CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY GLOBAL CAMPUS COURSE SYLLABUS

I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION Course: BCA 525AA Course Title: Film Genre Study EPN: 22234280 Term: Spring II Location: Online Course Dates: 3/4, 4/26/2013 Course Days and Times: N\A Prerequisites: Prerequisite: Limited to juniors or above; or graduate standing.

Blackboard: Blackboard is a web-based learning management system licensed by CMU. Within Blackboard, a course website, also known as a shell, is automatically created for every CMU course. Face-to-face courses may or may not incorporate Blackboard, whereas Blackboard course shells are always used for online courses and will be available to you prior to the course start date. Seeing the course shell listed in Blackboard with unavailable adjacent to its title is an indication that your instructor has not made it available and is in no way indicative of registration status. To access Blackboard, open a web browser and enter http://www.cmich.edu/blackboard. After the site loads, enter your CMU Global ID and password in the respective spaces provided. Click the "login" button to enter Blackboard and then the link to the appropriate course to enter the course's Blackboard shell. If you need assistance, contact the IT Helpdesk at 989-774-3662 / 800-950-1144 x. 3662. Self-guided student tutorial resources are also available at http://www.cmich.edu/blackboard.

Instructor: Patricia Williamson Primary Phone Number: 9894442030 Secondary Phone Number: 9897742561 E-Mail Address: [email protected] Availability: Office hours: Mondays 2-3:30pm and 5-6:30pm; Wednesdays 2-3:30pm and 5-6pm. Also available by appointment Academic Biography: Dr. Patty Williamson is an Associate Professor in Broadcast & Cinematic Arts and Central Michigan University, where she has taught since 1999. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Media from Michigan State University, and an M.A. and B.A.A. in Broadcast & Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University. She teaches film criticism, history, genre and directors courses, as well as media criticism, mass media programming, and a graduate-level media theory course. She also serves as Graduate Coordinator for the M.A. program in BCA. Her research interests revolve around gender issues in media, and media censorship. She lives in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

II. TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Order books from MBS at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/cmu.htm Textbooks and Course Materials: Title: Hollywood Romantic Comedy : States of the Union, 1934-1965 Author: Glitre Edition: 2006 ISBN: 978-0-7190-7079-2 Publisher: MPS Required: Yes

Title: Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre Author: Mcdonald Edition: 2006 ISBN: 978-1-905674-02-2 Publisher: Perseus Required: Yes

Course Reserves: N\A Required Materials: N\A Recommended Materials: N\A III. COURSE DESCRIPTION In-depth examination of selected film genres, themes, and trends. Repeatable up to 9 hours when content previously studied is not duplicated.

IV. COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Trace the development of the genre in terms of overall thematic trends and individual key films within that genre.

2. Explain how and why individual filmmakers have imposed their own unique visions on generic material in their films within that genre.

3. Demonstrate how films within the genre reflect, exploit, and/or comment on the enduring cultural values and changing social attitudes of their audiences.

4. Apply different and specific theoretical and critical perspectives and methodologies to the films under review, in order to demonstrate a greater understanding of both the critical approaches and of the individual films being analyzed.

V. METHODOLOGY

Lecture, discussion, viewing of selected films, written assignments and class presentations.

VI. COURSE OUTLINE/ASSIGNMENTS Pre-Class Assignment: Be sure to read the syllabus and familiarize yourself with the requirements of the course. Course Outline:

Week One: (3/4-3/10)

Reading Assignment: Read chapters 1 & 2 in the McDonald text, and chapters 1 & 2 in the Glitre text.

Powerpoint #1: Genre Theory and the Romantic Comedy

View: It Happened One Night (1934) Director: Frank Capra

Powerpoint #2.: Screwball Comedies

View: Bringing Up Baby (1938) Director: Howard Hawks

Answer Discussion Board Questions

Week Two:(3/11-17)

Read: Chapters 4 & 5 in the Glitre text.

Powerpoint #1: Career Woman Comedies and Gender Equality?

