Humanities 107
American Culture in Film
Winter 2007
Jon Stratton, Instructor
Office #4 Main Classroom Building
525-4222
jon.stratton@wwcc.edu
Text: A Short Guide to Writing about Film, by Tim Corrigan.
How the course works
American Culture in Film is about the depiction of gender in Hollywood movies.
The course proceeds on three assumptions. First, it assumes that we learn how to be
men and women; gender is not “ready-made” at birth. Second, the course assumes that
heterosexual men and women do not have a monopoly on gender. Gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and others have gender as well. Third, the course assumes that female genders
are best understood as primarily focused on relationships while male genders are
primarily independent. The three assumptions will be explained in the first week of the
course.
Six films are viewed. The class normally will take four sessions to view each
movie in its entirety. A written assignment, quiz, or exam is due upon completion of
viewing and discussing each film.
Several of the movies in this course are rated R by the MPAA (Motional Picture
Association of America). This is usually due to sexual scenes, violence, references to
drug use, and/or sexually derived language. An “R” rating indicates the movie is not
appropriate for anyone under the age of 17. Every student in the class is required to view
the films in class. If you have an objection to viewing R rated movies, you should not
take this course.
What you can learn in this course
While viewing the six Hollywood movies you will focus on their depictions of
gender. Class discussions and written assignments will require your attention to and
reflection upon how gender is depicted in each film. There are three anticipated learning
outcomes for this course.
1. Students should demonstrate critical thinking skills and attitudes about the
complexities of gender.
2. Students should demonstrate an openness to the diversities of gender
3. Students should embrace a life-long critical approach to movies as significant
reflections of and influences upon American culture.
The assignments
There is an assignment due after each movie. Late assignments cannot earn a grade
higher than B. Papers and the short essay must be completed on a word processor (typed,
double-spaced) in order to earn a grade higher than B.
1. When Harry met Sally – Quiz on application of the BSRI to three mis en scene.
2. Cold Mountain – Paper Gender, Independence, and Interrelationship in Cold
Mountain (four pages) on developments in feminine relationships and masculine
independence in the movie. This paper should show familiarity with concepts in
the Minsky and Powell materials and Lecture One, “Masculine Independence and
Feminine Relatedness”
3. Shawshank Redemption – Midterm Exam on masculine violence in Shawshank
Redemption. The exam will be based on concepts in the Gagnon and Connell
material as well as Lecture Two, “Masculinity and Violence”
4. Shopgirl –Essay (two pages) on MGSR (Masculine Gender Role Stress) in
Shopgirl. The essay should show understanding of McCreary and S. Kimmel as
well as Lecture Three, “It’s Hard to be a Man: Masculine Gender Role Stress
(MGRS)
5. Flawless – Essay (two pages), “Flawless and Homophobia: A Step in the Right
Direction?” The essay should discuss how well Flawless addresses issues in the
video “The Celluloid Closet” as well as Michael Kimmel’s Front Line interview
on Homophobia.
6. North Country – Final Exam on feminine relationship development in North
Country. The final exam will be based on concepts in Lecture Four: “It’s Hard to
be a Woman: Feminine Relationship and Development” as well as discussion
centered on Janet Surrey’s concepts of women’s relationship development and
Lecture One, “Masculine Independence and Feminine Relatedness”
7. Participation in class viewing of the movies and discussion. You may miss five
class sessions during the quarter with no excuse and no penalty. If you miss more
than five class sessions for any reason, you will earn zero credit for each day you
miss after the first five. If you miss the midterm exam, your final exam grade will
count for both exams.
The weekly schedule
All reading assignments are from A Short Guide to Writing about Film, by Tim Corrigan.
This book will not be discussed directly in class, but it has some very helpful advice
about writing notes, taking exams, and writing papers and essays in film classes.
January 2 – 5
Lectures and Discussions about gender, with focus on the Bem Sex Role Inventory
(BMSI) and Wade and Tavris, “The Longest War: Gender and Culture”
Read Chapters 1-3.
January 8 – 12
Discussions about film terminology, and viewing of When Harry Met Sally
Read Chapters 1-3.
January 15 – 19
Quiz on The BSRI and When Harry met Sally
Read Chapters 1-3.
Lecture One: “Masculine Independence and Feminine Relatedness.
View Cold Mountain.
January 22 – 26
View Cold Mountain.
Read Chapter 5
Discuss and prepare outline for paper “Gender, Independence, and Interrelationship in
Cold Mountain.
January 29 – February 2
Paper on Cold Mountain due Monday.
Lecture Two: “Masculinity and Violence”.
Discussion of the Gagnon and Connell materials
View Shawshank Redemption.
February 5-9
View Shawshank Redemption.
Review concepts in Gagnon, Connell, and Lecture Two on masculinity and violence.
Midterm Exam on Friday: The Midterm Exam will focus on masculinity and violence in
Shawshank Redemption
February 12 – 16
Lecture Three: It’s Hard to be a Man: MGRS
View Shopgirl
Discuss the essay: “Shopgirl and MGRS”
February 19 – 23
Essay Due: “Shopgirl and MGRS”
View video “The Celluloid Closet” and discuss Michael Kimmel’s Frontline interview.
February 26 – March 2
View Flawless
Discuss essay “Flawless and Homophobia: A Step in the Right Direction?”
March 5 – 9
Essay due Monday “Flawless and Homophobia: A Step in the Right Direction?
Lecture Four: It’s Hard to be a Woman: Feminine Relationship and Development
Discuss Janet Surrey’s view of feminine development
View North Country.
March 12 – 13 Discuss North Country and prepare for final exam.
March 14, Wednesday Final Exam
The grades
Your grades in the course are determined by the quality of your work in five
areas.
Class participation – 15%
Papers and essay – 25%
Quiz – 10%
Midterm exam – 25%
Final exam – 25%
Your responsibilities in this course
Bring your learning attitude to every class session! The course views movies,
yes. But it is not an extension of the local movie theatre or your home theatre. Always,
we are studying the movies as we view them. Being a film student is much more
challenging than being a movie-goer. You can fulfill your responsibilities in this course
in three ways.
1. Take appropriate notes during the viewing, lectures, and class discussions. You
may have to improve your note-taking skills, especially in regard to the films (see
Chapter 2 in the text)
2. Be aware of the assignment (all are described on this syllabus) before you begin
the viewing. Each movie carries a different assignment. Prepare for it by taking
good notes and participating in class discussion.
3. Spend the appropriate amount of time preparing the assignments. Turn the
assignments in on time.
4. Your grade will be lowered for any distracting and/or rude behavior. Disrupting
the class with loud comments, eating, whispering, using a cell phone are examples
of such behaviors. Above all, do not talk or whisper while the films are being
screened. No laptops may be used in the classroom at any time without instructor
permission.
5. Be patient with the classroom technology; it is not always perfect!
6. Keep an open mind!