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Home , Wes Anderson

E 344L l Film

Instructor: Kornhaber, Donna Areas: V / U Unique #: 35410 Flags: Writing Semester: Spring 2017 Restrictions: n/a Cross-lists: n/a Computer Instruction: No

Time and Location: TTH 11am-12:30pm PAR 105

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Description: Film is a collaborative medium, but theory argues that certain film directors are able to put an individual stamp on their work such that they can be regarded as the legitimate “author” of their films. In this class, we will take a detailed look at some of the most prominent contemporary “film auteurs,” those directors with a consistent and identifiable visual style, narrative approach, and set of thematic preoccupations. We will also consider key challenges to auteurism. Major questions to be considered include: In what ways might these directors’ body of films be regarded and analyzed as texts? To what extent can we (or should we) ascribe them authorship of their films? How does the concept of auteurship challenge or complicate other methods of film analysis, and in what ways can it work in concert with them? Through this class, students can expect to obtain a solid grounding in some of the major tactics and techniques of film analysis and in the rigorous study of filmic texts.

Texts:

Author Title Publisher ©/ Ed. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson Film Art McGraw Hill Any edition

*Please note: Additional required readings will be provided regularly in the form of handouts.

Films:

Director Title Date Annie Hall 1977 --- Manhattan 1979 --- Purple Rose of Cairo 1985 Pedro Almodóvar All About My Mother 1999 --- Volver 2006 Wes Anderson 1998 --- 2001 --- 2007 --- 2012 Tim Burton Beetlejuice 1988 --- Edward Scissorhands 1990 --- Corpse Bride 2005 The Cohen Brothers Fargo 1996 --- No Country for Old Men 2007 Do the Right Thing 1989 --- He Got Game 1998 --- Clockers 1995 --- 25th Hour 2002 Princess Mononoke 1997 --- Spirited Away 2001

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Schedule:

Week Day Date Main Topic(s) Assignment/Event 1 T 1/17 Introduction First Day of Classes Th 1/19 Annie Hall Unit 1: Woody Allen 2 T 1/24 Annie Hall Th 1/26 Manhattan 3 T 1/31 Manhattan Th 2/2 Purple Rose of Cairo 4 T 2/7 All About My Mother Unit 2: Pedro Almodovar Th 2/9 All About My Mother 5 T 2/14 Volver Th 2/16 Rushmore Unit 3: Wes Anderson; First paper due 6 T 2/21 Rushmore Th 2/23 The Royal Tenenbaums 7 T 2/28 The Darjeeling Limited Th 3/2 Moonrise Kingdom 8 T 3/7 Beetlejuice Unit 4: Tim Burton Th 3/9 Beetlejuice 9 T 3/14 --- Spring Break Th 3/16 --- Spring Break 10 T 3/21 Edward Scissorhands Th 3/23 Corpse Bride 11 T 3/28 Fargo Unit 5: The Cohen Brothers Th 3/30 Fargo 12 T 4/4 No Country for Old Men Th 4/6 Do the Right Thing Unit 6: Spike Lee; Second paper due 13 T 4/11 Do the Right Thing Th 4/13 He Got Game 14 T 4/18 Clockers Th 4/20 25th Hour 15 T 4/25 Princess Mononoke Unit 7: Hayao Miyazaki Th 4/27 Spirited Away 16 T 5/2 Paper workshops Th 5/4 Paper workshops Last Day of Classes 17 F 5/12 --- Final Paper Due

Requirements & Grading:

Participation (15%); two 5-page essays (25% + 25%); one 8-page essay (35%)

Policies:

Documented Disability Statement: The University of at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone), or visit http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.

Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

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Academic Integrity: Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's own work. For additional information on Academic Integrity, see http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acadint.php.

Religious Holy Days: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of a pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Class Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend all scheduled classes and arrive on time. In the event you must miss a class, you can do so on 3 instances without it affecting your final grade. These 3 missed classes do not need to be excused, but please do let me know of your absence as far in advance as possible. Beyond these 3 classes, all absences must be excused. Reasons for excused absences include illness (with doctor’s note), team sports or approved activities, and family emergencies. Any unexcused absences beyond the allowed 3 missed classes will lower your final class grade by 1/3 of a letter. (This does not include Religious Holy Days.)

Late Assignments Policy: Unless arrangements for an extension are made in advance with the instructor, late papers or assignments will be marked down 1/3 of a letter for every calendar day (not every class day) they are late.

Web Site:

A Canvas site will be available for this course.

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