ENG/BC/WS 494(G) –Women in Film/Television-sec. 01
Fall 2014
Western Illinois University
Discussion/Lecture: M/W, 9-9:50 (SI 220)
Screening: Monday 10:00-12:00 (SI 220)
Dr. Roberta Di Carmine, Associate Professor of Film
Office: 219 Simpkins Hall (tel. 298-2192)
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 12-1; Tuesday 12-2
Email: r-dicarmine@wiu.edu
Course description and goals:
This course explores depictions of women in film and television. By examining different forms
of narrative and key examples of feminist film, media and television theory, we will critique
gender representations in both film and television. The course will focus on a selection of US
films, television shows as well as international films. Some of the key questions that will be
addressed are: what strategies do US and international filmmakers employ to tell women’s
stories? To what extent these texts challenge traditional gender paradigms and power relations?
And, how do women filmmakers challenge narrative conventions and generic constructions of
gender? Ultimately, in this course students will develop and refine critical thinking, oral and
written expressions by discussing the films and TV shows chosen for this class and acquire a
critical basis for further studies in film and media studies.
IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES:
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CLASS (SCREENING INCLUDED),
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SILENCE THEIR PHONE DEVICES.
I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK STUDENTS WHO WILL BE FOUND
CHECKING THEIR PHONES (OR TEXTING) TO LEAVE THE
CLASSROOM and THAT WILL COUNT AS AN ABSENCE.
Also, food is NOT allowed during film screenings/discussions.
Notice:
Some of the films screened for this course may contain material some might find
offensive. Your enrollment in this course indicates your awareness of this and your
willingness to approach these films in an adult, critical manner.
Required texts:
1. Interrogating Post-feminism. Gender and the Politics of Popular Culture
(edited by Yvonne Tasker and Diane Negra. Durham, NC: Duke UP, 2007)
2. Feminism and Film (edited by E. Ann Kaplan. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000)
3. Feminist Film Studies. Writing the Woman into Cinema (by Jennifer McCabe,
New York: Wallflower, 2004)
4. A short guide to writing about film (by Timothy Corrigan, New York:
Pearson/Longman, 2012). These texts are available at the University
Bookstore. Readings are required and should be completed before each
screening.
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Films (and TV series) to be screened:
Vertigo (1958, dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 129 m. US)
Stella Dallas (1937, dir. King Vidor, 106 m. US)
Adam’s Rib (1949, dir. George Cukor, 101 min. US)
All About Eve (1950, dir. Joseph Mankievicz, 138 m. US)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953, dir. Howard Hawks. 91 m. US)
All About my Mother (1999, dir. Pedro Almodovar, 101 m. Spain)
Orlando (1994, dir. Sally Potter, 94 m. UK/Russia/France/Italy/Netherlands)
Southern Comfort (2001, dir. Kate Davis, 90 m. US)
Lemon Tree (2008, Etz Limon, dir. Eran Riklis. 106 m. Israel/Germany/France)
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005, dir. Tyler Perry. 116 m. US)
Coraline (2009, dir. Henry Selick, 96 m. US)
Kill Bill I (2003, dir. Quentin Tarantino, 111 m. US)
Girls (by Lena Dunham, 2012; first episode. US)
True Blood (by Alan Ball, 2008; first episode. US)
The n.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (by Anthony Minghella, 2008. First episode, first
season, UK)
Film Screenings:
For additional screenings, films can be easily located online, can be rented or found
at the university library. If a student misses a screening it is her/his responsibility
to find other ways to watch the film before the discussion (i.e. Netflix)
Class Meetings and Procedures:
Each week students are expected to come to class prepared for a discussion on the
film and readings. Occasionally, discussions and lectures will occur on the day
scheduled for film screenings. Attendance at films screenings and discussions
is required. Students whose behavior during film screenings creates a distraction
to others will be asked to leave. Consistent late arrival or early departure at
film screenings and class periods DOES affect your grade.
Participation: Since the discussion revolves around the readings, the film(s),
lectures, active participation is based on a careful reading of both films and
literary texts as well as understanding of how the two relate. In-class activities will
be graded as “participation points.” Keep in mind that your contribution to
discussions counts toward your participation grade. Remember to be
respectful in class, disagreements are inevitable in discussions but they should
always be conducted in a civil manner
Attendance and Late Work Policies:
Regular attendance and participation is REQUIRED. Attendance will be taken
regularly in class periods and screenings. You are allowed 4 unexcused absences
(0-4 absences= 80 pts; 5-8 absences= 20 pts; 9+ absences= 0 pts). Illness,
emergencies, and religious obligations that fall on days of regularly scheduled
classes may be excusable upon consultation with the instructor and require
documentation from a university official or other authority. Letters from parents or
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relatives won’t be accepted.
