Prof. Janet Wirth-Cauchon

Department of Sociology,Anthropology and Geography

Office Location: 119 Howard Hall

Office Hours: Mondays, 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon

Tuesdays, 2:00-4:00 PM

Phone: x4586

Email: janet.wirth-cauchon@drake.edu

Prof. Wirth-Cauchon's Home Page: http://www.drake.edu/artsci/faculty/wirth/

Viewing Lab Times: Sunday 3:30-5:45 PM- Cowles Room 122

Tuesday 5:30-9:00 PM- Meredith 236

FYS 15 Web Page: http://www.multimedia2.drake.edu/wirth-cauchon/fys15f00/index.html

FYS 15 Web Discussion Forum

http://www.multimedia2.drake.edu/webx

In this seminar we will explore the construction of diverse socio-cultural images, identities and experiences through film, focusing on the themes of race-ethnicity, class, and gender/sexuality. Through study of several contemporary feature and documentary films, we will study cultural messages about identity and social position produced in film, the influence of such images on social perceptions of diversity; as well as the ways diverse audiences respond to such messages.

The course does not focus on the technical aspects of film, nor even the details of aesthetic aspects of film, though these may be touched on. Rather, we will view films as cultural artifacts, reflective of the social landscape and its relationships of identity and power, and furthermore, as playing a central role in the creation of meanings about identity. These meanings mediate our relationship to each other and to ourselves, playing a role in how we think about and imagine our own and other's identities. Viewing films as cultural artifacts also entails thinking about film viewing as a complex social process in which film narratives elicit our imaginations and invite us to identify with the characters and stories portrayed on the screen.

We will be concerned with how race, class, gender, and sexuality shapes both the making of films as well as how they are viewed and interpreted. We will address the problem of stereotypes in film and look at their role in justifying particular social relations and arrangements. We will also consider what happens when members of social groups that mainstream film has distorted or excluded take up the tools of representation as filmmakers. How do filmmakers' ethnic and cultural background and position shape how they represent specific cultural groups, including their own? What alternative narratives of identity are created, and how do they challenge dominant stereotypes?

We will ask similar questions about audience. How does one's social identity and positioning shape how one views films? How do audiences bring particular meanings to films, and thus understand and see them differently? How do they make meaning from these films for their own lives?

In this course you will be asked to make connections between course themes and your own experience as a viewer of film. Accordingly, you will be asked to critically examine your own perception of images of diversity in film, exploring connections between your social position and your responses to particular film images and narratives.

Gain an awareness of how social identities are culturally constructed in visual media

Attain greater awareness of your own social position and the issues of identity and representation that affect you

Gain an understanding of your own ways of perceiving and interpreting film narratives

Gain knowledge of the tools of cultural analysis directed toward visual images and film

Become sensitized to some of the key issues shaping the lives of diverse socio-cultural groups

Acquire skill in the academic skills of critical thinking, active reading, library research and writing.

FYS Learning Community

For the Fall 2000 semester, this seminar is part of an FYS Learning Community entitled "Race, Class and Gender in Film and Fiction," along with two other first year seminars: FYS 11: Representations of "Race" in Recent Film and Fiction," taught by Prof. Jody Swilky; and "FYS 20: Masculinities in Film," taught by Prof. Joseph Schneider. We have created the learning community to bring students from three different classes with related subject matter, in order to have shared discussion on overlapping concerns from the three classes, and to do some collaborative work with students from the other classes. Thus, some of the writing that you will do during the semester will be in collaboration with one or more students from the other class. These will be announced in the Response papers (see below).

Writing

In this class you will do many kinds of writing, and you will also be sharing your writing with other students in the classroom and in the Web forum. There are three kinds of writing:

Short Response Papers: These are brief (1-2 page) papers focused on a required reading or readings. I will provide a focusing question for you to respond to. Frequently, you will be asked to post these papers on the Web Forum. You will also be asked to write responses to other students’ papers, and you should expect to share your paper with others in class during discussion. As stated above, some of these papers will entail collaboration with students in one of the other seminars in the Learning Community.

Film Reflection Papers: These are 2 page reflections on the film required for lab viewing, that you write after viewing the film, but prior to the Thursday discussion. For many of the films, I may give you a question to consider in your response, but not always.

Longer Essay Papers

You will write 2 longer (five or six pages) essays during the course. These can be developments of your more reflective "reading response" and "film reflection" papers. In these papers you will prepare a carefully prepared, thoughtful, and thorough essay. I will provide the major theme or question for these papers. I will grade these papers rigorously; you should therefore ensure that they reflect your sustained effort to carefully think through the issues at hand. Success on these papers will require your careful reading, development of critical questions, and in-class discussion of these questions with other students.

Final Paper

You will write a 10-12 page final paper in conjunction with the Final Group Project (see below). You will research a particular film or group of films, and develop an essay in which you analyze the relationships between social identities, images/film representation, and audience response to the film. A library orientation of on-line resources will be scheduled later in the semester. This will give you ideas on where to look for academic articles or books on your topic, as well as film reviews in the popular press.

