Political Science Y200 (Course No. 10187) – Spring 2009
Syllabus
Politics and Film
Class Meets: MW 1pm-2:15pm, Woodburn Hall 009
and M 7:00pm-9:00pm in Woodburn 003
Instructor: Jeffrey Hart
Office: Woodburn Hall, Room 346
Office Hours: Wed 1-3
Phone: 855-9002
Email: hartj@indiana.edu
Course Web Site: http://www.indiana.edu/~polfilm
Associate Instructor: Jennifer Vanicek
Office: Woodburn 338
Office Hours: Mon 2:15-3:30pm
Email: jmschall@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 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:
Ernest Giglio, Here’s Looking at You
Terry Christensen and Peter Haas, Projecting Politics
Films to Be Shown
The following films will be shown on Monday evenings, from 7:00pm until the conclusion of the film (usually about 2 hours), in Woodburn 003:
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Jan. 19 |
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Jan. 26 |
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Feb. 2 |
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Feb. 9 |
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Feb. 16 |
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Feb. 23 |
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Mar. 2 |
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Mar. 9 |
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Mar. 23 |
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Mar. 30 |
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Apr. 6 |
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Apr. 13 |
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Apr. 20 |
In the on-live version of the syllabus, clicking on the title of each film with take you to the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) entry on the film. There will be a discussion of each film in class on the Wednesday following the screening. If you cannot attend film screenings you will be able to borrow VHS tape or DVD versions of all of the films, most of which will be on reserve in the Media Reserves in the Main Library. Many of these films can also be rented at local video stores.
Reading List
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Jan. 12-14 |
Christensen and Haas, Preface |
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Jan. 19-21 |
Giglio, chs. 1-2; Christensen and Haas, Part I;
“Media Bias,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_bias |
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Jan. 26-28 |
Giglio, chs. 4-5; Christensen and Haas, ch. 7; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Strangelove |
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Feb. 2-4 |
Giglio, chs. 8-9; Christensen and Haas, chs. 6-9; “Vietnam War,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War |
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Feb. 9-11 |
Giglio, chs. 6-7; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Algiers_%28film%29 |
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Feb. 16-18 |
Giglio, chs. 10-11; Christensen and Haas, ch. 11; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_(film) |
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Feb. 23-25 |
“Soviet War in Afghanistan,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistan;
“War in Afghanistan (2001-present), Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present) |
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Mar. 2-4 |
Midterm review and Midterm |
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Mar. 9-11 |
Giglio, ch. 3; “Iraq War,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Iraq |
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Mar. 23-25 |
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Mar. 30-Apr. 1 |
“Illegal Immigration,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigrants |
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Apr. 6-8 |
Giglio, ch. 3; Christensen and Haas, ch. 12; “Health care reform in the United States,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_reform_in_the_United_States |
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Apr. 13-15 |
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Apr. 20-22 |
Giglio, chs. 6-7; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank_You_for_Smoking; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying |
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Apr. 27-29 |
No readings |
1ST PAPER ASSIGNMENT IS DUE Tuesday, February 25, at the beginning of class.
MIDTERM REVIEW is on Monday, March 2, in class.
MIDTERM is on Wednesday, March 4, in class.
2ND PAPER ASSIGNMENT IS DUE Wednesday, April 1, at the beginning of class.
FINAL REVIEW is Wednesday, April 29, in class
FINAL EXAMINATION is on Friday, May 8, 10:15am-12:15pm, in Woodburn 009.