Week 19: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Grades are finished and should be in the system by Tuesday evening.

Thank you for a great semester. See you around campus (or at the movies).

-D

Movie News 12.7.15

• Gods of Egypt director apologizes for not casting more non-whites as Egyptians (Al-Bawaba)
• Weekend box office: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 reaches $524 million worldwide, while Spectre hits $792 million internationally (Forbes)
• Theater chain plans Star Wars "endurance test" (Entertainment Weekly)
• Entertainment Weekly names its best (and worst) films of 2015 (Entertainment Weekly)
• Views of Warner Bros.' Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's third trailer lag far behind Marvel's Captain America: Civil War's trailer (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the week: Russell Crow and Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys (YouTube) [NSFW]

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)
Mo 12.7 (LAST REGULAR DAY OF CLASS)/Th 12.10 (FINAL EXAM MEETING TIME)
Final exam time: Th 12.10 from 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Class: REFLECTION 8; Class review

Upcoming:

Week 19: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mo 12.14/We 12.16 (FINALS WEEK— NO CLASS MEETINGS)

Reflection 8: Coming Soon—The Future of Movie Going

Once upon a time in America, film audiences gathered at ornate movie palaces, were led to their seats by ushers, and often enjoyed raffles during intermissions. That time has long passed. Now, in the era of the cineplex, audiences have eschewed much of these rituals for the ease of convenience. But where do we go from here? Will Americans in the next 25 years experience first-run films as we do? Will technological advancements lead to a more 360-degree move experience (a la the Oculus Rift), or will the path of filming lead back to our own homes? For this final reflection, consider what the future holds for movie audiences.

Cite at least two of the following in your analysis:

• "Who Needs Movie Theaters Anyway? "(Washington Post)
• "The Future of Cinemas" (TheNextWeb) 
• "The Movie Theater of the Future Will be in Your Mind" (TribecaFilm) 
• "Future of Film: Four Experts Predict How Moviegoing Will Change in 10 Years (Hollywood Reporter)
• "The Future of Film: We'll Be Watching Films in Virtual Reality" (Empire)
• "Will We Watch Movies Like This in the Future? First Film Made for Oculus Rift Gets Interactive Trailer" (NoFilmSchool)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Th 12.10

Movie News 12.3.15

• Warner Bros. releases 2nd extended trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Guardian)
• Steven Spielberg on a new Indiana Jones actor: "I don't think anyone could replace Harrison as Indy. I don't think that's ever going to happen." (Dark Horizons) 
• YouTube entering arena against Netflix, Hulu, others to secure exclusive rights to films for its YouTube Red service (TheVerge)
• Peter Jackson weighs in on Turkish case of man standing trial for comparing his president to LOTR's Gollum (Entertainment Weekly) 
• December box office expected to cool until The Force Awakens (Variety)
• Trailer of the week: YouTube's Sleepy Skunk's mega-trailer of every 2015 release in one (YouTube)

Week 17: Thelma & Louise (1991)

Week 17: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Mo 11.30/We 12.2
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 8

Upcoming:

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)
Mo 12.7 (LAST REGULAR DAY OF CLASS)/Th 12.10 (FINAL EXAM MEETING TIME)
Final exam time: Th 12.10 from 9:45 – 12:00 PM
Class: SYNTHESIS; Class review

Week 19: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mo 12.14/We 12.16 (FINALS WEEK— NO CLASS MEETINGS)

Movie News 11.23.15

• Pentatonix pay tribute to Star Wars at American Music Awards (Huffington Post)
• First look: Nicki Minaj in Barbershop: The Next Cut (Entertainment Weekly)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 opens to $101 million—still disappoints (Fortune)
• Fan-made trailer turns Superman III into a horror film (Entertainment Weekly)
• What might have been: A look at Megan Gale as Wonder Woman in the never-produced Justice League: Mortal (Latino Review)
  
  "Justice League: Mortal" Read more at: https://tr.im/0Q0XQ
• Trailer of the week: Kirsten Dunst and Adam Driver in Midnight Special (YouTube) 

Week 16: High Noon (1952)

Week 16: High Noon (1952)
Mo 11.23/We 11.25 (THANKSGIVING—NO CLASS)
Read: GODS p. 201 – 320
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 7 (Note Monday due date)

Upcoming:

Week 17: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Mo 11.30/We 12.2
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 8

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)
Mo 12.7 (LAST REGULAR DAY OF CLASS)/Th 12.10 (FINAL EXAM MEETING TIME)
Final exam time: Th 12.10 from 9:45 – 12:00 PM
Class: SYNTHESIS; Class review

Week 19: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mo 12.14/We 12.16 (FINALS WEEK— NO CLASS MEETINGS)