Final Group Project

Your final group project requires you to work in collaboration with 3 or 4 other students (chosen at random) to select a particular film or group of films, research the film including its critical reception, and prepare a presentation that conveys your analysis. You will present your project to the class during the last week of classes. A handout with more details will be provided early in the semester.

Writer's Workshop

An important resource for our seminar is the Writer's Workshop, located in Howard Hall. Early in the semester, a Writing tutor will visit our class to explain how you can make use of the Writer's Workshop.(For future reference, the phone number is 271-3973; or call the English Department at 271-3777.

Other Requirements

Attendance

One of the most important requirements of the course is to attend each class period, on time, and prepared for discussion. I will take attendance through the use of a sign-up sheet. It is your responsibility to make sure you sign the sheet each class period. Of course, emergencies arise, and in this circumstance, you must communicate with me prior to the class period if you are going to be absent. If you miss more than three unexcused absences, your grade will be dropped by one full letter grade.

Participation in Class Discussion

As a seminar, this course is structured such that the production of knowledge is a responsibility shared by teacher and students. Therefore each of you has a role to play in creating knowledge, and that includes being involved in discussion. Thus, a key requirement of this course is thoughtful contribution to class discussion, grounded in your readings or the topic at hand. While this contributes to the "Class Participation" percentage, it really goes far beyond a percentage, forming the foundation of the course and your experience of it.

Web Discussion Forum

A discussion forum has been set up for this seminar. To sign up to the forum, go to:

www.multimedia2.drake.edu/webx

Enter your username and password. (To be announced in class).

In this class we will use the forum not only for discussion, but also for writing and peer feedback and exchange of writing between yourself and other students in the course. I will periodically give you assignments for forum writing and we will discuss them in class.

Grades are based on the following percentages:

Course Participation (includes Web Forum Discussion) 10%

Short Reading Response Papers 15%

Film Reflection Papers 15%

2 Essays (15 and 20% each) 35%

Final Paper 15%

Final Group Project Presentation 10%

___________________________________________________________

Total 100%

Readings:

Books:

Alice Walker, The Color Purple. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1982.

Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Harper Collins, 1993.

Course Packet: A course packet is required for the course, to be purchased at CopyCat, located at 2503 25th St., phone 255-9284.

Articles in Course packet are marked with an asterisk*

This schedule is subject to change, depending on our progress.

Week One: August 29-31-Introduction

*Toni Morrison, Chapter 1, "Black Matters"

*Thurs., August 31: Learning Community Meets in Medbury Honors Lounge

Week Two Sept. 5-7 — Film: Stuart Hall: Representation and the Media

*Stuart Hall, "Theories of Representation"

*Richard Dyer, "Introduction"

Week Three: Sept. 12-14 — Film, The Color Purple

*Selections on Alice Walker

Week Four: Sept. 19-21 — The novel, The Color Purple

Alice Walker, The Color Purple, pp. 1-151

Week Five: Sept. 26-28 — Novel, The Color Purple (cont.)

Walker, The Color Purple, pp. 152-end.

*Thursday, Sept. 28: Learning Community Meets

Week Six: Oct. 3-5 — — Falling Down

*Carol Clover, "White Noise"

Week Seven: Oct. 10-12: Thunderheart

*Kilpatrick, Celluloid Indians (selections)

Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fisfight in Heaven, selections

Week Eight: Oct. 17-19: Film, Smoke Signals

(Tuesday, Oct 17 NO CLASS: Fall Recess)

Week Nine: Oct. 24-26 — : Smoke Signals (cont.)

*Thursday, Oct. 26: Learning Community Meets

Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fisfight in Heaven, selections

*Sherman Alexie "I Hated Tonto: Still Do"

*"Sending Cinematic Smoke Signals: An interview with Sherman Alexie"

Week Ten: Oct. 31-Nov 2 The Social Construction of Gender

*Peter Lehman and William Luhr, "Gender and Sexuality"

Week Eleven: Nov. 7-9: Alien

*Cowles Reserve: Sherrie Inness, "Tough Women in Outer Space: The Final Frontier"

Week Twelve: Nov. 14-16: : Celluloid Closet

*Tommi Avicolli, "He Defies You Still: The Memoirs of a Sissy" in Race, Class and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study, 3rd Ed. Paula S. Rothenberg, 1995

Week Thirteen: Nov. 21-23 Nov 23: NO CLASS: Thanksgiving

*Tuesday, Nov. 21 Learning Community Meets

Week Fourteen: Nov. 28-30- Philadelphia

*Michael Cunningham, "Just Your Ordinary (Gay) Guy"

Week Fifteen: Dec. 5-7: Bound

Week Sixteen: Dec. 12-14 — Final Group Projects

*Tuesday, Dec. 12: Learning Community Meets

Thursday: Final Group Projects

Thursday, December 21: Final Exam Period: 12:00-1:50 PM. Finish Final Group Projects