexcused absences. Any additional unexcused absence will lower your final grade by one-half the letter.

•   Arriving late to class is extremely disruptive both for your peers and for me. Be on time. Three late arrivals (past 15 minutes) will equal one absence.

-GRADING RUBRIC

Papers will be graded using the following criteria (and judged whether excellent, good, fair, needs work or insufficient):

1. Formatting (page numbers, bibliography, quotes, citations)
2. Sources (diverse, academic)
3. Organization (good transitions, definitions, structured argument)
4. Adherence to assignment guidelines (follows instructions, answers questions, covers topic) 5. Clarity (thesis stated and supported with examples, evidence, background, context)
6. Understanding terms and grasp of concepts
7. Originality
8. Style (readable, lucid, flow, makes sense, creative, academic, command of English)
9. Grammar, spelling, typos, sentence structure
10. Effort, passion, interest

EXPLANATION OF GRADES

Grading will be done with letter grades using the 4.0 system. At present, Moodle calculates this as a percentage, so a B is 3.0 and shows as 75% (3.0 out of 4.0). This means that percentages that you may be used to will not translate in the same way. The table below indicates how the grades are calculated.

A :: 4.0 :: 100%
A-  :: 3.7 :: 93%
B+ :: 3.3 :: 83%
B   :: 3.0 :: 75%
B-  :: 2.7 :: 68%
C+ :: 2.3 :: 58%
C   :: 2.0 :: 50%
C-  :: 1.7 :: 43%
D+ :: 1.3 :: 33%
D   :: 1.0 :: 25%
D-  :: 0.7 :: 18%
F    :: 0.0 :: 0%

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Abridged Schedule (see syllabus on Moodle for full version)

Week 1: INTRODUCTIONS, CLASS POLICIES, CLASS EXPECTATIONS

 Screenings: The Cabbage Fairy / Falling Leaves / Suspense

Week 2: EARLY CINEMA AND PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD (1929-1934)

Screening: Baby Face (Dir: Alfred Green, USA. 1933)

Week 3: EARLY CINEMA AND PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD (1929-1934)

CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD AND THE WOMAN'S FILM

Screening: Written on the Wind (Dir: Douglas Sirk, USA. 1956. 99 min)

Week 4: THE MALE GAZE

Screening: Psycho (Dir: Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 1960. 109 min)

Week 5: FEMALE SPECTATORSHIP AND AUTHORSHIP

Screening: Daughters of the Dust (Dir: Julie Dash. USA, 1991, 113 min)

Week 6: THE FEMALE GAZE

Screening: Fish Tank (Dir: Andrea Arnold. UK, 2009. 123 min)

Week 7: THE NEW WAVE WOMAN AND COUNTER CINEMA

Screening: Le Bonheur (Dir: Agnès Varda. France, 1965, 90 min)

Week 8: PORTRAYING MASCULINITY

Screening: Beau Travail (Dir. Claire Denis, France, 1999. 92 min)

Week 9: REVENGE/EXPLOITATION

Screening: Promising Young Woman (Dir: Emerald Fennell, UK, 2017, 113 min)

Week 10: THE MONSTROUS-FEMININE

Screenings: Suspiria (Dir: Dario Argento, Italy, 1977. 99 min) and Suspiria (Dir: Luca Guadagnino, Italy/USA, 2018, 153 min)

Week 11: THE FEMME FATALE

Screening: Fatal Attraction (Dir: Adrian Lyne, USA. 1987. 119 min)

Week 12: QUEER GIRLS

Screening: The Watermelon Woman (Dir: Cheryl Dunye. USA, 1997. 90 min)

Week 13: PERFORMING GENDER

Screening: A Fantastic Woman (Dir: Sebastián Lelio. Chile, 2017, 104 min)

Week 14: THE MODERN WOMXN

Screening: The Assistant (Dir: Kitty Green. USA, 2019, 87 min)