Movie News 11.18.15

• The infamous Star Wars Holiday Special marks its 37th anniversary (AV Club)
• Paul Walker "assumed all risk," says Porsche in actor's wrongful death lawsuit (Entertainment Weekly)
• Why Universal pulled Jem and The Holograms from theaters just days after its release (Cineblend)
• The Iceman cometh back: Val Kilmer set to return for Top Gun 2 (Dark Horizons)
• Hollywood on track for a record year at the box office (CNN Money)
• Trailers of the week: Alex Proyas' Gods of Egypt and Ben Stiller in Zoolander 2 (YouTube)
  
  

Reflection 7: Guilty as Charged—Confessing Our Movie Guilty Pleasures

Though we may not admit it, we all have them. And while they are near and dear to our hearts, often they are kept secret. Yet, our movie guilty pleasures serve an important role: they make us happy—even if we don't always own up to them. But why are guilty pleasures so guilty? What sets these movies apart from that which we enjoy openly? Can a movie really be so bad it's good? This reflection is your opportunity to come out of the movie closet and reveal three of your  guilty pleasures.

 Include one of the following in your discussion:

• "Why Do We Feel Guilty about ‘Guilty Pleasures’?" (Den of Geek) 
• "Science of Guilty Pleasures: Study Uncovers How Feeling Bad Can Boost Your Happiness" (Daily Mirror)
• "10 'Guilty Pleasure' Movies You Shouldn’t Be Ashamed to Love" (WhatCulture)
• "r/movies: Do You Have Any Guilty Pleasure Movies? As in You Know They are Not Good but You Can't Help but Like Them Anyway?" (Reddit) 
• "28 Bad Movies We Can’t Help but Love" (BuzzFeed) 
• "These 5 Movies are Guilty Pleasures That Make Guys Cry" (Escapist)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Mon 11.23 (Note Monday due date)

Week 15: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)

Week 15: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)
Mo 11.16/We 11.18
Read: GODS p. 151 – 200
Class: Reading discussion

Upcoming:

Week 16: High Noon (1952)
Mo 11.23/We 11.25 (THANKSGIVING—NO CLASS)
Read: GODS p. 201 – 320
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 7 (Note Monday due date)

Week 17: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Mo 11.30/We 12.2
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 8

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)
Mo 12.7 (LAST REGULAR DAY OF CLASS)/Th 12.10 (FINAL EXAM MEETING TIME)
Final exam time: Th 12.10 from 9:45 – 12:00 PM
Class: SYNTHESIS; Class review

Week 19: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mo 12.14/We 12.16 (FINALS WEEK— NO CLASS MEETINGS)

Movie News 11.14.15

• Bay Area family builds giant Death Star atop their home (KTVU TV)
• Hi-red photos: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Dark Horizons)
• First look: Chris Pine in Wonder Woman movie (Comic Book Resources)
• Patricia Arquette in talks to voice Toy Story 4 (Latino Review)
• Spectre holds onto the top of the box office with a $130 million domestic haul so far (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the week: Nia Vardalos' My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (YouTube) 

Week 14: City Lights (1931)

Week 14: City Lights (1931)
Mo 11.9/We 11.11 (VETERANS DAY—NO CLASS)
Read: GODS p. 31 – 150
Class: ENGLISH DEPT. ASSESSMENT; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: INFOGRAPHIC (Due Fri 11.13; submit via email by 5 PM)

Upcoming:

Week 15: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)
Mo 11.16/We 11.18
Read: GODS p. 151 – 200
Class: Reading discussion

Week 16: High Noon (1952)
Mo 11.23/We 11.25 (THANKSGIVING—NO CLASS)
Read: GODS p. 201 – 320
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 7 (Note Monday due date)

Week 17: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Mo 11.30/We 12.2
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 8

Week 18: West Side Story (1961)
Mo 12.7 (LAST REGULAR DAY OF CLASS)/Th 12.10 (FINAL EXAM MEETING TIME)
Final exam time: Th 12.10 from 9:45 – 12:00 PM
Class: SYNTHESIS; Class review

Week 19: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mo 12.14/We 12.16 (FINALS WEEK— NO CLASS MEETINGS)

Movie News 11.3.15

• Marvel artist: Disney phasing out all "Slave Leia" imagery (Entertainment Weekly)
• Upcoming Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, debuts logo (Dark Horizons)
• Chilean miners say "bad contracts" cheated them out of profits from Hollywood adaptation (Guardian)
• Jennifer Lawrence says Katniss Everdeen inspired her gender-equity essay (People)
• Theater chains clamping down on some Star Wars cosplay for upcoming sequel (Hollywood Reporter)
• Trailer of the week: Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa (YouTube)

 

Week 13: My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Week 13: My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Mo 11.2/We 11.4
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: INFOGRAPHIC (SUBMIT VIA EMAIL ON FRIDAY, NOV. 6th BY 5 PM)

Upcoming:

