COURSE APPROVAL DOCUMENT Southeast Missouri State University Department: English Course No. LI 317 Title of Course: Multicultural Visions Date: 9/29/2016 Please check: X New I. Catalog Description (Credit Hours of Course): Revision This course is an in-depth study of the role that multicultural issues play in informing, contributing to, and potentially transforming our awareness and understanding of diversity through literature and cinema. Emphasis will be given to works of literature and film that communicate national and /or transnational stories about individuals, groups, and values that enrich and expand awareness of social issues, problems, and other concerns related to human culture and understanding. The course places a great deal of focus on investigating the intersections of representation and cinematic / narrative conventions and form. (3) II. Co- or Prerequisite(s): Prerequisite: LI205 and any 200-level literature course III. Purposes or Objectives of the Course (optional): A. To demonstrate an ability to examine relationships between literary and cinematic production, and social values, popular beliefs, attitudes or assumptions. B. To demonstrate research skills and methods of documentation appropriate for the study of literature and film. C. To write analytically in both research and non-research contexts about film, literature, and representation. IV. Student Learning Outcomes (Minimum of 3): A. Students should demonstrate ability to situate course content in its relevant historical, cultural, literary, and cinematic contexts. B. Students should demonstrate ability to read literary and cinematic texts along with critical analysis of those texts to show familiarity with issues related to a multicultural / diversity focus. C. Students should demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms about issues related to a study with a multicultural / diversity focus. D. Students should demonstrate ability to produce focused, research-based as well as non-research-based writing on an issue or topic related to a multicultural / diversity focus. V. Optional departmental / college requirements: May vary from semester to semester, but the following is a representative example: A. Historical and cultural readings 6 hours B. Criticism and scholarship 15 hours C. Primary works of literature and film 24 hours Please attach copy of class syllabus and schedule as an example Signature: Chair Date: Signature: Dean Date: Approved by Academic Council, April 1, 2014 Revision: April 1, 2014
Textual and Cinematic Lives: The Biopic LI 317-01: Multicultural Visions Southeast Missouri State University Fall 2017 Dr. Pennie Pflueger Office Hrs: MWF 11-12 and by appt. Office: 318 L Grauel Email: ppflueger@semo.edu Phone: 651-2627 Semester: Fall 2017 Meeting times: T / Th 9:30 10:45 Meeting location: Grauel 313 Course Description: LI317 investigates the ways that subjects have been depicted on screen, or that have been written about and depicted on screen. In cinema, the biopic is a rendering or depiction of a subject s life that may or may not have a basis in reality. One of the questions we will explore is whether cinema is capable of portraying the truth or the reality of a subject s life. This line of questioning is in keeping with what is asked of literary auto/biography, in which readers often consider the fictionalized or interpretive nature of the genre. But if readers and viewers are assuming a fictionalized construction when approaching the biographical work, what do those fictions reveal not only about the subject being depicted, but about culture generally, as well as about either the creator of the text (written or cinematic), or about those who make up the audience or those who are imagined as constituting the audience? The course involves reading auto/biographical works and then viewing the cinematic texts as a way to investigate differences in the two mediums. Additionally, we will be looking at biographically-based works of cinema without a written counterpart. Course Objectives: 1. To familiarize students with issues that arise from biographical depiction, in written and cinematic texts 2. To investigate the ways that textual and cinematic narratives of a subject s life differ and to explore the challenges and advantages of each 3. To explore questions of viability in conveying a subject s life, increasing awareness of constraints as well as motivations that may contribute to what gets expressed 4. To demonstrate research skills and methods of documentation appropriate for the study of literature and film 5. To write analytically in both research and non-research contexts about film, literature, and representation Semester Hours: 3 Prerequisites: LI205 and any 200-level literature course Required Texts: Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X Robinson, David. Chaplin: His Life and Art Herrera, Hayden. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo Shilts, Randy. The Mayor of Castro Street Supplemental critical readings available via web, course moodle page, or as printed handouts
Other required reading include selections from the following (available on reserve in Kent Library, via our course moodle page, or as handouts): Brown, Tom and Belén Vidal, eds. The Biopic in Contemporary Film Culture Bingham, Dennis. Whose Lives Are They Anyway?: The Biopic as Contemporary Film Genre Epstein, William and R. Barton Palmer, eds. Invented Lives, Imagined Communities: The Biopic and American National Identity Custen, George. Bio/Pics: How Hollywood Constructed Public History Batchelor, John. The Art of Literary Biography Required Films: The Passion of Joan of Arc, dir. Carl Theodor Dryer (1928) The Times of Harvey Milk, dir. Rob Epstein (1984) My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, dir. Jim Sheridan (1989) Chaplin, dir. Richard Attenborough (1992) Malcolm X, dir. Spike Lee (1992) Schindler s List, dir. Steven Spielberg (1993) Frida, dir. Julie Taymor (2002) La Vie en Rose, dir. Olivier Dahan (2007) Milk, dir. Gus Van Sant (2008) Questions, comments or requests regarding this course or program should be taken to your instructor. Unanswered questions or unresolved issues involving this class may be taken to Dr. Susan Kendrick, Chairperson, Department of English. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Student Learning Outcomes (Minimum of 3) E. Students should demonstrate ability to situate course content in its relevant historical, cultural, literary, and cinematic contexts. F. Students should demonstrate ability to read literary and cinematic texts along with critical analysis of those texts to show familiarity with issues related to a multicultural / diversity focus. G. Students should demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms about issues related to a study with a multicultural / diversity focus. H. Students should demonstrate ability to produce focused, research-based as well as non-research-based writing on an issue or topic related to a multicultural / diversity focus. BASIS FOR EVALUATION This course places a great deal of emphasis on close reading, viewing, and critical thinking skills. It is strongly recommended that students keep a viewing as well as a reading journal. Here is an overview of the assignments: Exams (2 @ 80 pts. each) Short Reading Responses (4 @ 10 pts. each) Forum & In Class Participation 160 pts. 40 pts. 60 pts.
