1 AMERICAN GENRES - SUPERHEROES Film Studies 2367 – Summer 2016 M/T/W/Th: 11:40 – 1:15, Haggerty Hall 160 ‘The Space’ Christopher Jeansonne (jeansonne.2) Office hours – By Appt. (generally available directly before or after class) Dept. of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy Sullivant Hall, 2nd Floor (1813 North High Street) This class will allow you to hone your critical faculties to a level beyond that of most humans as we struggle to unlock the secrets of this most powerful of genres. We will apply tightly focused beams of critical theory to mainstream work, as well as seek out exceptional work that lies mysteriously hidden. Not limiting ourselves to simply one media format or era, we will marvel as heroes leap from page to screen and back again, their narratives transforming as they travel through time and across space. Superhero texts--primarily comics, films and TV, but also video games, fiction, even poetry--will be analyzed using various aesthetic, historical, ideological and industrial lenses. You will be challenged by the analyses of generations of brilliant minds that have engaged with these heroes before you, and through creative and critical writing assignments you will be called upon to think more deeply about these heroes than you ever imagined possible. Level 2 Writing Course (2367 Designation across Departments), Expected Learning Outcomes 1) Develop Critical Writing and Thinking Skills: a) Through critical analysis, discussion, and writing, students demonstrate the ability to read carefully and express ideas effectively, b) Students apply written, oral, and visual communication skills and conventions of academic discourse to the challenges of a specific discipline, c) Students access and use information critically and analytically. 2) Expose Students to ‘Diversity in The American Experience’: “Engage students in a critical study of the pluralistic nature of institutions, society, culture in the United States, with special attention to issues of race, ethnicity, disability, economic class, social class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and politics” [Please see the ‘Second Level Writing Handbook,’ at the OSU Center for the Study of Teaching and Writing website, for more information] Written Texts and Comics Carmen- The majority of the readings—both the superhero narratives and academic texts—will be available on the Carmen site in either pdf format or as links to online materials. Comic Texts to Purchase at a Comic Shop (preferably The Laughing Ogre on High, who has generously offered a class discount): A) You must purchase 1 of 5 selected trade editions 1980s comics according to a sign up on first day. B) You must purchase a current issue of a superhero of your choice, in consultation with a comic book store worker, to use for a critical review assignment that will be due June 6th. Marvel Unlimited - All members of the class are required to subscribe to the online Marvel Unlimited service (which provides access to Marvel Comics in digital format) for at least May-early June. Screenings of Motion Picture Media Cinema Screening – Over the Memorial Day Weekend, all students will be required to go to the cinema to watch X-Men: Apocalypse in connection with a critical review essay assignment. If this is an assignment for which I need to twist your arm, you may be in the wrong class… Secured Media Library - Except for the Netflix shows (and the cinema screening, of course), all motion picture media is available through the Secured Media Library (SML), including material that we watch in class. 2 Attendance You are expected to attend every class meeting. Your attendance is vital to the success of the class, and to your development as a writer and critical thinker. You have 1 excused absence over the course of the session; any absence after that will count as a zero for attendance and class participation that day, dropping your participation category grade by a full letter. You are expected to be punctual and stay through the duration of each class; arriving late or leaving early may count as an unexcused absence unless arrangements have been made in advance. Documented excused absences–illnesses, family tragedy, religious observance or travel for inter-collegiate athletics or for academic purposes—will not affect your overall grade; however, all such absences require written documentation. Assignments / Assessments: • “You’re the Hero” – Short Essay & Carmen Discussion Board Posting, along with Class Leading Presentations (15% TOTAL) ESSAY (10%): Once during the semester, you will post (on the Carmen Discussion boards) a short, heroically insightful essay in response to the readings/viewings for that particular day of class. It will be short, 500-650 words, but should be a well-crafted and focused essay in MLA format. Depending on the day you sign up for, you may write primarily about the screenings or the readings, or make connections between the readings/concepts and the films. I will have model essays up before the first postings. You MUST: 1) include quotations from or specific references to the readings and screening materials 2) include at the end of the paper one or more thought-provoking questions for the class. You may also include an image, link, clip, etc. in the Carmen post that connects with your essay’s points. All essays should be posted as word documents AND copied into the body of the Carmen post itself. These are intended to be conversation starters for the class discussion, and so are DUE BY 6PM THE DAY BEFORE the class in which the readings are assigned so that I (and the other class members) will have a chance to read them ahead of time. CLASS LEADING (5%): Usually with a partner, you will be expected to give a short presentation and to lead the first 20-30 minutes of discussion based on the content of your essay; I encourage the use of clips, images, and/or quotes that will help that discussion along. Come up with provocative questions! • 2 ‘Sidekick’ or ‘Villain’ Comments (5% total): At least once during each half of the class—so once in weeks 1-3 and once again in weeks 4-6, and NOT on a day when you are the ‘hero’—everyone will post a substantial, thoughtful comment on the student response essays, or on the resulting class discussions. Your comments must add to or challenge the response essays, much like a ‘sidekick’ or ‘villain’ [good natured villains, of course]. A Sidekick comment might begin “Holy deconstructions, Batman, I hadn’t thought of it that way! What if…”; a Villainous one might go something like “Not so fast, caped critiquer! I disagree because…” You are encouraged to include video clips, images, or links to support your comments. [Graded A, B, C, D, E] • Participation, Mini Assignments, Quizzes (20% total - 10% per half) This includes participation in-class discussion and preparation for the class, as well as small assignments and quizzes. This class will be more rewarding for all if the class is thoroughly engaged in in-person and online discussion. Fruitful participation requires that you complete the readings and viewings for the class even when you are not the ‘hero’ for the day. 3 • 1st Short Essay : In the 1980s, Superheroes Get (Taken) Serious(ly) (10%) Each of you will write a 500-650 word essay that responds to one of a selection of comic texts that were transformative to the superhero industry and the public perception of the genre (including Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Miracle Man by Alan Moore and Garry Leach/Alan Davis, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, and Daredevil: The Man without Fear by Frank Miller). There will be at least one secondary article that you will read, in addition to the comic, and you are invited to use other sources to inform your opinion. A detailed prompt and essay guidelines will be given to you in class. You will have a chance to revise this essay after a peer review. • 2nd Short Essay – Critical Response to X-Men: Apocalypse (10%) Over the long Memorial Day weekend of May 27-30, the newest film in the X-Men franchise will arrive in theaters. You will find a time to watch the film in a cinema, and write a 500-650 word critical response to the film that will be due on the Tuesday of our return. You are encouraged to make this a kind of independent ‘field trip’—we can discuss in class possibilities for attending in groups. The earlier films in the franchise will be available on the SML. Also, in the days before, we will all read an X-Men comic, and each of you will choose from a selection of short critical essays on X-Men, each with a very different perspective. A detailed essay prompt will be given in class, but keep in mind that this is NOT a film review (no ‘thumbs up’ or star counts!). You will have a chance to revise this essay after a peer review. • 3rd Short Essay – New Comic Critical Review with Comic Book Shop Visit (10%) Due on the 1st day of the 4th week of the class, you will turn in an approximately 300 word, 2-page critical review of a current issue of a comic of your choosing. This will be a poster-style review, meaning it must contain images that support the critical argument of the text. In preparing to read the comic, you must visit a local comic book shop (I’ve been in touch with the Laughing Ogre shop on High Street, and they are aware of this assignment) and consult with someone who works there in making your selection.