Week 14: City Lights (1931)
Mo 11.9/We 11.11 (VETERANS DAY—NO CLASS)
Read: GODS p. 31 – 150
Class: ENGLISH DEPT. ASSESSMENT; Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: SYNTHESIS

Movie News 10.29.15

• The Suicide Squad invade Empire magazine (ScreenRant)
• Dark Knight trilogy's David S. Goyer: Too Many white male directors in film (Daily Beast)
• Hollywood returns to ghostly possessions in horror (Wall Street Journal)
• Why are R-rated horror films flopping at the box office? (Fortune)
• Hotel from The Shinning may become a horror museum (CNet)
• Trailer of the week: Robert De Niro and Zac Efron in Dirty Grandpa (Entertainment Weekly)

 

Infographic: Artificial Intelligence, Real and Imagined

Though we tend to think of artificial intelligence (AI) as a 20th century phenomenon, it has been imagined, in one form or another, since ancient Greece. But by the 19th century, visions of human-built artificially intelligent beings began to take root in fiction—thanks largely to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Today, AI is a staple of film, as well as books and television. But while what Mary Shelley frighteningly envisioned was out of the reach of her era's technology, our visions of AI are already here or coming soon. For this assignment you will construct a binary infographic illustrating the parallels between film and real life artificial intelligence. Thus, one side should illustrate significant AI representations in movies, while the other should highlight AI's real-life advancements—you will be responsible for providing four of the six required sources. Just as in traditional essays, you will require a central argument to guide your design.

Your infographic must include the following two sources:

• "A (Very) Brief History of Artificial Intelligence” (AITopics)
• "The 8 Evil Forms of AI that Gave Robots a Bad Name" (Popular Mechanics)

To help guide your design:

• "You Suck at Infographics" (Wired)
• "80 Best Infographics on the Web" (Creative Bloq)
• "What Makes a Great Infographic?" (DashBurst)
• "Infographics: Separating the Great from the Mediocre" (The Next Web)

All above articles are located in the eR.

Infographics are most easily utilized in PowerPoint (or a comparable program. Additionally, if you are experienced in it, you may also utilize Photoshop. This assignment must be delivered electronically.

Requirements:

• Six sources minimum—four provided by you
• Include a works cited page

A well-executed infographic will:

• Have a title that articulates the goal of the assignment
• Have a concise thesis as the subheading—important
• Have a concise controlling argument dictating the design
• Visually translate perspectives and facts in a clear and enlightening manner
• Stay within the parameters of movie and real life AI

Due: Fri 11.13 (submit via email by 5 PM)

Reflection 6: My Two Cents—Writing a Film Review

Your task for this reflection is simple: review a film. It may be any film you like, so long as you view it critically. Whether you liked or disliked it should only be the starting point, not the whole of the review. Instead, carefully examine those elements of the film (e.g. acting, direction, plot) that brought you to your opinion.

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one full page in length

Due: Wed 10.28 or Mon 11.4

Week 12: Jaws (1975)

Week 12: Jaws (1975)
Mo 10.26/We 10.28
Read: REEL—See “Synthesis essay readings” at bottom of syllabus
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

Due: REFLECTION 6

Upcoming:

Week 13: My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Mo 11.2/We 11.4
Class: English Dept. Assessment; Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: INFOGRAPHIC (SUBMIT VIA EMAIL BY 5 PM)

Movie News 10.21.15

• Happy Back to the Future Day (CNN)
• #BoycottStarWarsEpisodeVII: Online "movement" says new Star Wars film seeks to diminish white race (Entertainment Weekly)
• Meanwhile ...  The Force Awakens presale tickets smash records (MSNBC)
• Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman on the cover of the new Total Film (SuperHeroNews)
• Study: Watching movies can help build empathy (PRI)
• Trailer of the week: JJ Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens (YouTube)

 

Multimedia Presentations (Updated Schedule)

Find the full assignment here.

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28 

1. Jimmy N. and Daniela R. - Kowai Hanashi: A History of Japanese Horror Films
2. Dunba T. and Felix W. - Inside Bollywood, the World’s Most Prolific Film Industry

Week 13: Mo 11.2/We 11.4

1. Aliya H. and Maria K. – A Legacy in Infamy: The Story of Birth of a Nation
2. Paul F. and Krystal D. - The Good, the Bad, and, the Ugly: A Look at Spaghetti Westerns 

Week 14: Mo 11.9 

1. Charlie C. and Jesus J. - Infamous Films: Browning’s Freaks, Damiano’s Deep Throat, and Stone’s Natural Born Killers 
2. Madison A. and Jade G. - Bombs Away: Hollywood's Most Infamous Failures
3. Jasmeen K. and Alliyah V. - No Laughing Matter: The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal   

Week 15: Mo 11.23

1. Alex C. and Nicole G. - Fifty Years of Bond, James Bond
2. Elias R. and Trudy S. - La Famiglia: Italian Representation on the Silver Screen

