Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

New Course OR Existing Course

Instructor(s)/Author(s): Josephine Perry-Folino/Nicholaus Garcia

Subject Area/Course No.: Drama 72 Units: 3 Course Name/Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre

Discipline(s): Dramatic Arts, Film Studies

Pre-Requisite(s): none Co-Requisite(s): none

Advisories: Eligibility for English 100

Catalog Description: This course explores how dramatists, television writers and filmmakers have used these three mediums as tools to explore African American cultural, political and social realities in America during the 20th and 21st centuries. The Color of Media surveys a range of texts that offer insights into personal experiences, social issues, and political/legal contexts that emerge from the African American experience and is translated into a dramatic form. Focus is on how race, class, gender, sexual orientation, philosophical and religious underpinnings and physical and mental abilities have all impacted the development of the African American community in the United States.

Schedule Description: The Color of Media will take you on a unique journey through the films, television series and theatrical plays of African Americans of the 20th and 21st centuries. We will focus on series such as HBO’s “” to look closely at urban life, plays like George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum to understand the origins of stereotypes and films like ’s “” that break artistic ground. It will be an engaging, challenging and exciting ride through some great theatrical genres.

Hrs/Mode of Instruction: Lecture: __54__ Scheduled Lab: ____ HBA Lab: ____ Composition: ____ Activity:_____Total Hours 54 (Total for course)

Credit Credit Degree Applicable (DA) Grading Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Repeatability 0 Credit Non-Degree (NDA) Letter (LR) 1 (If Non-Credit desired, contact Dean.) Student Choice (SC) 2 3 Last date of Assessment: ___n/a______Cohort #: __3___

Please apply for: LMC General Education Requirement(s): Arts& Humanities and Ethnic/Multicultural (Please list the proposed area(s) this course meets, or indicate “none”)

Transfer to: CSU UC IGETC Area __3__ CSU GE Area_C1, C2___ C-ID Number ______

Course is Baccalaureate Level: Yes No

Form Revised 082013 Page 1 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

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STAND ALONE COURSE: YES NO

FOR OFFICE OF INSTRUCTION ONLY. DO NOT WRITE IN THE SECTION BELOW. Begin in Semester ______Catalog year 20____/20_____ Class Max: ______Dept. Code/Name:______T.O.P.s Code: ______Crossover course 1/ 2: ______ESL Class: ____Yes / No______DSPS Class: ____Yes / No_____ Coop Work Exp: ___Yes / No_____ Class Code A Liberal Arts & Sciences SAM Code A Apprenticeship Remediation Level B Basic Skills B Developmental Preparatory B Advanced Occupational NBS Not Basic Skills C Adult/Secondary Basic Education C Clearly Occupational D Personal Development/Survival D Possibly Occupational E For Substantially Handicapped E* Non-Occupational F Parenting/Family Support F Transfer, Non-Occupational G Community/Civic Development *Additional criteria needed H General and Cultural 1 One level below transfer I Career/Technical Education 2 Two levels below transfer J Workforce Preparation Enhanced 3 Three levels below transfer K Other non-credit enhanced Not eligible for enhanced

Course approved by Curriculum Committee as Baccalaureate Level: _Yes / No_

LMC GE Approved by the Curriculum Committee: ______Distribution: Original: Office of Instruction Copies: Admissions Office, Department Chairperson

Form Revised 082013 Page 2 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Check the institutional student learning outcomes (or category of outcomes) below that are reflected in your course:

General Education SLOs (Recommended by GE Committee) At the completion of the LMC general education program, a student will: 1. read critically and communicate effectively as a writer and speaker. 2. understand connections among disciplines and apply interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. 3. think critically and creatively 4. consider the ethical implications inherent in knowledge, decision-making and action. 5. possess a worldview informed by diverse social, multicultural and global perspectives. (Each of the above student learning outcomes for the general education program has a written explanation with illustrations and examples of its application within courses, as well as specific assessment criteria. Consult the GE program information pages.)

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) PSLOs for AAT in Theatre Arts

1. To analyze, dissect and critically evaluate a script or theatrical event or film with working knowledge of its historical, cultural and societal origins and contexts. 2. To use strongly developed physical, vocal and emotional foundations to build a personalized acting process for approaching a text or character in order to effectively communicate on stage or in film. 3. To understand how and be able to write, produce, direct, manage, promote and star in a theatrical event or film. 4. To be academically and fundamentally prepared to enter the entertainment industry or transfer to a 4 year acting or film program with an advanced standing.

Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs): 1. Critically read, analyze and discuss African American plays/screenpays/teleplays or create research project/paper from an African American socio-historic and/or artistic perspective; write critical evaluations of African American plays/screenplays/teleplays using the vocabulary, skills, tools and language of drama. (PSLO 1, 4) GESLO 1, 2, 3

2. Analyze the structure, content and impact of African American theater, films and television series and teleplays on society. (PSLO 1) GESLO 3

3. Identify and evaluate ethical dilemmas and moral issues inherent in the actions of African American characters in films, television series and teleplays and in theatrical plays by studying the acting choice through the physical, emotional and vocal choices that actors make based on their characters. (PSLO 1, 2) GESLO 4

4. Compare and contrast how the cultural context of an African American dramatic work conveys meaningful connections and experiences across various cultures in order to

Form Revised 082013 Page 3 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

explore the process of writing, producing, managing, promoting and starring in a theatrical event, film or television series. (PSLO 3) GESLO 5 Assessments: 1. CSLO 1: Critically read, analyze and discuss African American plays/screenplays/teleplays or create a research project/paper from an African American socio-historic and/or artistic perspective; write critical evaluations of African American plays/screenplays/teleplays using the vocabulary, skills, tools and language of drama.

Performance Review or Research Paper: The student shall attend a live African American theater production(s) and write review(s) that evaluate in detail, his/her observation of the six elements of theatre (actor, director, script, space, design, and audience). Or the student may select to write a 5-7 page research paper on a controversial topic related to an African American play/screenplay/television series that requires student to evaluate, critique and analyze the subject of play/screenplay/television series

Rationale: This assignment allows students to analyze critique and evaluate a live theatre or controversial theatre topic in relationship to African American dramatic art forms using the skills, tools, vocabulary and language of drama.

Group Presentations/Peer Review: From a list of African American plays/screenplays/teleplays a group of students research one particular one from at least three perspectives such as biographical information about the author, the cultural context of the work, the cultural context during the time the work was written, the history of the work itself, moral and ethical dilemmas, and artistic perspectives explored through the work. Each student is responsible for researching a specific focus of the dramatic work and make a presentation. The student audience reviews the presentation and writes a peer review about the presentation documenting what he/she learned about the African American work.

Rationale: This assignment allows students to analyze African American dramatic works from a socio-historic and artistic perspective using the language of drama and to be exposed to the analysis of many dramatic works via the student presentations.

Final Exam: On the final exam students answer a compare and contrast question between two African American dramatic works regarding the socio-historic or cultural context of the plays.

Rationale: This question allows students to analyze the connection between African American dramatic works in terms of the socio-historic and/or cultural context of the works.

CSLO 2: Analyze the structure, content and impact of African American theater, films, television series and teleplays on society.

Performance Review or Research Paper: The students will be asked to assess the ways in which a particular African American dramatic art form (film, television or play) can impact change or affect the status quo.

Form Revised 082013 Page 4 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

Rationale: This assignment allows students to analyze the different ways in which society is or has been changed by African American dramatic art forms

Quizzes on Plays: Students analyze the way in which a specific African American dramatic art form impacts society, highlighting its cultural themes and focus.

Rationale: The quizzes offer students the opportunity to examine the way in which material is evaluated or interpreted in a social context.

Final Exam: Students answer a question analyzing the role of African American Dramatic Art forms on society in the context of a given work.

Rationale: This question allows students to analyze the connection between theatre and society.

CSLO 3: Identify and evaluate ethical dilemmas and moral issues inherent in the actions of African American characters in films, television series and teleplays and in theatrical plays by studying the acting choice through the physical, emotional and vocal choices that actors make based on their characters

Midterm: A question on the midterm asks students to identify the ethical dilemmas and moral issues in an African American dramatic work play and analyze how the subject matter of the piece approaches these issues.

Rationale: This question on the midterm allows students to isolate ethical and moral issues within an African American dramatic work and grapple with the difficult choices and issues characters/people were faced with.

Final Exam: A question on the final exam asks students to identify the ethical dilemmas and moral issues in an African American dramatic work. The student will analyze how the subject matter of the piece approaches these issues.

Rationale: This question on the final exam allows students to isolate ethical and moral issues within an African American Dramatic Work and grapple with the difficult choices and issues characters are faced with.

CSLO 4: Compare and contrast how the cultural context of an African American dramatic work conveys meaningful connections and experiences across various cultures in order to explore the process of writing, producing, managing, promoting and starring in a theatrical event, film or television series.

Group Presentations/Peer Review: Plotline of one African American dramatic work can be compared and presented for similarities and/or differences with another dramatic work where cultural context is different, analyzing how similarities do not always produce similar results.

Form Revised 082013 Page 5 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

Students reviewing presentations will evaluate how cultural differences can produce similar and/or divergent outcomes.

Rational: The presentation allows students to bring out of an African American dramatic work and a dramatic work outside African American culture that are similar and/or different within a give circumstance and how, culturally the outcome was changed (or not) due to the context of the subject. In the Peer Review the student audience will evaluate the context of the cultural response to the given outcome of an African American dramatic work and a dramatic work from outside African American culture.

Final Exam: A question on the final exam asks students to compare and contrast the cultural context of specific characters between an African American dramatic work and another dramatic work from a different culture and identify how different cultures experience similar events yet interpret them in varying ways.

Rationale: This question on the final exam allows students to view isolated ethical and moral issues within both an African American dramatic work and another dramatic work from outside African American culture and grapple with the difficult choices and issues the characters in both works are faced with.