Note: It is always up to the instructor to decide whether the documentation
is acceptable. Remember, consistent late arrival or early departure DOES affect
your attendance grade.
It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangement for any missed class,
and check with a classmate for missed material (notes) given in
discussions/film screenings.
***WIU Film Club***
JOIN THE FILM CLUB!
Every semester, WIU FILM CLUB shows a selection of films (national and
international) and offers thought-provoking discussions on a wide range of
issues and topics! Students are highly encouraged to attend the
screenings/meetings. Further information about the students’ organization
will be given the first week of class. The FILM CLUB President, Dan
Pourroy (d-porrouy@wiu.edu), Vice-President Cole Huston.
Extra credits: ITALIAN-AFRICAN FILMMAKER AT WIU! On
NOVEMBER 5th (Wednesday), FILMMAKER FRED KUWORNU WILL
BE SHOWING AND DISCUSSING HIS FILMS ON RACE AND
ETHNICITY. Further information about this event will be given later in the
semester. This film event counts for extra credits and it is a unique opportunity for
students to get to meet a filmmaker and interact with him. Throughout the
semester, I will announce other events related to film studies that will be available
on campus and students may earn extra credits for attending. In any case, the
student who decides to attend must also write a two-pages report (double-spaced) to
earn points, for a max of 10 points for each film event (max of 50 pts for the entire
semester)
PLEASE NOTE: The University Writing Center is available to assist you with
general and specific questions on writing assigned in any discipline and at any
academic level. The one-on-one assistance available at the Writing Center is
valuable for generating ideas, talking about global-level issues such as organization,
and even working through grammatical problems. The University Writing Center is
located in Simpkins Hall 341. Call for an appointment (298-2815) and be sure to
bring a copy of your assignment.
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Requirements and Evaluation:
- Group presentation (180 pts)
- 3 film essays (300 pts)
- Final paper (320 pts)
- Attendance (80 pts) and participation/in class activities (120 pts)
Total points: 1000
Grading Scale:
1000-934= A
933-900=A899-867=B+
866-834= B
833-800= B799-767=C+
766-734=C
733-700=C699-667=D+
666-634=D
633-600=Dbelow 600 pts= F
Requirements/Assignments:
1. You are asked to write 3 film papers (4 full pages each). In each essay, you are
asked to address specific topics and issues related to the films watched as well as the
readings assigned in class. The papers must be typed, double-spaced, proof-read,
spell-checked, and formatted (font: 12; side margins: 1 inch). For quotation
standards, use the MLA style.
2. A group-presentation is required. A short paper (2 double-spaced pages)
describing the presentation should be handed in the week after it is given. Further
information regarding this assignment will be given during the second week of the
semester. Each student enrolled in this class is required to participate in the
presentation. Students who don’t actively and fully participate in the group
presentation will receive a “zero” for this assignment. Also, students who will not
submit the two-pages paper will be penalized of 40 points.
3. A final paper of 8-10 pages (double-spaced) is due Wednesday, December 17 by 10
am. The final paper consists of a comparative analysis of two films chosen by the
student among those studied in class. In this paper, students need to closely refer
(by quoting or paraphrasing) to at least 5 readings/essays/book chapters studied
during the semester. A draft of the final paper of at least 5 pages is due December 8
(Monday). An in-class presentation of the draft/final paper is also expected for that
day. Further information regarding this presentation will be given later in the
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semester. Presentations and drafts of final papers are required and will be graded
(40 pts).
PLEASE NOTE: Students who submit a draft of less than 4 pages will be penalized
of 20 pts from their final grade. Students who won’t submit the draft on December 8
will be penalized of 40 pts from their final paper grade. And, students who won’t
give the presentation of their project will be penalized (40 pts).
Please note: film essays/final paper SENT AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS
WON’T BE ACCEPTED.
Late Work Policies:
Late work won’t be accepted. Exceptions will be considered only if
provided by documentation and after serious consideration from the
instructor. If the documentation provided is not sufficient and does not
fully justify the request of a late submission, the instructor will deny the
request. Letters from parents or relatives won’t be accepted.
Course Policies:

No make-up in-class activities. If you miss a class, you also miss the
in-class activity.
 No incompletes will be given in this course
 PLAGIARISM: Successful participation in this course requires that students
complete all the requirements/assignments. Students should be aware that
plagiarism or cheating of any form will not be tolerated and that academic
misconduct entails severe penalties. The most common form of academic
misconduct is plagiarism. As stated on the website regarding Students’
Rights and Responsibilities, “plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly
presenting the work of another as one’s own. Plagiarism occurs whenever:
•
one quotes another person's actual words or replicates all or part
of another’s product without acknowledgment. This includes all
information gleaned from any source, including the Internet.
- one uses another person's ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories,
even if they are completely paraphrased in one's own words
without acknowledgment.
