Humanities 107
American Culture in Film
Winter 2008
Jon Stratton, Instructor
Office #4 Main Classroom Building
525-4222
jon.stratton@wwcc.edu
SOME OF THE FILMS IN THIS COURSE ARE RATED R; IF YOU OBJECT TO VIEWING R-RATED
MOVIES YOU SHOULD NOT ENROLL IN THIS COURSE
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
female genders are best understood as primarily focused on relationships and third, that
male genders are primarily independent. These 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. The Woodsman –Essay (two pages) on pedophilia in The Woodsman. The essay
should show understanding of assigned readings as well as Lecture Three.
5. Big Eden – Essay (two pages), “Big Eden and Homophobia: A Step in the Right
Direction?” The essay should discuss how well Big Eden addresses issues in the
video “The Celluloid Closet.”
6. Moonstruck – Final Exam on feminine relationship development in Moonstruck.
The final exam will be based on concepts in Lecture Four: “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
January 7-11
Lectures and Discussions about gender, with focus on the Bem Sex Role Inventory
(BMSI) and Wade and Tavris, “The Longest War: Gender and Culture”
January 14-18
Discussions about film terminology, and viewing of When Harry Met Sally
January 22-25
Quiz on The BSRI and When Harry met Sally
Read Chapters 1-3.
Lecture One: “Masculine Independence and Feminine Relatedness.
View Cold Mountain.
January 28-February 1
View Cold Mountain.
Discuss and prepare outline for paper “Gender, Independence, and Interrelationship in
Cold Mountain.
February 4-8
Paper on Cold Mountain due Monday.
Lecture Two: “Masculinity and Violence”.
Discussion of the Gagnon and Connell materials
View Shawshank Redemption.
Feruary 11-15
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 19-22
Lecture Three: Pedophilia as a Mental Disorder
View The Woodsman
Discuss the essay: “The Woodsman and Pedophilia”
February 25-29
Essay Due: “The Woodsman and Pedophilia”
View video “The Celluloid Closet”.
March 3-7
View Big Eden
Discuss essay “Big Eden and Homophobia: A Step in the Right Direction?”
March 10-14
Essay due Monday “Big Eden and Homophobia: A Step in the Right Direction?
Lecture Four: Feminine Relationship and Development
Discuss Janet Surrey’s view of feminine development
View Moonstruck.
March 17, 18 Discuss Moonstruck and prepare for final exam.
March 19, 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.
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. Attend each class session. You cannot participate if you are not in class. Random
attendance checks will be taken.
6. Be patient with the classroom technology; it is not always perfect!
7. Keep an open mind!