Film in PoliticsProfessor: Dr. Kenneth E. FernandezFilm in Politics POLITICAL SCIENCE PSC 400F University of Nevada, Las Vegas Spring 2011 Professor: Dr. Kenneth E. Fernandez Office: Department of Political Science; Wright Hall B209 Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:30pm; Tuesday 10-11am, or by appointment. Phone/Email: 702-895-4029 [email protected] Time/Place: MW 10 – 11:15a, BEH 221 Website: http://faculty.unlv.edu/kfernandez/film.htm Class Description: This course examines various political dimensions of film, including how film is a reflection of our political system, how film may influence our political culture and our understanding of our political system, and how politics may influence the production of films. The course will touch upon the major themes in American politics and culture, as seen through film. We will discuss films that are overtly political and films with political messages that are less obvious. The course will focus on major feature (fiction) films produced in the U.S., (A.K.A classical Hollywood Films) because of the mass audience they reach, both in the U.S and around the world. Class Participation and Attendance (10% of grade): In-class participation is crucial for an interesting and productive learning environment. Come prepared to contribute to class discussion by carefully reading the assignments. In regard to the observance of a religious holiday, University policy requires students to notify the instructor about anticipated absences by the last day of late registration. Exams: Midterm and Final (30% each): There will be a take-home midterm and an in-class final exam. They will be based on the assigned readings, lectures, and movies. Late exams will be penalized by a full grade for each 24 hours late. The Midterm will be handed out on February 28th and will be do at the start of class on March 2. The final Exam will be administered during the scheduled time (10:10am on May 9th). Three Film Reviews (30% of grade): Each student will choose three films to review. The film must be one that is schedule to be shown in class. All three reviews will be due at the start of class on April 25th. Students will be required to submit a hard copy and an electronic copy. Further Details of the film reviews will be provided on the course website. Rebelmail: By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after admission to the university. Non-admitted students should contact the Student Help Desk at (702) 895-0761, in the Student Union Room 231, or by e-mail: [email protected]. See http://rebelmail.unlv.edu/ for additional information. Disability Policy: The UNLV Disability Resource Center (DRC) houses the resources for students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room 137. Their numbers are: (702-895-0866/Voice; 702-895-0652/TDD). For additional information please visit http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/.Expectations: It is expected that students will behave in a professional manner. Students are expected to be respectful to one another. Students are expected to arrive to class on time. Tardiness may result in reduction in attendance participation. I reserve the right to lock the door if tardiness becomes a problem. Cell phones will be completely silenced or turned off. Laptops are allowed for note taking only. Students with laptops are prohibited from sitting in the back rows and must sit in the front half of the class (unless a disability requires special seating arrangements) and I reserve the right to prohibit laptops in the future. Laptops must be closed during the screening of movies (unless a disability requires one). The assignment of letter grades is as follows: 93% < = A 80-81 = B- 67-69 = D+ 90-92 = A- 77-79 = C+ 62-66 = D 87-89 = B+ 72-76 = C 60-61 = D- 82-86 = B 70-71 = C- > 59 = F Required Texts (a copy of each text has been placed in Physical Reserves): Coyne, Michael. 2008. Hollywood Goes to the Washington: American Politics on Screen. Reaktion. Franklin, Daniel. 2006. Politics and Film: The Political Culture of Film in the United States. Roman & Littlefield. Additional Readings available on WebCampus (https://webcampus.nevada.edu) Beavers, Staci. 2002. “The West Wing as a pedagogical Tool.” PS: Political Science & Politics 35, 2: 213-6. Davis, Darren and Davenport, Christian. 1997. “The Political and Social Relevancy of Malcolm X: The Stability of African American Political Attitudes. The Journal of Politics 59, 2: 550-64. Gans, Herbert J. 1964. The Rise of the Problem-Film: An Analysis of Changes in Hollywood Films and the American Audience. Social Problems 11, 4: 327-36. Holbert, R. Lance. 2005. A Typology for the Study of Entertainment Television and Politics. American Behavioral Scientist 49: 436-53 Lindley, Dan. 2001. What I Learned since I Stopped Worrying and Studied the Movie: A Teaching Guide to Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove". PS: Political Science and Politics 34, 3: 663-667 Maland Charles. 1979. Dr. Strangelove (1964): Nightmare Comedy and the Ideology of Liberal Consensus. American Quarterly 31, 5, Special Issue: 697-717 Thomassen, Lasse. 2009. Gladiator, Violence, and the Founding of a Republic. PS: Political Science & Politics: 145-8 Woodcock, Pete. 2006. "The Polis of Springfield: The Simpsons and the Teaching of Political Theory." Politics 26, 3: 192–9CLASS SCHEDULE WEEK DATE TOPIC READINGS Week 1 W – January 19 Introduction to Film and Politics Coyne Introduction Week 2 M – January 24 MOVIE: Birth of a Nation (1915); Battleship Potemkin (1925) and more Week 2 W – January 26 Violence and Nation Building Coyne 1; Thomassen Week 3 M – January 31 MOVIE: Citizen Kane (1941) Week 3 W – February 2 Film and the telling of an American Ideology Franklin Intro & 1 Week 4 M – February 7 MOVIE: What Just Happened (2008) Week 4 W – February 9 The Political Economy of Film Making Franklin 2, 3 Week 5 M – February 14 MOVIE: Triumph of the Will (1935); Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) Week 5 W – February 16 The Influence of Film: Cause or Effect