- one uses facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials without
acknowledgment.
- one fails to acknowledge with a citation any close and/or extended
paraphrasing of another.
- one fails to use quotation marks when quoting directly from
another, whether it is a few words, a sentence, or a paragraph.
Typical examples: Submitting, as one’s own, the work of another writer or
commercial writing service; knowingly buying or otherwise acquiring and
submitting, as one’s own work, any research paper or other writing assignment;
submitting, as one’s own, work in which portions were produced by someone acting
as tutor or editor; collaborating with others on papers or projects without
authorization of the instructor.
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READ CAREFULLY: Academic Integrity Policy
(http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php)
Student Rights and Responsibilities
(http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php)
In addition to oral or written work, plagiarism may also involve using, without
permission and/or acknowledgment, computer programs or files, research designs,
ideas and images, charts and graphs, photographs, creative works, and other types
of information that belong to another. Because expectations about academic
assignments vary among disciplines and instructors, students should consult with
their instructors about any special requirements related to citation.” (see,
http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/)
If a student plagiarizes any assignment or exam, the student will receive an
F for that assignment and will be referred to the Student Judicial Program
and reported to the Chair of the department of English and Journalism.
Special accommodation:
“In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who
notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to
provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the
need for an accommodation through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and
provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to
bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally
permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who
may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado,
etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to
follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) at
298-2512 for additional services.”
Additional Information: to get important factual information about films
(characters’ name, cast, awards), check www.imdb.com. Be careful though with the
“on-line interviews” and other material you find online. Remember, plagiarism is a
very serious matter. It is also essential to take notes during the screenings.
Therefore it is highly recommended to buy a penlight, a ballpoint pen with an
illuminated tip, to facilitate writing in the dark.
****************************************************
Graduate students: graduate students enrolled in this course will be
required to complete the following requirements to receive a passing
grade:
- 1 (individual) presentation (170 pts)
- 3 film essays (5 pages each) (300 pts)
- Research paper (12-15 pages) (400 pts): a close analysis of one or two films
seen in class with close reference to at least four readings done in class and
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four additional critical readings (refereed articles, book essays). The
student will be responsible to locate these additional readings by doing an
accurate online research. A list of film journals/texts to consult will be
distributed later in the semester. A presentation of their final project is
also required (see policies above)
- Participation and attendance policies (130 pts):
Regular attendance and participation is REQUIRED. Attendance will be taken
regularly in class periods and screenings. You are allowed 4 unexcused absences
(0-3 absences= 50 pts; 4-7 absences= 10 pts; 8 + absences= 0 pts). Illness,
emergencies, and religious obligations that fall on days of regularly scheduled
classes may be excusable upon consultation with the instructor and require
documentation from a university official or other authority. Letters from parents or
relatives won’t be accepted.
Participation: Since the discussion revolves around the readings, the film(s),
lectures, active participation is based on a careful reading of both films and
literary texts as well as understanding of how the two relate. In-class activities will
be graded as “participation points.” Keep in mind that your contribution to
discussions counts toward your participation grade. Remember to be
respectful in class, disagreements are inevitable in discussions but they should
always be conducted in a civil manner
THE GRADING SYSTEM FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE A, B, C, D, AND
F
Grading Scale: 900-1000 A; 800-890 B; 700-790 C; 600-690 D; below 60 F
******************************************************************************
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Schedule*
* The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course but some changes may
be necessary. Students will be notified in advance of any changes
Week 1:
August 25 (M): Introduction
August 25 (M): Screening: Vertigo (1958, dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 129 m. US)
Reading for W: Laura Mulvey’s essay, p. 34 (in Kaplan); read chapter 1 (Corrigan)
August 27 (W): discussion on the film and reading
Readings for next week (W): re-read “Visual Pleasure . . .,” by Laura Mulvey, p. 34
(in Kaplan); From Corrigan, chapters 2 and 3; Introduction (McCabe, pp. 1-14) and
chapter 1 (McCabe, pp. 15-37)
Week 2:
Monday September 1: No Class. Labor Day
September 3 (W): Discussion on the readings. Begin screening Stella Dallas (1937,
dir. King Vidor, 106 m. US)
Reading for M: chapter 4 (Corrigan); two essays on “Stella Dallas,” p. 466 (by E. Ann
Kaplan and p. 479 (by Linda Williams, both in Kaplan)
Week 3:
Sept. 8 (M). Cont. Screening.
Sept. 8 (M); Cont. screening and discussion on the readings. Begin Screening:
Adam’s Rib (1949, dir. George Cukor, 101 min. US).
