Ken WhiteAMERICAN ETHNIC CULTURES - FILM 160/8665 Spring 2010
Class Meets on Tuesday 4-7pm on 1/26, 2/23, 3/16, 4/20 and 5/11 only
Office: Performing Arts 204
Office Hours: Tu/Th. 12:30 – 4:00 & Wed. 2:004:00
PREREQUISITES: None
Using feature films as the medium, Film 160 will look at contemporary filmmakers approach to American culture. The course will concentrate on similarities and differences found in a number of ethnic groups, paying particular attention to social and cultural representations. In addition students will consider issues specific to the world of film including how the language of film is used to create images and ideas and the implication of current distribution, marketing and financing practices. Course activities will include supplementary readings, writing assignments, class discussion, several essays and the viewing of numerous films inside and outside of class.
REQUIREMENTS:
See 24 films outside of class.
Attend all 5 class meetings.
Write two critical papers*. (2 typed pages)
Take one quiz, a midterm and a final examination.
*If the class is being taken on a credit/no credit basis only the first paper will be required.
All papers are to be typed. Please proofread and correct your work before submitting it. You are responsible for all grammatical and typographical errors. You are advised to make and retain a copy.
REQUIRED TEXT: UNDERSTANDING MOVIES (Louis Giannetti/ Ken White) DVC edition
ISBN-13: 978-0-558-32503-9
RACE THE HOLLYWOOD WAY (Ken White)
ISBN-13: 978-0-558-32527-5
FINAL GRADE: Critical papers 50%
Midterm & Quiz 25%
Final exam 25%
TOTAL 100%
Extra credit is available.
Attending classes is important, points will be deducted for each film missed.
OFFICIAL RECORD:
You are responsible for keeping your enrollment status with the college straight. If you decide to drop, you must complete a Withdrawal Form and turn it into the Admissions Office. If you simply stop coming to class, do not count on being automatically dropped.
PLAGIARISM & CHEATING:
I do not envision any problems but students who cheat can expect to be reported to the Dean of Students, be expelled from the class and to receive a failing grade for the class. The Dean of Students may take additional punitive action.
QUIZ 2/23
MIDTERM3/16
FINAL5/11
PAPERS* 3/16
4/20
*If the class is taken on a credit/no credit basis, only the first paper will be required.
READINGS in Understanding Movies (to be completed before class on the date assigned)
Feb. 23 Ch. 1 PhotographyCh. 4 Editing
Ch. 2 MiseEnSceneCh. 5 Sound
Ch. 3 MovementCh. 12 Film Language
READINGS in Race The Hollywood Way
Ch. 1 She’s Gotta Have ItCh.3 Boyz N the Hood
Ch. 2 BarbershopCh.4 Waiting to Exhale
Articles P.63 - 125
March 16READINGS in Understanding Movies
Ch. 6 ActingCh. 7 Drama
Ch. 8 StoryCh. 10 Ideology
Ch. 9 WritingCh. 11 Theory
Ch. 13 Mise-en-sceneCh. 14 Camera
Ch. 15 EditingCh. 16 Story Structure
Ch. 17 How to See Films
READINGS in Race The Hollywood Way
Articles P.126 - 189
April 20 READINGS in Race The Hollywood Way
Ch. 5 Mira Nair/Ang LeeCh. 7 Directing Trends
Ch. 6 Eat Drink Man Woman/Ch. 8 Asian Stereotypes
Tortilla Soup
May 11Ch. 9 Demographic ContradictionsCh. 11 Crash
Ch. 10 Non-Hollywood ThemesArticles P.189 - 272
FILMS TO BE VIEWED OUTSIDE OF CLASS BY:
Feb. 23 March 16
SHE’S GOTTA HAVE ITAMERICAN GANGSTER
BOYZ N THE HOOD HUSTLE AND FLOW
WAITING TO EXHALETSOTSI
BARBERSHOPHITCH
PRECIOUS
April 20
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAMTHE NAMESAKE
MONSOON WEDDING THE JOY LUCK CLUB
THE WEDDING BANQUET SAVING FACE
EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
May 11
TORTILLA SOUP SIN NOMBRE
Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
UNDER THE SAME MOONCRASH (2006)
*The films you are responsible for the first quiz are She’s Gotta Have It, Boyz N The Hood, Barbershop, Waiting to Exhale (The Media Center has copies of all these films if you have trouble locating them. You may not check them out, but you may view them on campus.)
*You will be responsible for the first 5 chapters in the text for the quiz.
*You will need a 2052 Scantron and a pencil for all exams.
*The first paper is due April 20. Topic Questions will be available on the website, in the file cabinet and at the February class.
Directions for Film 160 File Cabinet
Go to my office at 204 in the Performing Arts building. My office is upstairs. Face my office turn to your right and walk to the file cabinet at the top of the stairs of the aisle. The top drawer is labeled Film 160. All class assignments, returned papers and tests will be in the cabinet.
EXTRA CREDIT
You will receive extra credit for any one of the following.
Attend a showing at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley 2575 Bancroft Way near Bowditch Street. Box office (510)642-1412 or 24 hour showtimes (510)642-1124
Attend a showing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. March. (
Attend a showing at the San Francisco International Film. April. (415) 561-5012 (
Attend a showing of a Diablo Valley College Theatrical Production.
You will receive extra credits by simply going to any of these events and writing a typed paragraph about you experience. You may also analyze the film or the theatrical production you view for your paper.
IMPORTANT DATES
JANUARY26. Last day to add
FEBRUARY 22. Last day to drop and not have it appear on transcript.
22. Last day to take CR/NC option.
APRIL20. Last day to drop.
Student Learning Outcomes
The purpose of this course is to evaluate and explore various American cultures, African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, and European American as represented in feature film.
SLO#1. be able to identify produced feature films as examples of "realism'', "classicism" or expressionism as defined in the text.
SLO#2. critically analyze films portraying various ethnicities represented in American culture.
SLO#3. for a heavily stylized film, identify the character then express the value represented in the culture by that character.
SLO#4. compare and contrast the themes and concerns of selected writers and directors of various American ethnic backgrounds..