The Culture of War in Film INAF 415 D H1 (90636)

Instructor: Robert L. Moore CSS 106/Ext. 2626 [email protected] Course Description

This course covers warfare in the twentieth century especially as war reflects conflicting cultural values between different societies. The American points of view will be analyzed largely through major films about this war. The cinematic features and styles of these major films will also be analyzed. This is not a course that focuses on combat, and most of these films do not include extended combat scenes (though some do, e.g., Letters from Iwo Jima).

Another focal point will be the differences between events, as the most reliable history available to us describes them, and the perceptions of those events by Americans and people from other countries. Other issues pertain more specifically to film and directors’ techniques. Cultural conflict, political conflict and raw military conflict can all be portrayed in an infinite variety of ways, and it is the task of a good director to develop an effective portrayal. The directors of the films listed below include some of the most accomplished artists in the history of cinema, and this presents us with a number of opportunities for comparative studies.

This course can count as a seminar in International Affairs and in Anthropology. For it to count as a seminar in Anthropology, the seminar paper should be cast in a cultural context with reference to culture as it is understood in one or more anthropological traditions.

A number of short papers (one to two pages) will be required early in the course, but assignments in the second half of the course will be dedicated mainly to the development of a final seminar paper. This will take place via a series of increasingly lengthy and detailed drafts, culminating in a final paper of a minimum of 12 pages.

GRADES

Grades will be based on two exams (20% each), the second of which will be the final exam; quizzes, short writing assignments and attendance (20%); and a final paper (40%).

Grading scale: 93-100 A 87-89 B+ 77-79 C+ 67-69 D+ 0-59 F 90-92 A- 83-86 B 73-76 C 63-66 D 80-82 B- 70-72 C- 60-62 D-

TEXTS:

Why Nations Go to War by John G. Stoessinger A Writer at War by Vassily Grossman, ed. and trans. By Antony Beevor War Trash by Ha Jin Is Iraq another Vietnam? by Robert K. Brigham

In addition to the above texts, there will be several readings on electronic reserve, accessible via the Olin Library using the password “war.”

FILMS - The following films will be viewed, some in their entirety others in part:

World War I Wings All Quiet on the Western Front

World War II: Pacific Theater Tora! Tora! Tora! Flags of Our Fathers Letters from Iwo Jima The Bridge on the River Kwai Fires on the Plain

World War II: European Theater Patton Europa, Europa Enemy at the Gates Stalag 17 The Battle of Britain Rome – Open City The Third Man

Korean War The Steel Helmet Pork Chop Hill M*A*S*H The Manchurian Candidate (, 1962) The Manchurian Candidate (Jonathan Demme, 2004)

The Seven Days in May Good Night and Good Luck Thirteen Days Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Vietnam War Heaven and Earth Rambo: First Blood Part II We Were Soldiers The Quiet American (Phillip Noyce, 2002) The Quiet American (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1958) A Bright Shining Lie American Experience: Two Days in October Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

North Africa and The Middle East The Battle of Algiers Black Hawk Down Three Kings Jarhead

The Balkans Welcome to Sarajevo No Man’s Land

Academic Standards, Attendance and Participation: You should expect that class assignments will require two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Budget your time accordingly. Attendance is crucial for success in this course. Come to class prepared. Don’t be shy about taking the initiative to help move the class discussion along. Raise points that you think are worth special attention and ask questions on points that are unclear. More voices make things more interesting, and everyone should have an opinion about the key issues in the material covered. Don’t let unexpected circumstances such as illnesses throw you off. Prepare ahead in completing your assignments so that even if personal or other issues cut into your schedule, you will be able to hand everything in on time.

Video and Test Make-ups: Video and test make-ups are available with excused absences. You are responsible to contact Mrs. Byrd ([email protected] or extension 2670) to schedule your missed video.

This course is available on Blackboard where information will be posted periodically. Be sure to refer to your Rollins email address regularly since assignments and other information will be sent to you at that address.