Reading for W: “Woman as Sign” by Elizabeth Cowie, p. 48 (in Kaplan); “Film and
the Masquerade,” by Mary Ann Doanne (in Kaplan, p. 418)
Sept. 10 (W): Cont. screening and discussion on the readings
Reading: for next M: chapters 1-6 (Corrigan)
Reading for W: “Is the Gaze Male?” (Kaplan, p. 119); “Women’s Genre,” (Annette
Kuhn in Kaplan, p. 437)
Week 4:
Sept. 15 (M): Discussion on the film/readings
Sept. 15 (M): screening: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953, dir. Howard Hawks. 91 m.
US)
Sept. 17 (W): discussion on the film/readings
Read for next week: re-read Kuhn (p. 437, in Kaplan)
Week 5:
Sept. 22 (M): no class. Prof. Di Carmine attends a film conference in Chicago. Mr
Clemons will substitute my class. In-class activity will be distributed
Sept. 22 (M): FILM ESSAY N. 1 DUE. Screening: All About Eve (1950, dir. Joseph
Mankievicz, 138 m. US)
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Sept. 24 (W): PRESENTATION N. 1 (GRADUATE STUDENT)
Reading: for M/W: read “The difficulty of difference,” (David Rodovick, p.181, in
Kaplan); chapter 4 (McCabe, p. 88)
Week 6:
Sept. 29 (M): in-class activity and discussion on the readings
Sept. 29 (M): Screening All About my Mother (1999, dir. Pedro Almodovar, 101 m.
Spain)
October 1 (W): PRESENTATION N. 2 (GRADUATE STUDENT)
Reading for next M/W: read “Masochism and the perverse… “ by Gaylyn Studlar, p.
203 (in Kaplan); re-read chapter 4 (McCabe, p. 88)
Week 7:
October 6 (M): discussion on the film/readings.
October 6 (M): Screening: Orlando (1994, dir. Sally Potter, 94 m.
UK/Russia/France/Italy/Netherlands
October 8 (W): PRESENTATION N. 3
Reading for next week: to be assigned
Week 8:
October 13 (M): Discussion on the film/reading. FILM ESSAY N. 2
October 13 (M): Screening: Southern Comfort (2001, dir. Kate Davis, 90 m. US)
October 15 (W): discussion on the film
Reading for M: read “Introduction” (Tasker and Negra, in Post-feminism)
Reading for W: read chapter “Killing Bill,” by Lisa Coulthard, p. 153 (in
Postfeminism)
Week 9:
October 20 (M): discussion on film/readings.
October 20 (M): Screening: Kill Bill I (2003, dir. Quentin Tarantino, 111 m. US)
October 22 (W): PRESENTATION N. 4
Reading for M/W: read “Divas, Evil Black Bitches, and Bitter Black Women..” (by
Springer, in Post-feminism, p. 249); read chapter 3 (McCabe, p. 65)
Week 10:
October 27 (M): Discussion on the readings.
October 27 (M): Screening: Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005, dir. Tyler Perry.
USA, 116 m.)
October 29 (W): PRESENTATION N. 5
Reading for M/W: to be assigned
Week 11:
November 3 (M): discussion on the readings. FILM ESSAY N. 3
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Nov. 3 (M): Screening: Screening: Lemon tree (Etz Limon, dir. Eran Riklis. 2008.
Israel/Germany/France. 106 m,)
Nov. 5 (W): discussion on the film/readings
Reading for next W: to be assigned
Week 12:
Nov. 10 (M): Dr. Di Carmine attends an international conference. Mr. Clemons will
attend the class.
Nov. 10 (M): Screening: Coraline (2009, dir. Henry Selick, 96 m. US). A writing
assignment will be distributed by Mr. Clemons. The assignment is due by email on
Monday November 17 (by 5 pm). The assignment will be graded and count as
participation grade.
Nov. 12 (W): NO CLASS. PROF. DI CARMINE ATTENDS AN INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE
Readings for next week: to be assigned
Week 13:
Nov. 17 (M): No class. Prof. Di Carmine on her way back from an international
conference
Nov. 17 (M): no class
Nov. 19 (W): discussions on the film.
Readings: to be assigned
Week 14:
THANKSGIVING VACATION
Week 15:
December 1 (M): discussion on readings. Begin screening of The N.1 Ladies’
Detective Agency (first season, first episode, directed by Anthony Minghella, 2008.
UK)
December 1 (M): cont. screening; Girls (first season, first episode, US) and True
Blood (2008, first season, first episode, US)
December 3 (W): discussion on the films
Reading for M/W: re-read chapters 1-6 from Corrigan
Week 16:
Dec. 8 (M): DRAFT final paper due in class; presentations of students’ projects.
Dec. 8 (M): cont. presentations final projects.
Dec. 10 (W): final considerations/students evaluations. Conferences in my office
Week 17:
FINAL WEEK. FINAL PAPER DUE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 @ by 10:00 am.
LATE PAPER WILL BE PENALIZED 50 PTS FOR EACH HOUR LATE
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