Political Science Y200 (Section 3707) – Spring 2004

Syllabus

Politics and Film

Class Meets: TuTh 4:00pm-5:15pm, Woodburn Hall 120

and Tu 7:00pm-9:00pm in Woodburn Hall 120

 

Instructor: Jeffrey Hart

Office: Woodburn Hall, Room 346

Office Hours: Wed 3-5

Phone: 855-9002

Email: hartj@indiana.edu

Course Web Site: http://www.indiana.edu/~polfilm

 

Associate Instructor: Glory Koloen

Office: Woodburn Hall, Room 336

Email: gkoloen@indiana.edu

 

 

Course Description

This course will consider the relationships between politics and film from a variety of perspectives. First, it will examine the political content of films, especially films on political subjects like war and peace, revolution, electoral politics, racism, and feminism. Course members will be required to attend a film series connected with the course and participate in discussions about each film. Second, it will examine the history of the film industry, its relationship to other media, and the role of the (mainly Hollywood-based) film industry in (mainly American) politics. Finally, the course will consider a variety of theoretical perspectives that address the relationship between politics and the media, and especially film.

 

 

Main Written Assignments

The main written work for the course will be a midterm and final examination and two short papers. Grades for the course will depend on grades for midterm (20%), papers (20% each), and final (40%).

 

 

Texts

The following books have been ordered for purchase and will be available at the Indiana Memorial Union bookstore and T.I.S.:

 

Aida Hozic, Hollyworld

Ernest Giglio, Here’s Looking at You

James Monaco, How to Read a Film, 3^rd edition

 

 

Films to Be Shown

The following films will be shown on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00pm until the conclusion of the film (usually about 2 hours), in Woodburn 120. See the films page for details.

 

Jan. 20	Citizen Kane
Jan. 27	Dr. Strangelove
Feb. 3	Apocalypse Now
Feb. 10	Platoon
Feb. 17	Good Morning, Vietnam
Feb. 24	The Siege
Mar. 2	The Little Drummer Girl
Mar. 9	Schindler's List
Mar. 23	The Pianist
Mar. 30	Sophie's Choice
Apr. 7	American Beauty
Apr. 13	The Truman Show
Apr. 20	Bowling for Columbine

 

There will be a discussion of each film in class on the Thursday following the screening. If you cannot attend film screenings you will be able to borrow VHS tape versions of all of the films, which will be on reserve in the Research Collection of the Department of Political Science in Woodburn Hall 200.

 

 

Due Dates

MIDTERM REVIEW is on Tuesday, February 24, in class.

MIDTERM is on Thursday, February 26, in class.

1ST PAPER ASSIGNMENT IS DUE Tuesday, March 2, in class.

2ND PAPER ASSIGNMENT IS DUE Tuesday, April 13, in class.

FINAL EXAMINATION is on Tuesday, May 4, 5-7pm, in Woodburn 120.