Annotated Bibliography of 4 academic research sources Presentation One Research-based Paper (6 8 pages) 40 pts. 50 pts. 100 pts. 450 pts. Grading Scale A = 90 100% B = 80 89% C = 70 79% D = 60 69% F = 59% and below COURSE EXPECTATIONS 1. Thorough, thoughtful, and critical viewing and reading of assigned material. 2. Active, informal participation in forum and in-class discussions. 3. All major assignments submitted on time and in appropriate format. 4. Work submitted to the instructor must be the student s own work and must be produced for the first time for this course. Please do NOT recycle work produced for another course, either your own or someone else s. Please consult the Responsible Redhawks Guide for statements concerning plagiarism and other guidelines. It can be accessed at: http://www.semo.edu/redhawksguide#sthash.wsenzvup.dpuf. 5. An online learning environment that is based on mutual respect, cooperation, tolerance, and civil behavior (see the official University statement at http://www.semo.edu/pdf/conduct_faculty_resource_guide.pdf). ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT The University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should contact the Office of Disability Services at 651-5927; and notify their instructors of any special needs. Instructors should be notified the first day of class, or as soon thereafter as possible. Official accessibility statement can be found here: http://www.semo.edu/ds/facultyinfo.html. CIVILITY STATEMENT The University relies on common sense and civil behavior as part of the university community and particularly in learning environments that take place in classrooms that are face-to-face or online. The official statement can be found at http://www.semo.edu/pdf/conduct_faculty_resource_guide.pdf. ACADEMIC HONESTY The University regards plagiarism and dishonesty as serious matters and treats these offenses accordingly. Any effort to obtain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. Any intention to deliberately deceive will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but in general can carry the following penalties: an F on the assignment, an F for the course. Students should refer to the University s policy on Academic Honesty as listed in the Southeast Missouri State University s Undergraduate Bulletin or in the Responsible Redhawks Guide.
Textual and Cinematic Lives: The Biopic LI 317-01: Multicultural Visions Instructor: Dr. Pennie Pflueger Semester Schedule Fall 2017 Note: academic journal article selections can be accessed as links either through our course moodle page or by going to the academic databases through the Kent Library web page. Publication details (title of journal, date of publication, etc.) will be made available on our course page. Other selections may be on reserve in Kent Library. Week One Introduction to the Literary Auto/Biography and the Cinematic Biopic Hollywood s Early Interest in Filming Lives Viewing: The Passion of Joan of Arc, dir. Carl Theodor Dryer (1928) Reading: selections from The Biopic in Contemporary Film Culture Week Two Reading: selections from Tom Brown and Belén Vidal, eds. The Biopic in Contemporary Film Culture and Dennis Bingham, Whose Lives Are They Anyway?: The Biopic as Contemporary Film Genre Week Three Viewing: My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, dir. Jim Sheridan (1989) Reading: David Lavery, The Strange Text of My Left Foot Week Four Reading: Robinson, David. Chaplin: His Life and Art Selections from Epstein, William and R. Barton Palmer, eds. Invented Lives, Imagined Communities: The Biopic and American National Identity Week Five Viewing: Chaplin, dir. Richard Attenborough (1992) Reading: Charles Maland, How Much Chaplin Appears in Chaplin? Week Six Reading: Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X Week Seven Viewing: Malcolm X, dir. Spike Lee (1992) Reading: D. Quentin Miller, Lost and Found? James Baldwin s Script and Spike Lee s Malcolm X Thomas Doherty, Malcolm X: In Print, On Screen John Locke, Adapting the Autobiography: The Transformation of Malcolm X
Week Eight Viewing: Schindler s List, dir. Steven Spielberg (1993) Reading: Peter Krämer, The Good German? Oskar Schindler and the Movies, 1951-1993 (on reserve in Kent Library) Frank Manchel, A Reel Witness: Steven Spielberg s Representation of the Holocaust in Schindler s List (from The Modern Jewish Experience in World Cinema, on reserve) Week Nine Reading: Herrera, Hayden. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo Selections from: Batchelor, John. The Art of Literary Biography Week Ten Viewing: Frida, dir. Julie Taymor (2002) Reading: Tina Olsin Lent, Life as Art/Art as Life: Dramatizing the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo Armida De la Garza, Adapting Frida Kahlo: The Film-Paintings (from Impure Cinema: Intermedial and Intercultural Approaches to Film, on reserve) Week Eleven Viewing: La Vie en Rose, dir. Olivier Dahan (2007) Reading: Lucy Fischer, La Vie en Noir: Woman, Melodrama, and the Biopic Week Twelve Reading: Shilts, Randy. The Mayor of Castro Street Week Thirteen Viewing: The Times of Harvey Milk, dir. Rob Epstein (1984) Week Fourteen Viewing: Milk, dir. Gus Van Sant (2008) Reading: Julie Erhart, The Naked Community Organizer: Politics and Reflexivity in Gus Van Sant s Milk (in special issue of A/B: Auto/Biography Studies : Biopics and American National Identity: Invented Lives, Imagined Communities, on reserve) Sara Villa, Milk (2008) and The Times of Harvey Milk (1984): The Double Filmic Resurrection of the Mayor of Castro Street Week Fifteen Presentation due Critical Research Paper due FINAL EXAM Thursday, December 14 8:00 10:00 a.m. Grauel 313