View:

His Girl Friday (1940) Dir: Howard Hawks

Adam’s Rib (1949) Dir: George Cukor

Powerpoint #2: Adam’s Rib

Answer discussion board questions

Week Three: (3/18-24)

Read: Chapter 6 & 7 in Glitre; chapter 3 in the McDonald text

Powerpoint #1: The Sex Comedy

View:

Pillow Talk (1959) Dir: Michael Gordon

Powerpoint #2: Pillow Talk

View: Down With Love (2003) Dir: Peyton Reed

Response essay #1 due (3/24 by 5pm) comparing and contrasting “Pillow Talk” and “Down with Love.”

Week Four:(3/25-31)

Read: Chapter 4 through page 79 in McDonald text

Powerpoint #1: The Radical Rom Com in the 1960s and 70s

View: The Graduate

View: Annie Hall

Answer Discussion Board Questions

Week Five:(4/1-7)

Read pgs 79-84 in McDonald text

Powerpoint #1: Challenging Heteronormativity: Queer Rom Coms

View: My Best Friend’s Wedding

Wimba Chat Class Presentations on Radical romantic comedies by graduate students (“The Graduate” and “Annie Hall”)

Week Six:(4/8-14)

Read: Chapter 5 in McDonald text

Powerpoint #1: Neo-Traditional Rom Coms of the 1980s and 90s.

View: When Harry Met Sally

View: Sleepless in Seattle

Response Essay (#2) due—Analysis of the rise in popularity of the Neo­Traditional romantic comedy

Week Seven:(4/15-21)

Wimba Chat Session #2: Graduate student class presentations on neo-traditional romantic comedies

Powerpoint #1: Remaking Romance: “The Shop Around the Corner”

View: The Shop Around the Corner

View: You’ve Got Mail

Powerpoint #2: “You’ve Got Mail”

Week Eight: (4/22-27)

Analytical Paper Due

View: (500) Days of Summer

View: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Powerpoint #1: The Neo-Radical Rom Com

Answer final discussion board questions

Assignment Due Dates:

The Analytical Paper:

This assignment is designed as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and comprehension of the subject matter presented in class. Students will choose a romantic comedy not viewed in class (a list of possible options will be posted to blackboard for students to choose from, or another film may be chosen with the approval of the instructor) and write an 8-12 (or 10-15 if a grad student) page critical analysis of the film. More details will be posted on the assignment sheet, including the due date. All papers must include bibliography/references and must adhere to either APA or MLA citation style. At least ten outside academic sources must be cited in the paper. This paper is due Wednesday, April 24th by 10pm.

Response Essays:

Response essays are short, 2-3 page reaction papers to films viewed for class (double-spaced, 12 pt font). The subject matter you will be asked to address will vary. Two of these response essays will be written over the course of the 8-week semester. Due dates will be posted on blackboard. Each response essay is worth 20 points, with the two essays being worth a total of 40 points. Essay #1 is due 3/24 by 5pm. Essay #2 is due 4/14 by 5pm.

Discussion Sessions:

Students are expected to actively participate on the class discussion board. All students will be required to respond to questions posted by the instructor and/or other students in the course. The questions may revolve around the course concepts, student presentations, films viewed, or reading assignments. Four discussion sessions will be required during the semester, with each session is worth 10 points (total of 40 points). Students will receive up to 7 points for answering the given question(s) for the week, and can earn another 3 points for commenting on classmates querries/comments.You must post your answers to the discussion questions by Thursday before Midnight (weeks one, two, four and eight), while follow up responses must be made by Sunday at 5pm of the same weeks. Please be sure to answer questions thoroughly. Do not copy other respondents' answers. Be sure to bring something original to the content of your responses to your fellow students' posts. Comments such as, "I agree" are not in depth enough to warrant credit.

Wimba Chat:

Two wimba chat sessions will be scheduled over the 8­week semester. This is the only time that students will be required to interact “live” with the instructor and classmates. Every attempt will be made to schedule these chat sessions at a day and time that works for everyone in the class. Attendance and participation at each session is worth 10 pts (20 points total). Undergraduates are expected only to participate and join in the discussion. Graduate students are required to do the same, but must also prepare a presentation on a specified film. Times/dates TBD.

Class Presentation:

Graduate students will work in groups to create a class presentation on an assigned topic. More details will be available on an assignment sheet posted to blackboard. Students must prepare a powerpoint presentation and may supplement the powerpoint with additional materials. Every graduate student will be required to do one group presentation during the course of the 8-week semester. The presentation is worth 50 points in the course.Times/Dates TBD.

