English 610.001 (22946), Studies in Film Genres: The Thriller Gerald Duchovnay Spring 2017, T 4:30-7:10, HL 203 Office: Hall of Languages 326 Office Hours: TH, 10:30-11, 12:30--2, Thursday 4:30-5. Other times by appointment. Telephone: (903) 886-5265 Fax 903 886 5980 e-mail:
[email protected] Course Description: English 610.001, Film Genres, will focus on the thriller genre from its early forms to most recent iterations. During the term we will consider: 1) the definition and semantics/traits of what we call the thriller film and how it may relate to fantasy, horror, mystery, or other genres or sub-genres; 2) how thrillers reflect the culture and history of the time when and location where they were made; 3) the place of particular films in the history of this genre (considering possibly special effects, filmmakers, aspects of costumes, screenwriting, scenic design, influence of anime, etc.); 4) how these films have influenced and been influenced by texts and other filmmakers; and 5) different theoretical/critical approaches to the films under consideration (technology, gender, psychoanalysis, etc.); and adaptations of a source film and its remake in another country. There are many films we might see and discuss that are historically or culturally important, including many by Alfred Hitchcock and his imitators, and other titles that are variously labeled as psychological, political, science fiction or other iterations of thriller films, many made outside of the United States. Which ones we will see and which ones you will report on will be determined in the early weeks of the class.