WEA Course Information Sheet 2014-15
S:\WEAMISdata\EA\Course Information Sheets 2014.15\C2221383_outline.doc
Course title: Screen Gangsters
Course reference: C2221383
Tutor(s): James Parmenter
Venue: Silver End Bowls Club, Broadway, Silver End, Witham, CM8 3RQ Fee: £48.00
Start date: 15/01/2015
End date: 26/03/2015
Day(s)/time(s): Thurs 20:00
Number of sessions: 10
Hours per session: 1.5
Level: 3
Title of qualification to be gained (if any): n/a
Awarding body (if any): n/a
Essential materials e.g. books and equipment to be provided by the student
Writing materials for note taking.
Course aims:
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To explore the development of the Hollywood screen gangster within their historical and
cultural context.
To develop analytical skills common to Film Studies, Media Studies and History.
Course description:
Almost as long as there has been moving pictures, there has been the movie gangster; the
swaggering, amoral, criminal who has beguiled audiences for over a century. What do these
mobsters say about the societies that created them? From the dead eyed Jimmy Cagney of the
1930s to the cuddly, but conflicted Tony Soprano of the 1990s/00s, how have screen gangsters
changed and developed?
Any prior knowledge or entry requirements?
None.
Course content: what topics will the course cover?
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The Screen Gangster: Overview
The Prohibition Gangster
Bonnie and Clyde: The gangster as Counter culture Icon
The Godfather I & II: ‘The Epic Grandeur’ of the Gangster
The Scorsesean Gangster 1: Johnny Boy and Charlie
“Nothing Exceeds Like Excess”: Scarface A Gangster for the ‘Me Decade’
The Godfather III: “Just as I thought I was out they pull me back in”
The Scorsesean Gangster II: Henry Hill
The 1990s Gangster
The Suburban Gangster: Tony Soprano
Teaching, learning and assessment methods:
Demonstration
Discussion
Project work
Question and
answer
Research
Activity outside
Y
class time
Presentation
Y Field trip
Y
Role play
Individual
work
Written work
Observation
Practical work
Group work
Other (state)
Y
Y
Y
How will I receive feedback on my learning progress and achievement?
Through verbal and written feedback.
Learning outcomes: these are the intended outcomes and may be revised in discussion with the
class. Students are encouraged to think about and identify their own individual outcomes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Identify and explain the generic conventions of the gangster film.
2. Analyse key scenes within a film.
3. Apply contextual understanding to a film narrative.
Reading and information sources:
Viewing or re-viewing of the following key films would be helpful- as there will not be time to watch
whole films in session. (Other gangster will be referred to during the course, so viewing of any
gangster films would be beneficial).
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Public Enemy (dir. William Wyler)
Scarface (dir. Brian De Palma)
White Heat (dir. Raoul Walsh)
Bonny and Clyde (dir. Arthur Penn)
The Godfather Parts I, II & III (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1972, 1974 and 1990)
Mean Streets (dir. Martin Scorsese, 1973)
Scarface (dir. Brian de Palma, 1983)
Goodfellas (dir. Martin Scorsese, 1990)
Reservoir Dogs (dir. Quentin Tarantino, 1992)
Plus knowledge of The Sopranos TV series (1999-2007) will be needed. The first episode of series
1 is a good a place to start as any!
Knowledge of the prohibition period (1919-33) of US history would be helpful.
Suggestions for progression to further study or for using the skills and knowledge gained:
Skills gained will be transferrable to most Humanities A- Level and/or degree courses.
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http://www.wea.org.uk/courses/information This includes information on fees, learning support and financial support.
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