Week 16: Mo 11.30/We 12.2 

1. Yaning V. and Evonne T. - Don't You Forget about Me: The Films of John Hughes 
2. Emily P. and Eileen R. - Hollywood and Gun Violence: The Continuing Debate 

Week 11: Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Week 11: Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“The Most Common Grammatical Errors—And How to Avoid Them”

Upcoming:

Week 12: Jaws (1975)
Mo 10.26/We 10.28
Read: REEL—See “Synthesis essay readings” at bottom of syllabus
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

Movie News 10.17.15

• Jennifer Lawrence rocks Hollywood with essay of female gender pay inequality (NPR News)
• First look: War for the Planet of the Apes (Dark Horizons)
• Tom Hanks reads scripts written by eight-year-olds (YouTube)
• Batman V. Superman DLC coming to Batman: Arkham Knight (Latino Review)
• Trailers of the week: Lily James in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (YouTube)
• and: The Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! (YouTube)

 

Close Read: Muscial Clips Selections

Below is a list of musical clips to choose from for this week's close read essay. Additionally, you'll find ten new clips to consider. Choose only one to write about.

• "America" from West Side Story (1961)
  
• "Elephant Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge! (2001)
•  "Good Morning" from Singin' in the Rain (1952)
• "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables (2012)
• "I Want to Hold Your Hand" from Across the Universe (2007)
  
• "Mein Herr" from Cabaret (1972)
  
• "My Man" from Funny Girl (1968)
• "Summer Nights" from Grease (1978)
• "The Man That Got Away" from A Star is Born (1954)
• "We Both Reached for the Gun" from Chicago (2002)

 Also:

• "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
• "Agony" from Into the Woods (2014)
• "Drifting Slowly" from Once (2007)
• "Easy to be Hard" from Hair (1979)
• "Gaston" from Beauty and the Beast (1991)
• "I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray (2007)
• "I Will Always Love You" from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
• "If I Loved You" from Carousel (1956)
• "Le Jazz Hot" from Victor Victoria (1982)
• "Rainbow High" from Evita (1996)
• "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
• "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees (1958)

Reflection 5: Black and White Movies—On Colorblind Casting

Colorblind casting is the practice of ignoring the traditional race of a fictional character and, instead, casting an actor of another ethnicity. And depending on who you ask, it either robs actors of certain races of opportunities to work, or it opens the doors to more work for a variety of actors of various races. For much of Hollywood's history, colorblind casting has been a non-issue. Typically, if a film called for a character of color, producers would simply cast a white actor to play black, Asian, Latino, or whatever else was called for. This practice, eventually called "whitewashing," lead to many offensive stereotypes in the movie industry. In the 21st century, actors of color have seen their roles dramatically rise, but charges of whitewashing still exist—just witness the recent controversies over Emma Stone playing a half-Asian woman in Aloha or the casting  of mostly white actors in Egyptian-set Exodus: Gods and Kings. Do you believe an actor's race should be a consideration in casting? How would you feel, for example, about a black James Bond? What about an Asian Batman?

• "Fans Petition to Have Scarlett Johansson Removed as Star of Ghost in the Shell Movie" (IGN)
• "Michael B. Jordan Slams Haters Who Don’t Want a Black Human Torch" (HollywoodLife)
• "Pierce Brosnan Backs First Black James Bond" (Guardian)
• "Whitewashing was One of Hollywood's Worst Habits, so Why is It Still Happening?" (Huffington Post)
• "Rooney Mara as Pan's Tiger Lily: A Look at the Controversy" (Entertainment Weekly)
• "When is Color-Blind Casting Okay and When is it Not?" (Movieline)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one page in length
• Include a works cited page
  

Due: We 10.14

Week 10: It Happened One Night (1934)

Week 10: It Happened One Night (1934)
Mo 10.12/We 10.14
Read: “The 8 Evil Forms of AI that Gave Robots a Bad Name” (Popular Mechanics), “A (Very) Brief History of Artificial Intelligence” (AITopics)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations. Writers workshop

Upcoming:

Week 11: The Hurt Locker (2008)
Mo 10.19/We 10.21
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“The Most Common Grammatical Errors—And How to Avoid Them” Due: INFOGRAPHIC (BRING 2 COPIES)

Week 9: Gilda (1946)

Week 9: Gilda (1946)
Mo 10.5/We 10.7
Read: eR—“Infographics: Separating the Great from the Mediocre” (The Next Web), “What Makes a Great Infographic?” (DashBurst), “70 Best Infographics on the Web” (Creative Bloq), “You Suck at Infographics” (Wired)
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“All About Infographics”
Due: REFLECTION 5

Upcoming:

Week 10:
It Happened One Night (1934)
Mo 10.12/We 10.14
Read: “The 8 Evil Forms of AI that Gave Robots a Bad Name” (Popular Mechanics), “A (Very) Brief History of Artificial Intelligence” (AITopics)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations. Writers workshop
Due: INFOGRAPHIC (BRING 2 COPIES)

Movie News 10.7.15

• Will Smith on his Suicide Squad co-star: "I’ve never actually met Jared Leto ... He was all in on the Joker" (/Film)
• Batman v Superman viral marketing campaign goes live with Fortune profile of Lex Luthor (io9) 
• Magnolia Pictures pushing for the first-ever transgender nomination for two of its actresses (Entertainment Weekly)
•  Hollywood's gender gap in two charts (Time)
• Matt Damon's Martian blasts off at the box office with $55 million opening (TheWrap)
• Trailer of the week: Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt II (YouTube)

Week 8: Dreamgirls (2006)

Week 8: Dreamgirls (2006)
Tu 10.6/Th 10.8
Read: eR—“Summer Nights” from Grease (1978), "Elephant Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge! (2001), “We Both Reached for the Gun” from Chicago (2002), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" from Across the Universe (2007), “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables (2012)
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Close Reads: A How-To” Due: REFLECTION 4

Upcoming:

Week 9: Gilda (1946)
Mo 10.5/We 10.7
Read: eR—“Infographics: Separating the Great from the Mediocre” (The Next Web), “What Makes a Great Infographic?” (DashBurst), “70 Best Infographics on the Web” (Creative Bloq), “You Suck at Infographics” (Wired)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“All About Infographics”
Due: REFLECTION 5

Movie News 10.3.15

• Marvel smiles on Ronda Rousey's campaign to play Captain Marvel (Entertainment Weekly)
• Four more Transformers movies planned (Dark Horizons)
• Netflix streaming coming to Virgin America (Los Angeles Times)
• Report: Daniel Craig re-ups for two more James Bond films (Daily Mirror)
• $96,000: What Princess Leia's "slave bikini" sells at auction for (Entertainment Weekly)
• Trailer of the week: Natalie Dormer in The Forest (YouTube)

 

Reflection 4: I Feel Pretty—Costuming in Film

As any actor will tell you, a character doesn't really come together until the right costume is in place. In fact, many films have become classics, in part, because of their unique costuming. That's because when done right, a costume can add an unexpected element to an actor's performance. In some cases, the right costume can tell us everything we need to know about a character in just seconds. And some characters and costumes are so intertwined that they're difficult to divorce, such as the tattered suit of Charlie Chaplin's Tramp or the leather and metal of Johnny Depp's Edward Scissorhands. For audiences, costumes can also become a sentimental part of a favorite film. One need only look at the robust movie costume auctions to see that collectors will pay top dollar for costumes they consider special or important—one of Dorothy's blue gingham dresses from the Wizard of Oz recently sold for a record $300,000. For your first reflection, you will consider the important role costuming plays in a scene. Below is a list of iconic films, each of which contains equally iconic costuming. Watch three of the scenes and analyze the function costuming plays in the role. Specifically, consider what the costume adds to the overall experience of the scene. For example, is the costuming subtle or does it make a statement? Does it utilize color? If so, how? How does the costume act as an extension of the character or actor? You may also consider hair and makeup in your analysis.

Choose three of the following scenes to explore:

• The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) in City Lights, 1931
• Jerry and Dale (Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) in Top Hat, 1935
• Gilda (Rita Hayworth) in Gilda, 1946
• Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) in A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
• Lisa (Grace Kelly) in Rear Window, 1954
• Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle (Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn) in My Fair Lady, 1964
• Tony Manero (John Travolta) in Saturday Night Fever, 1977
• Superman and Lois Lane (Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder) in Superman, 1978
• Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
• Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) in Risky Business, 1983
• Andrew, Brian, John, Claire, and Alison (Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy) in The Breakfast Club, 1985
• Vivian (Julia Roberts) in Pretty Woman, 1990
• Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) in Batman Returns, 1992
• Eva Peron (Madonna) in Evita, 1996
• Queen Elizabeth I (Tilda Swinton) in Elizabeth (1998)
• Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) in Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999 
• Velma and Roxie (Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger) in Chicago, 2002
• Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in Pirates of the Caribbean; Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003
• Nina (Natalie Portman) in Black Swan, 2010 
• Batman and the Joker (Christian Bale and Heath Ledger) in The Dark Knight Rises, 2012
• Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) in The Hunger Games, 2012
• Captain America, Iron Man, and Loki (Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Hiddleston) in The Avengers, 2012
• Fantine (Anne Hathaway) in Les Miserables, 2012 
• Baily Spry as Annie in It Follows, 2015 [Warning: Gore]

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
  

Due: We 10.7

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)
Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: eR—“Good Morning” from Singin' in the Rain (1952), “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born (1954), “America” from West Side Story (1961), "My Man" from Funny Girl (1968), “Mein Herr” from Cabaret (1972)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Upcoming:

Week 8: Dreamgirls (2006)
Tu 10.6/Th 10.8
Read: eR—“Summer Nights” from Grease (1978), "Elephant Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge! (2001), “We Both Reached for the Gun” from Chicago (2002), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" from Across the Universe (2007), “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables (2012)
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Close Reads: A How-To” Due: REFLECTION 4

Movie News 9.23.15

• Why Goodnight Mommy is so scary (Atlantic)
• Ridley Scott: Three more Prometheus films coming (Dark Horizons)
• Cherokee scholar gets Netflix to change its description of Pocahontas (MTV News)
• Philadelphia to screen three of Pope Francis' favorite films (Entertainment Weekly)
• Pierce Brosnan says don't hope you're breath for a female James Bond (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the Week: Rovio's The Angry Birds Movie

 

Week 6: Gravity (2013)

Week 6: Gravity (2013)
Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American), “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker), “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)
Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: eR—“Good Morning” from Singin' in the Rain (1952), “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born (1954), “America” from West Side Story (1961), "My Man" from Funny Girl (1968), “Mein Herr” from Cabaret (1972)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Editorial: On Hollywood and Film Privacy

We are in the midst of a great upheaval in the distribution of media, including films. The old model, in which media conglomerates controlled content, price, and access, is quickly being subverted. Despite legal threats, BitTorrent networking has emerged as the most popular form of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. For millions, these networks are an increasingly attractive option to bypass traditional media routes. In fact, Millennials, the generation born from 1980 – 2000, have not only grown accustomed to free content, but viewing it in nontraditional ways (e.g. computers, mobile devices). Thus far, media conglomerates have largely resisted change. But they have cried foul, citing significant losses to their bottom line as a result of BitTorrents. Not surprisingly, a coalition of Hollywood studios, governmental agencies, and Internet service providers (ISPs) have heavily cracked down on illegal downloaders—damages can now total up to $250,000 per case. But is free content the new normal? Who are the winners and losers in this new paradigm? Finally, if the legality or ethics of pirating hasn’t persuaded millions of users to stop, what can or will prompt them to return to paying for films? Can you provide a viable alternative to the current model that would curb, or eliminate, film piracy? In a clear and concise editorial, argue for or against the use of torrents in obtaining and viewing films.

Cite from the following texts below to support your thesis:

• “Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech)
• “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant)
• “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today)
• “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes)
• “How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American)
• “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker)
• “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
• "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian)
• "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)

 All article are available in the eR.

Remember, an editorial expresses an opinion on a current issue. It may take a formal or informal tone, but its primary goal is always to persuade readers. Because editorials were born in newspapers, they are traditionally succinct in form and can often carry the "voice" of the author. 

Sample editorials from around the country:

• "Donald Trump is an Aimless, Angry Leader" (Washington Post)
• "Refusal to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses is Not an Expression of Religious Liberty" (New Haven Register)
• "A Shameful Response in Europe to the Refugee Crisis in North Africa and Mideast" (Los Angeles Times)
• "Overreaction in Clock-Bomb Mix-Up has Chilling Effect" (Dallas Morning News)

The best papers will:

• Have a title that articulates its point of view
• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which outlines a clear position
• Be written in a voice that is casual, yet informed
• Clearly support their theses with solid evidence and a logical structure, thoughtfully citing from the articles above
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Requirements:

• 2-3 pages in length
• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Wed 9.23 (Draft 1: Bring 2 copies); Wed 10.30 (Final draft: Attach draft 1 to back AND a one paragraph summary on the changes between drafts)

Movie News 9.16.15

• Jamie Lee Curtis recreates her mother's famous shower scene in Psycho for TV's Scream Queens (ABC News)
• The Hunger Games' Elizabeth Banks in talks to direct a Charlie's Angels reboot (Dark Horizons)
• Why 2015's disastrous Fantastic Four might still get a sequel (Forbes)
• In another hit to Netflix, Epix follows Amazon's lead and will allow downloading of films for offline viewing (TheVerge)
• First look: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the Week: Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book (YouTube)

 

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)
Mo 9.14/We 9.16
Read: eR—“Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech), “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant), “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today), “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes), "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian), "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 6: Gravity (2013)
Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American), “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker), “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Movie News 9.8.15

• Summer '15 was a blockbuster for Hollywood (Digital Trends)
• Sam Smith lands the coveted theme for the next James Bond film, Spectre (CNN)
• Also ... Is Tom Hardy the front-runner to be the next James Bond? (Entertainment Weekly)
• First look: Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne (Latino Review)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming one day early to the UK (Entertainment Weekly)
• Trailer of the week: Jake Gyllenhaalin in Demolition (Variety) 

