E s376M l Black Film at the Oscars

Instructor: Kornhaber, Donna Areas: C or J Unique #: 80825 Flags: Cultural Diversity Semester: Summer 2019, second session Restrictions: n/a Cross-lists: AFR 374D, 79085 Computer Instruction: No

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

Description: This course surveys the recent success of Black Film in, around, and beyond Oscar contention. It will seek to explore the recent controversies about race in American cinema and the Hollywood system, as well as its historical precedents. Students will be expected to watch and discuss films as well as read scholarly articles on race theory and cultural criticism.

Texts: To be distributed by instructor

Requirements & Grading: Two close reading assignments (2-3 pages), 25% each; Final paper (8-10 pages), 35%; Attendance and participation, 15%

Schedule: Week Day Date Assignment/Event 1 M 7/15 Introduction T 7/16 Do The Right Thing (dir. Spike Lee, 1989) W 7/17 Do The Right Thing (dir. Spike Lee, 1989) TH 7/18 BlacKkKlansman (dir. Spike Lee, 2018) F 7/19 BlacKkKlansman (dir. Spike Lee, 2018) 2 M 7/22 Medicine for Melancholy (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2008) T 7/23 Medicine for Melancholy (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2008) W 7/24 Moonlight (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2016) TH 7/25 Moonlight (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2016) F 7/26 Theory Discussion; First Close Reading Exercise Due 3 M 7/29 Sorry to Bother You (dir. Boots Riley, 2018) T 7/30 Sorry to Bother You (dir. Boots Riley, 2018) W 7/31 Get Out (dir. Jordan Peele, 2017) TH 8/1 Get Out (dir. Jordan Peele, 2017) / Us (dir. Jordan Peele, 2019) F 8/2 Us (dir. Jordan Peele, 2019) 4 M 8/5 Fruitvale Station (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2013) T 8/6 Fruitvale Station (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2013) W 8/7 Black Panther (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2018) TH 8/8 Black Panther (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2018) F 8/9 Theory Discussion; Second Close Reading Exercise Due 5 M 8/12 Selma (dir. Ava DuVernay, 2014) T 8/13 Selma (dir. Ava DuVernay, 2014) W 8/14 13th (dir. Ava DuVernay, 2016) TH 8/15 13th (dir. Ava DuVernay, 2016) F 8/16 Last Class Day 6 M 8/19 Final Papers Due

Policies:

Documented Disability Statement: The University of Texas 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, 1 fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

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 and Lateness 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. 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.) Three late arrivals will count as one absence.

Late Assignments Policy: Assignments are due at the start of class on the dates listed in the Schedule unless otherwise rescheduled by the instructor. If you are absent on the day that an assignment is due, you must submit it via email by class time on that day for it not to be considered late. Unless arrangements for an extension are made in advance with the instructor, late assignments will be marked down 1/3 of a letter for every day they are late.

Flag Statement:

Cultural Diversity in the United States: This course carries the flag for Cultural Diversity in the United States. Cultural Diversity courses are designed to increase your familiarity with the variety and richness of the American cultural experience. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from assignments covering the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one U.S. cultural group that has experienced persistent marginalization.

Web Site: A Canvas site will be available for this course.

Instructor:

Donna Kornhaber

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