All written assignment must be submitted on the date they are due. Any late paper will receive a 10% deduction for each day it is late…no exceptions.

Post-Class Assignment: None Student Involvement Hours: Approximately 8-10 hours/week

VII. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION Evaluation Criteria:

Undergraduate Students:

Analytical Paper (8-12 pages) 100 pts (50%)

Response Essays (2 papers; 2-3 pages) 40 pts (20%)

Discussion Sessions (4 sessions) 40 pts (20%)

Wimba Chat Participation(2 sessions) 20 pts (10%)

Total: 200 points (100%)

Graduate Students:

Analytical Paper (10-15 pages) 100 pts (40%) Response Essays (2 essays; 2-3 pgs) 40 pts (16%)

Discussion Sessions (4 sessions) 40 pts (16%)

Wimba Class Presentation (1 group project) 50 pts (20%)

Wimba Chat Participation (2 sessions) 20 pts ( 8%)

Total: 250 pts (100%)

Grading Scale: Graduate: 94% or above : A , 87% - 89% : B+ , 77% - 79% : C+ , 69% or below : E 90% - 93% : A- , 84% - 86% : B , 74% - 76% : C , 80% - 83% : B- , 70% - 73% : C- ,

Undergraduate: 94% or above : A , 87% - 89% : B+ , 77% - 79% : C+ , 67% - 69% : D+ , 59% or below : E 90% - 93% : A- , 84% - 86% : B , 74% - 76% : C , 64% - 66% : D , 80% - 83% : B- , 70% - 73% : C- , 60% - 63% : D- , Late Assignments: All late paper/essay assignments will receive -10% grade deductions for each day they are late. No exceptions. Discussion board questions answered after the due date/time will not be accepted for credit. Make-ups and Rewrites: There are no rewrites allowed for written assignments.

VIII. EXPECTATIONS Attendance and Participation: Participation is required for both Wimba chat sessions, which will be set up at a time convenient to all in the class. Academic Integrity:

Because academic integrity is a cornerstone of the University's commitment to the principles of free inquiry, students are responsible for learning and upholding professional standards of research, writing, assessment, and ethics in their areas of study. Written or other work which students submit must be the product of their own efforts and must be consistent with appropriate standards of professional ethics. Academic dishonesty, which includes cheating, plagiarism and other forms of dishonest or unethical behavior, is prohibited. A breakdown of behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty is presented in the CMU Bulletin (https://bulletins.cmich.edu/).

Student Rights and Responsibilities:

Each member of the Central Michigan University community assumes an obligation regarding self conduct to act in a manner consistent with a respect for the rights of others and with the University's function as an educational institution. As guides for individual and group actions within this community, the University affirms the general principles of conduct described in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures at https://www.cmich.edu/about/leadership/office_provost/dean/Pages/Code-of-Student-Rights.aspx.

IX. SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS Global Campus Library Services (GCLS)

CMU offers you a full suite of library services through its Global Campus Library Services (GCLS) department. Reference librarians will assist you in using research tools and locating information related to your research topic. The library???s Documents on Demand office will help you obtain copies of the books and journal articles you need. Check out the GCLS website at http://gcls.cmich.edu for more information.

Reference librarian contact information: 1. By phone: (800) 544-1452. 2. By email: [email protected] 3. By online form: http://gcls.cmich.edu/reference/index.html#form

Documents on Demand office contact information: 1. By phone: (800) 274-3838 2. By email: [email protected] 3. By fax: (877) 329-6257 3. By online form: http://gcls.cmich.edu/delivery/index.html

Writing Center

The CMU Writing Center is a free online service for all CMU students, providing help with grammar, citations, bibliographies, drafts, and editing of academic papers. Suggestions and feedback are typically provided within two business days. For additional information and to submit work, visit http://webs.cmich.edu/writingcenter/

Mathematics Assistance Center

The CMU Mathematics Assistance Center provides free tutoring in mathematics and statistics to students enrolled in select courses. Tutoring is available online and via telephone. To see what courses qualify and to register with the Math Assistance Center, visit http://global.cmich.edu/mathcenter/tutoring-request.aspx.