Reflection 3: Locked in the Closet—Being Out on (and Off of) the A-List

In 2010, Newsweek columnist Ramin Setoodeh argued that, "While it's okay for straight actors to play gay (as Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger did in Brokeback Mountain), it's rare for someone to pull off the trick in reverse." He further argued that unlike straight actors who play gay, the sexuality of gay actors who play straight is an issue because "the fact is, an actor's background does affect how we see his or her performance." Not surprisingly, the column resulted in a sharp rebuke from the gay community. Later, author Bret Easton Ellis also stirred up controversy when he argued that openly-gay Matt Bomer wouldn't be convincing playing straight hunk Christian in the then upcoming Fifty Shades of Gray adaptation—a role that eventually went to straight actor/model Jamie Dornan. Is an actor's sexuality really only an issue for audiences when he or she is gay, but playing straight? When you are watching a gay actor play straight, does his or her sexual orientation factor into the believability of the performance? While gay actors playing straight on television have made major strides in recent years (e.g. Jim Parsons on The Big Bang Theory, Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother), why are there currently no openly gay A-list actors or actresses in movies?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "By the Way, We're Gay: The New Art of Coming Out" (Entertainment Weekly)
• "Is It a Big Deal That the Actor Playing the Flash Isn't Straight?" (Vice)
• "Why Gay Movie Stars are Staying Locked in the Closet" (Variety)
• "Homophobia in Hollywood: Why Gay Movie Stars Still Can't Come Out of the Closet" (Independent)
• "Study: Audiences Buy Gay Actors Playing It Straight" (Queerty)
• "Why the World is Not Ready for a Gay James Bond" (Daily Telegraph)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one full page in length
• Works cited page
  

Due: We 9.16

Week 4: Rocky (1976)

Week 4: Rocky (1976)
Mo 9.7 (LABOR DAY—NO CLASS)/We 9.9
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process”

Upcoming:

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)
Mo 9.14/We 9.16
RRead: eR—“Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech), “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant), “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today), “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes), "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian), "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Movie News 9.2.15

• Wes Craven, iconic horror director, dies at 76 (CNN)
• Zac Efron's We Are Your Friends hauls in only $1.8 million at box office (BBC News)
• Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer are writing a script together, and Bette Midler wants to play their mother (Entertainment Tonight)
• Steven Spielbegr: " ... there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western" (Dark Horizons)
• Could Star Wars: The Force Awakens be the highest-grossing film ever? (ScreenRant)
• Trailer of the week: Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl (YouTube)

 

Week 3: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Week 3: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Mo 8.31/We 8.2
Class: DIAGNOSTIC; Presentation assignments; Lectures—“Building a Better Multimedia Presentation,” “Lectures—“MLA Style: An Introduction,” and “A Brief History of Film, Pt. I & II” Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 4: Rocky (1976)
Mo 9.7 (LABOR DAY—NO CLASS)/We 9.9
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Lecture—“Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process”

Multimedia Presentations

As you know, this semester you and a classmate will be responsible for a 10-minute multimedia presentation and class hand-out.

You have now been randomly assigned a partner, a date, and a topic. Some time will be given in class to trade your topic, if you should so desire. 

Requirements:

• The work distribution is up to each group, though it should be somewhat equitable
• The presentation must be approximately 10 minutes in length—everyone must present at least part of the time
• There should be 10-12 slides, including at least one video clip (no more than 2-3 minutes in length)
• You must provide a handout related to or outlining your presentation (sent via email) 
• On the day of your presentation, email both your presentation (or a link) and handout to me at dhdelao@gmail.com.

You may utilize any presentation program you like (e.g PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynote). However, please sort out any technical issues before your presentation date (our room's projection system can be found throughout campus). Groups may be docked for a lack of preparedness.

The best presentations will:

• Have an introductory slide which contextualizes the topic—very important 
• Use words economically 
• Include visually interesting illustrations—gifs are also acceptable
• Avoid a heavy use of animation and effects 
• Have a style that complements the subject matter and strikes the appropriate tone
• Engage the class through a conversational style, utilizing questions and/or activities
• Embed a relevant video or audio clip (e.g. YouTube, SoundCloud)—ad blockers are also helpful in saving time
• Conclude with a slide that summarizes the topic—also very important

This is an opportunity to be creative, so feel free to have fun with the visual layout of your presentation.

Lower scoring presentations might:

• Begin without an introductory slide and/or fail to offer any context upfront
• Be thinly researched
• Allow visuals to overrun their content, or lack a cohesive style
• Fail to engage the class in any meaningful way—this is often achieved by reading an entire presentation
• Lack multimedia
• End without a concluding slide

Remember, you must provide your own laptop. Also, Macs will require an Apple-specific adapter to connect to the university’s projection system. Newer model PCs with HDMI-only connections will also require special adapters.

