E 344L  Film Auteurs

Instructor: Kornhaber, Donna Areas: V / U Unique #: 35785 Flags: Writing Semester: Fall 2013 Restrictions: n/a Cross-lists: n/a Computer Instruction: No

Time and Location: TTH 3:30pm-5:00pm PAR 204

Prerequisites: C L315, E 603B, 316K, or T C 603B

Description: Film is a collaborative medium, but auteur 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.

1. David Bordwell and Kristin Film Art: An Introduction with Tutorial CD-ROM The McGraw-Hill 2006 / 8th Thompson Companies Edition

Additional materials to be distributed by the instructor in class.

Requirements & Grading: Participation (15%); two 5-page essays, one of which will be revised (25% + 25%); one 8-10-page essay (35%)

Schedule:

Week Day Date Main Topic(s) Assignment/Event 1 W 8/28 CLASSES BEGIN Th 8/29 Introduction 2 T 9/3 Annie Hall Unit 1: Woody Allen Th 9/5 Annie Hall 3 T 9/10 Manhattan Th 9/12 Manhattan 4 T 9/17 Purple Rose of Cairo Th 9/19 All About My Mother Unit 2: Pedro Almodovar 5 T 9/24 All About My Mother Th 9/26 Volver 6 T 10/1 Rushmore Unit 3: Wes Anderson; First paper due Th 10/3 Rushmore 7 T 10/8 The Royal Tenenbaums Th 10/10 The Darjeeling Limited 8 T 10/15 Moonrise Kingdom Th 10/17 Beetlejuice Unit 4: Tim Burton 9 T 10/22 Beetlejuice

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Th 10/24 Edward Scissorhands 10 T 10/29 Corpse Bride Th 10/31 Fargo Unit 5: The Cohen Brothers 11 T 11/5 Fargo Th 11/7 No Country for Old Men 12 T 11/12 Do the Right Thing Unit 6: Spike Lee; Second paper due Th 11/14 Do the Right Thing 13 T 11/19 He Got Game Th 11/21 Clockers 14 T 11/26 25th Hour Th 11/28 Thanksgiving Holiday 15 T 12/3 Princess Mononoke Unit 7: Hayao Miyazaki Th 12/5 Spirited Away F 12/13 --- Final Paper 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, 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 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 day they are late.

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

Instructors:

Donna Kornhaber

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