English 570: Topics in English

ENGLISH 570: Topics in English
Genre in Film and Literature

Fall 2007
Pawling Hall 303
Monday 4:50-8:20

Contents

I. Course Description
II. Texts
III. Course Objectives
IV. Course Outline
V. Methods Evaluation
VI. Academic Integrity
VII. Accommodations for students with disabilities
Instructors:

Dr. Barbaccia

Dr. Carter

Office: Pawling Hall 116
Email: hbarbac0@georgetowncollege.edu
Phone: ext. 8126
Office: Pawling Hall 109
Email: scarter@georgetowncollege.edu
Phone: ext. 8308

Office Hours: by appointment
Grades Given: A, B, C, D, and F
I. Course Description: In this course, we will examine both film and literature from the perspective of genre. Class members will read primary and secondary texts, and class meetings will be organized around discussion of readings and screenings of films from various genres.
II. Texts:
A Short Guide to Writing about Film, 6th edition, Timothy Corrigan (Longman, 2005) ISBN 0321412281
The Epic of Gilgamesh, tr. N.K. Sandars (Penguin Classics, 1960) ISBN 014044100X
The Romance of Tristan, Beroul, tr. Alan Fedrick (Penguin Classics, 1978) ISBN 0140442308
Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis (Penguin Classics, 1993) ISBN 0140186301
The Long Goodbye, Raymond Chandler (Vintage, 1988) ISBN 0394757688
The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop., Robert Coover (Plume 1971) ISBN 0452260302
“The Tiger’s Bride” and “The Company of Wolves,” Angela Carter; “Queen of the Butterfly Kingdom,” Holly Phillips (handouts supplied by instructors)
Films:
The Thin Red Line (1998, Terrence Malick, director)
In the Mood for Love (2005, Wong Kar Wai, director)
Bob Roberts (1992, Tim Robbins, director)
The Long Goodbye (1973, Robert Altman, director)
Breathless (1960, Jean-Luc Godard, director)
Serenity (2006, Joss Whedon)

III. Course Objectives:
§ Foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of narrative technique in both literature and film.
§ Supply students with the historical and cultural backgrounds that have led to the development of particular genres. The class will examine in detail the following genres: epic, romance, satire, noir, postmodernism, and speculative/interstitial (specifically collapsing the categories of fantasy and horror).
§ Explore the relationships among film genres and literature genres.
§ Improve skills in written analysis of both literature and film.
IV. Course Outline:
September 10 -----Class introduction; introduction to literary and film analysis. Overview of Corrigan chapters 1 and 2 (please review these sections after class).
September 17 ----- Introduction to Epic and discussion of The Epic of Gilgamesh. (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.) Read Corrigan chapter 3 and discuss.
September 24 ----- Viewing and discussion of The Thin Red Line. Read Corrigan chapters 2 and 4.
September 28----- Essay 1 (epic) due by email by 5 pm. Please send two copies of your paper as a Word (.doc or .rtf) file email attachment, one copy each to Dr. Carter (scarter@georgetowncollege.edu) and Dr. Barbaccia (hbarbac0@georgetowncollege.edu).
October 1 ----- Introduction to Romance and discussion of The Romance of Tristan. (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.) Corrigan chapter 4.
October 8 ----- Viewing and discussion of In the Mood for Love. Corrigan chapter 5.
October 15 ----- Introduction to Satire and discussion of Lucky Jim. (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.)
October 19----- Essay 2 (romance) due by email by 5 pm.
October 22 ----- No class (Fall Break)
October 29 ----- Viewing and discussion of Bob Roberts.
November 2 -----Essay 3 (satire) due by email by 5 pm.
November 5 ----- Introduction to Noir and discussion of “The Hard-Boiled Detective Novel” (George Grella) and The Long Goodbye. (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.)
November 12 ----- Viewing and discussion of The Long Goodbye.
November 16 ----- Essay 4 (noir) due by email by 5 pm.
November 19 ----- Introduction to Postmodernism and discussion of The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.)
November 26 ----- Viewing and discussion of Breathless.
November 30 -----Essay 5 (postmodernism) due by email by 5 pm.
December 3 ----- Last Class; Introduction to Interstitial arts movement and discussion of “The Tiger’s Bride,” “The Company of Wolves,” and “Queen of the Butterfly Kingdom.” (Bring at least 3 typed questions or comments to class.) Screening of Serenity.
December 10 ----- Final Exam (take-home) due by email by 5 pm.
V. Methods of Evaluation:

Analytical essays
Final exam
Participation

50%
30%
20%

Grading Scale:

A
B
C
D
F

100-90
89-80
79-70
69-65
below 64

Readings and Screenings: Students are expected to complete all readings by the date listed on the syllabus. For each literary reading (i.e., excluding selections from the Corrigan reader), students will turn in at least three questions or comments (please type). Questions and comments should comprise one short paragraph each. Failure to turn in questions and comments as outlined above will result in a deduction from the Participation portion of students’ final grade.
Participation: Instructors expect that class members will come to all classes prepared, and will participate in class discussion of the readings and films. Failure to do so on a regular basis will result in a lowering of this portion of the final grade.
Analytical Essays: Class members will write five 4-5 pp essays for this class, each on a different genre. Instructors will provide prompts for the essays to give some guidance, though students are also invited to choose their own focus. Essays should show that the writer has given thought to what has been read or watched. These will not be “opinion” pieces on whether the writer likes the readings or films, but analyses of genre, narrative technique, or some other thematic element. Essays will be graded on content, style, and grammar. Papers must be double-spaced and should use 1-inch margins, Times New Roman (or a comparable font-face), and 12-point font. If the writer consults outside sources for her or his papers, s/he should cite those sources using MLA Style. Failure to do so will be treated as plagiarism (see below, Academic Integrity). Essays are due by email on the dates listed on the syllabus. Late papers will lose 5 points from the paper grade per day of lateness (including weekend days).
Final Exam: The final exam will be a take-home essay exam that requires class members to synthesize and comment on the information and ideas presented during the semester. Instructors will evaluate the exam based on content, style, and grammar. The final exam must be submitted by 5 pm on December 10.
VI. Academic Integrity
Academic Honesty is governed by the Georgetown College Honor Code. According to the Georgetown College Student Handbook, Honor Code Infractions include cheating, stealing, and lying related to academic matters (including plagiarism, accidental or intentional). Instructors will deal with any infractions using the Procedures outlined in the Handbook.
VII. Accommodations for students with disabilities
The instructors for this course make every effort to offer appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please make requests for academic accommodations during the first three weeks of the semester.
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