Presentation schedule:

Week 5: Mo 9.14/We 9.16

Brett B. and Raye G. - Cinema Au Naturel: A History of Nudity on Film

Week 6: Mo 9.21/We

Madison A. and Jade G. - Bombs Away: Hollywood's Most Infamous Failures

Week 7: Mo 9.28/We 9.30

Dunba T. and Felix W. - Inside Bollywood, the World’s Most Prolific Film Industry

Week 8: Tu 10.6/Th 10.8 

Elias R. and Trudy S. - La Famiglia: Italians Representation on the Silver Screen

Week 9: Mo 10.5/We 10.7

Paul F. and Krystal D. - The Good, the Bad, and, the Ugly: A Look at Spaghetti Westerns

Week 10: Mo 10.12/We 10.14 

Jasmeen K. and Alliyah V. - No Laughing Matter: The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal

Week 11: Mo 10.19/We 10.21

Emily P. and Eileen R. - Hollywood and Gun Violence: The Continuing Debate

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28 

Jimmy N. and Daniela R. - Kowai Hanashi: A History of Japanese Horror Films

Week 13: Mo 11.2/We 11.4

Aliya H. and Maria K. – A Legacy in Infamy: The Story of Birth of a Nation

Week 14: Mo 11.9 - Charlie C. and Jesus J. - Infamous Films: Browning’s Freaks, Damiano’s Deep Throat, and Stone’s Natural Born Killers

Week 15: Mo 11.23

Alex C. and Nicole G. - Fifty Years of Bond, James Bond

Week 16: Mo 11.30/We 12.2 

Yaning V. and Evonne T. - Don't You Forget about Me: The Films of John Hughes

Reflection 2: Reel Music—Exploring Movie Soundtracks

It's difficult to imagine the movie-going experience without music. For over 100 years, music has been an integral part of what makes the movies so special. Many films are regarded as legendary, in part, due to their musical soundtracks. Below is a list of iconic scenes made even more memorable through their use of music. Choose two to three of the following scenes (at least one must be prior to 1960) to examine how music enhances its overall effect. For example, how does the music effect you, as a viewer? Are you being manipulated? And if so, how? What emotions are being elicited? What would change in the scene if the music were omitted? Finally, can you imagine this scene with different music? What would be gained and lost?

Choose one of the following:

1. "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca (1942, Music and lyrics by Herman Hupfeld)
2. "Put the Blame on Mame" from Gilda (1946, Music and lyrics by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher)
3. "The River Kwai March" from The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, Music by Malcom Arnold)
4. "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961, Music by Henry Mancini)
5. "The Sound of Silence" from The Graduate (1967, Music and lyrics by Paul Simon)
6. "The Blue Danube" from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Music by Johann Strauss)
7. "Main Title" from Jaws (1975, Music by John Williams) 
8. "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky (1976, Music and lyrics by Bill Conti, Carol Connors, and Ayn Robbins)
9. "You Should be Dancing" from Saturday Night Fever (1977, Music and lyrics by The Bee Gees)
10. "Can You Read My Mind? (Love Theme)" from Superman (1978, Music by John Williams) 
11. "Main Title" from Halloween (1978, Music by John Carpenter)  
12. "Rhapsody in Blue" from Manhattan (1979, Music by George Gershwin)
13. "Chariots of Fire" from Chariots of Fire (1981, Music by Vangelis)
14. "Saying Goodbye" from E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982, Music by John Williams) 
15. "Old Time Rock and Roll" from Risky Business (1983, Music and lyrics by George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III, and Bob Seger)
16. "If You Were Here" by from Sixteen Candles (1984, Music and lyrics by The Thompson Twins)
17. "Love is Strange" from Dirty Dancing (1987, Music and lyrics by Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, and Ethel Smith)
18. "Unchained Melody" from Ghost (1990, Music and lyrics by Alex North and Hy Zeret) 
19. "Bohemian Rhapsody" from Wayne's World (1992, Music and lyrics by Freddy Mercury)
20. "You Can Never Tell" from Pulp Fiction (1994, Music and lyrics by Chuck Berry
21. "These Days" from The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, Music and lyrics by Jackson Browne)
22. "Starálfur" from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004, Music and lyrics by Sigur Rós) 
23. "Brokeback Mountain 2" from Brokeback Mountain (2005, Music by Gustavo Santaolalla)
24. "Anyone Else but You" from Juno (2007, Music and lyrics by Kimya Dawson and Adam Green)
25. "You Make My Dreams" from (500) Days of Summer (2009, Music and lyrics by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall, and John Oates) 
26. "Married Life" from Up (2009, Music by Michael Giacchino)
27. "Symphony No. 7" from The King's Speech (2010,Music by Ludwig van Beethoven)
28. "Skyfall" from Skyfall (2012, Music by Adele and Paul Epworth)
29. "Flight" from Man of Steel (2013, Hans Zimmer) 
30. "Hooked on a Feeling" from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, Music and lyrics by Mark James)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
  

Due: Wed 9.2