ADA

CMU provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities and services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact Susie Rood, Director of Student Disability Services at (800) 950-1144, extension 3018 or email her at [email protected], at least 4 weeks prior to registering for class. Students may find additional ADA information and forms at http://go.cmich.edu/support_services/academic/StudentDisabilityServices/Pages/default.aspx

Note to faculty: CMU Administration will notify you if applicable; otherwise, the student will provide a "Notification Letter to the Instructor" outlining the accommodations the student is approved to receive.

X. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Babington, B., & Evans, P. W. (1989). Affairs to remember: The Hollywood comedy of the sexes.

Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Berry, J., & Errigo, A. (2004). Chick flicks: Movies women love. London: Orion Books.

Bonila, P. C. (2005). Is there more to Hollywood lowbrow than meets the eye? Quarterly Review

of Film and Video, 22, 17-24.

Bordwell, D. & Thompson, K. (2003). Film art: An introduction (7th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

Byrge, D., & Miller, R. M. (1991). The screwball comedy films: A history and filmography 1934-1942.

Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Doane, M. A. (1987). The desire to desire: The women’s film of the 1940s. Bloomington: Indiana

University Press.

Dreisinger, B. (2000). The queen in shining armor: Safe eroticism and the gay friend. Journal of

Popular Film and Television, 28(1), 2-11.

Everson, W. K. (1994). Hollywood bedlam: Classic screwball comedies. New York: Citadel Press.

Garwood, I. (2000). Must you remember this? Orchestrating the ‘standard’ pop song in Sleepless in

Seattle. Screen, 41(3), 282-298.

Gehring, W. (2002). Romantic vs. screwball comedy: Charting the difference. Maryland: Scarecrow

Press, Inc.

Glitre, K. (2006). Hollywood Romantic Comedy: States of the Union 1934-65. Manchester:

Manchester University Press.

Grant, B. K. (2007). Film genre: From iconography to ideology. London: Wallflower Press.

Hampton, H. (2004). True romance: On the current state of date movies. Film Comment,

November/December, 30-34.

Harvey, J. (1998). Romantic comedy in Hollywood, from Lubitsch to Sturges. New York: Da Capo

Press.

Haskell, M. (1974). From reverence to rape: The treatment of women in the movies. New York:

Penguin.

Henderson, L. (2005). Jane Austen’s guide to dating. London: Hodder Headline.

King, G. (2002). Film comedy. London: Wallflower Press

Kinsey, A. C., et al. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. Philadelphia and London: W. B.

Saunders Company.

Leff, L. J. & Simmonds, J. L. (2001). The dame in the kimono: Hollywood, censorship and the

Production Code (revised ed.). Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

Levy, A. (2005). Female chauvinist pigs: Women and the rise of raunch culture. New York: Simon

and Schuster.

McDonald, T. J. (2007). Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre. London: Wallflower.

Musser, C. (1995). Divorce, DeMille and the comedy of remarriage. In K. B. Karnick & H. Jenkins

(Eds.), Classical Hollywood comedy (282-299). New York: Routledge.

Nochimson, M. P. (2002). Screen couple chemistry: The power of 2. Austin: University of Texas

Press.

Rickman, G. (2001). Film comedy reader. New York: Limelight Editions.

Rowe, K. (1995). The unruly woman: Gender and the genres of laughter. Austin: University of Texas

Press.

Rubinfeld, M. D. (2001). Bound to bond: Gender, genre and the Hollywood romantic comedy. New

York: Praeger.

Shumway, D. R. (2003). Modern love: Romance, intimacy and the marriage crisis. New York and

London: New York University Press.

Vineberg, S. (2005). High comedy in American movies: Class and humor from the 1920s to the

present. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Center Information

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Certified Testing Center & Proctoring Information https://www.cmich.edu/global/cmuonline/proctoring/Pages/default.aspx ______Harassment and discrimination: You have a right to feel safe and supported while pursuing your degree at CMU. If any professor, student, or staff member makes you feel that you have been discriminated against, disrespected or stuck in a hostile environment, the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity (OCRIE) is here to help: Bovee UC 306, (989) 774-3253. For resources and more information, please see https://www.cmich.edu/office_president/OCRIE/

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Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

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