Method of Evaluation/Grading: A level work is characterized by: performance reviews or a research paper that includes careful analysis, meaningful connections among plays and course material, multiple examples in support of a clear thesis, identifies and expresses themes and underlying structures of both the literature itself and the productions, an explanation of how techniques of theatre create understanding for the audience through specific visual and auditory effects, and demonstrates insight into how theatre relates to their own lives and the lives of others; quizzes on plays that score 90% or above and include an answer to a short essay question that provides in depth specific examples that support the question; a midterm that includes critical written analysis of a video that identifies pertinent information from course notes and uses the course notes to accurately, concisely and effectively answer the questions; oral group presentations and peer reviews that include in depth research into the historic and cultural aspects of their project play, the playwright’s biography and relates that to the play, and a creative oral report that is well organized and includes original visual aids; peer reviews that provide examples of information learned and a critical review of the group project; and a final exam that identifies the ethical and moral dilemmas of the play, includes a succinct analysis of the play, identifies play structure, plot themes, and evaluates if the goal of the play was reached.

C level work is characterized by: performance reviews or a research paper that includes analysis, connections among plays and course material, an example that supports the thesis, identifies and expresses themes or underlying structures of the literature or the productions, and demonstrates limited insight into how theatre relates to their own lives and the lives of others ; quizzes on plays that score 70% to 79.9% and includes an answer to a short essay question that provides a general example that supports the question; a midterm that includes written analysis of a video that includes information from course notes and uses the course notes to accurately answer the questions; oral group presentations and peer reviews that

Form Revised 082013 Page 6 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072 includes research into the historic and cultural aspects of their project play, the playwright’s biography, and a creative oral report that is organized and some includes visual aids; peer reviews that provide an example of information learned and a review of the group project; and a final exam that identifies the ethical and moral dilemmas of the play, includes an analysis of the play, identifies play structure or plot themes, and provides a limited evaluation of the goal of the play. Grading:

Quizzes: 20% Performance Review or Research Paper : 20% Midterm: 15% Group Presentation/Peer Review: 20% Final Exam: 25%

CSLO Weight:

CSLO 1 25% CSLO 2 25% CSLO 3 25% CSLO 4 25%

Course Content: Course content may be drawn from the outline below

Cultural and Ethnic awareness o Cultural stereotypes in dramatic forms o Redefining stereotypes African American Socio-Political-Cultural Elements

o Identify and examine social & cultural elements o Analyze effect and impact on American culture o Examine ethical dilemmas and moral issues o Explore political movements in the 20th and 21st century o Examine The Civil Rights Movement of the 20th Century

Readings and viewings of African American focused, plays, screenplays and teleplays drawn from the work of the writers listed below Writers from Theatre, Television and Film Exploring the African American Experience in Dramatic Form Alice Childress, Lorraine Hansberry, August Wilson, Amiri Baraka, Lonne Elder, Charles Gordone, Douglas Turner Ward, Charles Fuller, Suzan-Lori Parks, Nadine Graham, Louis Felder, Max Bush, Charles Smith. George C. Wolfe, Ntozake Shange, Spike Lee, Ed Burns, , Charles Burnett, Steve McQueen, David Simon, Lee Daniels, Dee Rees and Julie Dash (additional writers may be added)

Form Revised 082013 Page 7 of 8 Course Outline of Record Los Medanos College 2700 East Leland Road Pittsburg CA 94565 (925) 439-2181

Course Title: The Color of Media: A Journey Through African American Life in Film, Television and Theatre Subject Area/Course Number: DRAMA-072

Dramatic Works for Stage, Screen and Television: o Examples: The Colored Museum; Trouble in Mind, Raisin in the Sun, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Venus, Jitney, Dutchman, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, No Place To Be Somebody, Day of Absence, A Soldier’s Play, Bring in da’ Noise, Bring in da’ Funk, Jelly’s Last Jam, Spunk, The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, The Wire, Do the Right Thing, The Straight Outta Compton, Red Hook Summer, Malcolm X, Clockers, Homicide: Life On The Street (additional works may be added).

Instructional Methods: Lecture Lab Activity Problem-based Learning/Case Studies Collaborative Learning/Peer Review Demonstration/Modeling Role-Playing Discussion Computer Assisted Instruction Other (explain) Group Projects

Textbooks:

Screenplays of the African American Experience edited by Phyllis Rauch Klotmanm 1991 by Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-34145-5

Framing Blackness: The African American Image in Film EAN: 978-1-56639-126-9 Author: Ed Guerrero Published in 1993

Black American Cinema (AFI Readers) edited by Manthia Diawara ISBN-13: 978-0415903974/ ISBN10: 0415903971 Published in 1993

Although the latest edition of these texts may be more than five years old, they are being utilized because they are highly regarded by media specialists and African American social scientists. More current texts do not have the depth or insight of these two partly because they are not written by people of color and these are.

In addition to these texts, current articles from a great a variety of scholarly articles and texts, as well as online resources such as The Wire website, will be extensively used for reference.

Plays, film scripts, films, teleplays, television series are drawn from the itemized listed Course Content above and/or are revised periodically as new titles become available. It is the intent of this course to remain current, informative and relevant to students as content aligns with SLOs.

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