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AFAM314
Race and Film
AFAM314 SP
Not Currently Offered
This is a course examines in depth the ways in which
notions of race have been created, made standard, and
expanded in mainstream pre-Hollywood and Hollywood movies.
Our quest will begin with the year 1915 and proceed to the
1970s. We will examine films made in fivedifferent years,
looking at a range of expressions of race, including the
depictions of African Americans, American Indians,
Anglo-Americans, and others, including Italians, Jews,
the Irish, and Latin Americans from various countries. We
will focus our inquiry on why certain stereotypes have
remained so cherished, and what they reveal about the
identity of the United States. This course includes a
mandatory weekly group movie screening.
MAJOR READINGS
A PEOPLE AND A NATION: A HISTORY OF THE
UNITED STATES, VOL. II
ROMANCE AND THE "YELLOW PERIL": RACE, SEX AND DISCURSIVE
STRATEGIES IN HOLLYWOOD FICTION
WHITE SCREENS, BLACK IMAGES
FRAMING BLACKNESS: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN IMAGE IN FILM
MOVIE-MADE AMERICA
Films include:
THE BIRTH OF A NATION, HOLIDAY, GONE WITH THE WIND,
HALLELUJAH, SAYONARA
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A weekly journal devoted to
commentary about the films we view. Each student will lead
discussion about a film. Two papers: one 5-8 page; one
seminar paper, 15 pages or longer.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
Students are
expected to have completed upper-level courses in
African American Studies or American Studies.
Films will be shown on Monday evenings.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting
or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the
first class, they will be dropped from the class list.
NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form
to the Registrar's Office.
COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Seminar
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA ENGL
Prerequisites:
None
Last Updated on MAR-22-1999
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459