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Academic Year 2005/2006


Nationality and Power at the Movies: The Combat Film
AMST 362 FA

Crosslistings:
FILM 316

Myth is one of the primary constituents of national identity, and war stories have been fundamental constituents of myth at least since THE ILIAD. We will study the combat film as a major vehicle for national mythology in the U.S., from the Great War through the present, with particular attention to the role of media in American culture, the processes of genre formation in Hollywood, the relationship of movies to changing ideologies of nationality, ethnicity, race and state power in this century.

MAJOR READINGS

Myth is one of the primary constituents of national identity, and war stories have been fundamental constituents of myth at least since THE ILIAD. We will study the combat film as a major vehicle for national mythology in the U.S., from the Great War through the present, with particular attention to the role of media in American culture, the processes of genre formation in Hollywood, the relationship of movies to changing ideologies of nationality, ethnicity, race and state power in this century.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Basinger, ANATOMY OF A GENRE
Jones, THE THIN REDLINE
Mailer, NAKED AND THE DEAD
O'Brien, THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
Herr, DISPACHES
Articles by Slotkin, Scarry, Glenn Gray.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Lab fee of $60.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ART    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: [AMST200 or LAST200] OR FILM304 OR AMST201 OR FILM310 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006


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