THE ACADEMIC HONOR CODE

Membership in the student body of Rollins College carries with it an obligation, and requires commitment to act with honor in all things. Because academic integrity is fundamental to the pursuit of knowledge and truth and is the heart of the academic life of Rollins College, it is the responsibility of all members of the College community to practice it and to report apparent violations.

The following pledge is a binding commitment by the students of Rollins College:

The development of the virtues of Honor and Integrity are integral to a Rollins College education and to membership in the Rollins College community. Therefore, I, a student of Rollins College, pledge to show my commitment to these virtues by abstaining from any lying, cheating, or plagiarism in my academic endeavors and by behaving responsibly, respectfully and honorably in my social life and in my relationships with others.

This pledge is reinforced every time a student submits work for academic credit as his/her own. Students shall add to all papers, quizzes, tests, lab reports, etc., the following handwritten abbreviated pledge followed by their signature:

“On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance on this work.”

Material submitted electronically should contain the pledge: submission implies signing the pledge.

Plagiarism: You must distinguish clearly between your work and the work of others. To do otherwise may constitute plagiarism. The formal policy is: “If you fail to acknowledge borrowed material, then you are plagiarizing. Plagiarism is literary theft. When you copy the words of another, put those words inside quotation marks, and acknowledge the source with a footnote. When you paraphrase another’s words, use your own words and your own sentence structure, and be sure to use a footnote giving the source of the idea. A plagiarist often merely changes a few words or simply rearranges the words in the source.” (Harbrace College Handbook, p. 407)

Semester Schedule: The schedule on the following page provides a general outline for the items to be covered, the reading assignments and the exams for this semester. Changes in specific dates may occur and it is the student's responsibility to keep up with any changes by attending class regularly. Films underlined and in boldface (e.g., Paths of Glory) you are required to view in their entirety previous to Monday of the following week. (So, should be viewed before 5:15 pm on September 8). Quizzes may be given on any Monday to test your knowledge of the previous week’s assigned film. Quizzes on assigned readings may also be given at any time.

COURSE OUTLINE:

DATES TOPIC READING

Aug. 25/27 Introduction; The Enemy & “the Other” Stoessinger pp xiii-xviii Keeley (on reserve) Sept. 1 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Sept. 3 The Guns of August 1914 Stoessinger pp. 3-28 Paths of Glory

Sept. 8/10 Gender and War Elshtain (on reserve) Flags of Our Fathers Grossman pp. 3-64

Sept. 15/17 Defining the Enemy Grossman pp. 67-131 Letters from Iwo Jima Stoessinger pp. 31-60

Sept. 22/24 The Psychology of the Battlefield Grossman pp. 132-200 Fires on the Plain

Sept. 29/Oct. 1 Ethnic Hatred Grossman pp. 280-350 Europa, Europa

Oct. 6/8 Exam I: Oct. 6; Postwar: Paradise? Stoessinger pp. 134-174 The Third Man

Oct. 13/15 The Role of Personality: Stalin, Mao, Kim, Truman Stoessinger pp. 62-99 The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Ha Jin pp. 3-82

Oct. 20/22 Cold War Heroes & Villains Ha Jin pp. 83-216 Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying…

Oct. 27/29 When Enemies Could Have Agreed Ha Jin pp. 217-350 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from … McNamara Stoessinger pp. 100-133

Nov. 3/5 Morale on the Frontlines Brigham pp. ix-xv Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam Brigham pp. 1-68

Nov. 10/12 Vietnam, the Middle East & the Colonial Factor Brigham pp. 69-167 Blackhawk Down Stoessinger pp. 212-287

Nov. 17/19 Pre-emptive War Stoessinger pp. 320-383 Iraq for Sale

Nov. 24 Is It the Economy? Stoessinger pp. 385-414 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Dec. 1/3 Summing Up: Why Nations Go to War Stoessinger pp. 415-422 Final Paper Due (Dec. 3)

Dec. 8/10 Review and Final Exam (Final Exam 5:15-6:30, Wednesday, Dec. 10)