CTCS 510
THE STUDIO SYSTEM
FALL 2009
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Rick Jewell, Hugh M. Hefner Professor of American Film
OFFICE: SCA 303;
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Mike Dillon ()
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION: CTCS 510 will examine the studio system era in American film history (late 1920s-mid 1950s). Topics to be covered include the historical context, industry business practices, censorship, technological development, style and narrative strategies, genres and the star and star system. The class will be conducted as a graduate seminar and will include screenings of feature films, shorts, cartoons and newsreels produced during the period.
2. CLASS SESSIONS: Classes convene on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11:50 in Room SCA 216 and continue in Room SCA 110 on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3:50. At least one feature film and, whenever possible, appropriate shorts will be screened during each afternoon session.
3. TEXT BOOKS:Casper, Drew. Postwar Hollywood. Malden, MA.: Blackwell, 2007.
Gomery, Douglas. The Hollywood Studio System: A History. London: BFI Publishing, 2005.
Jewell, Richard B. The Golden Age of Cinema: Hollywood, 1929-1945. Malden, MA.: Blackwell, 2007.
4. REQUIREMENTS:
ONE SEMINAR PRESENTATION (topic to be determined in consultation with the instructor. Topic must involve primary research in one of the local archives; 45% of final grade)
ONE TERM PAPER (of publishable quality, based on the seminar presentation; 45% of final grade)
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION (10% of final grade)
CTCS 510 -- Page 2
5. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The School of Cinematic Arts expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from USC students.
It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism, cheating on exams, submitting a paper to more than one instructor, or submitting a paper authored by anyone but yourself. Violations of this policy will result in a failing grade and be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. If you have any questions or doubts about these policies, consult “SCampus” and/or confer with the professor or TA.
6. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodationscan be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or the lead T.A.) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
7. OFFICE HOURS: My office is located in Room 303 on the third floor of the new Cinematic Arts Complex. I will be in the office from 3:30 to 5:15 on Tuesday afternoons and 9 to 10 on Wednesday mornings. Please sign up for an appointment in the Critical Studies suite on the third floor. My office phone is 213-740-2900 and the Critical Studies office phone is 213-740-3334.
SYLLABUS
WEEK 1 -- August 26
Introduction
Historical Context I
Screening: Modern Times (1936—Chaplin/United Artists)
Readings: Jewell, Introduction, chapter 1, Gomery, 1-70
WEEK 2 -- September 2
Historical Context II
Screening: A Guy Named Joe (1943--MGM)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 8; Casper, 3-7,11-13, 14-21, 23-35
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WEEK 3 -- September 9
Historical Context III
Industry Business Practices I
Screenings: Sunset Blvd. (1950--Paramount)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 2; Gomery, 71-174
WEEK 4 -- September 16
Industry Business Practices II
Screening: Bringing Up Baby (1938--RKO)
Readings: Gomery, 175-197; Casper, 39-50
WEEK 5 -- September 23
Technological Development
Screening: King Kong (1933--RKO)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 3
WEEK 6 -- September 30
Technological Development II
Censorship I
Screening: Singin’ in the Rain (1952—MGM)
Readings: Casper, 91-94, 97-120; Jewell, chap. 4
WEEK 7 -- October 7
Censorship II
Screening: The Letter (1940—Warner Bros.)
Readings: Casper 121-123
WEEK 8 -- October 14
Narrative Strategies and Style I
Screening: Stagecoach (1939—Wanger/United Artists)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 5;
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WEEK 9 -- October 21
Narrative Strategies and Style II
Genres I
Screening: Scarlet Street(1945—International/Universal)
Readings: Casper 349-393; Jewell, chap. 6
WEEK 10 -- October 28
Genres II
Screening: The Gunfighter (1950—Twentieth Century-Fox)
Readings: Casper, 337-347
WEEK 11 -- November 4
The Star and Star System I
Screening: The Scarlet Empress (1934—Paramount)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 7
WEEK 12 -- November 11
The Star and Star System II
Screening: Destry Rides Again (1939--Universal)
Readings: Jewell, chap. 7
WEEK 13 -- November 18
Student Presentations I
WEEK 14 -- November 25
Student Presentations II
WEEK 15 -- December 2
Student Presentations III