CP 470/MCMA 552 Gender in Film and Television

8CP 470/MCMA 552 Gender in Film and Television
Prof. Michele Leigh (mtorre@siu.edu or drleigh@micheleleigh.net)

Fall 2013 Location: COMM 1021
Tuesday, 2:00 – 2:50 PM Office: Communications 1121L
Thursday, 2:00 – 5:00 PM Office Hours: M 1-3pm,T/TH 12-2pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND SYLLABUS

This course examines various representations of gender as depicted in film and television texts. The media has played a major role in ‘constructing’ gender and creating/shaping popular views of what is ‘appropriate’ in relation to notions of gender. We will investigate the multiple ways in which popular media texts construct and communicate gender. Using theories from cultural studies, film and gender studies, we will analyze how viewers engage with and make sense of the numerous representations of gender and sexuality and integrate them into their everyday lives. We will explore contemporary theories on gender and sexuality in order to frame our understandings of how gender functions in relation to notions such as power, ideology, identity, race, femininity, masculinity, sexual orientation, etc…

Course Goals:
Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to:
1. interrogate the role of gender and sexuality in cultural contexts
2. critique theories of gender and sexuality
3. incorporate theories of gender into their own analysis of media texts
4. contribute to a body of knowledge of how gender functions in the 21st c

Expectations:
This is an upper division theory course and the work load is significantly different from lower division courses. Students are expected to attend class sessions, participate in class discussions, and complete all assignments and projects on time. Active participation means prior reading of assigned materials and sharing of relevant thoughts and experiences both in class and on-line in your blogs. Occupying a seat does not constitute participation. Students are encouraged to bring to class examples of visual material from a variety of sources to further class discussions. Attendance is important, there will be a significant amount of material covered in the lectures that is not covered by the reading, you cannot pass the course if you do not regularly attend class. All readings should be completed prior to the start of class on the day they are assigned. You should bring to class a copy of your reading and notes so that you are prepared for discussion.

Undergraduate Class Assignments:
Blog Postings – Each student is required to post 7 blog/journal entries on the class site. The due dates for the blog posts are marked on the syllabus. All posts must be submitted prior to the start of class. In addition you encouraged to interact with and comment on the posts of your classmates.
Impromptu Assignments – You will be given several randomly assigned tasks that will prompts you to rhetorically or creatively interact with topics discussed in class.
Final Project – Each student will be required to complete a final project. You will have two options: you can either write a critical paper, 10-12 pages in length or create a media project that addresses issues raised in class.
Class Presentations – you will each have to give a presentation on your final project. Presentations should be 10 minutes in length.

Graduate Class Assignments:
Blog Postings – Each student is required to post WEEKLY blog/journal entries on the class site. All posts must be submitted prior to the start class on Thrusdays. In addition you encouraged to interact with and comment on the posts of your classmates.
Impromptu Assignments – You will be given several randomly assigned tasks that will prompts you to creatively interact with topics discussed in class.
Lead Discussion – You will required to choose a day that you will prepared a short 30 minute lecture and lead discussion based on the readings for that day.
Final Project – Each student will be required to complete a final project. You will have two options: you can either write a critical paper, 15-20 pages in length or create a media project that addresses issues raised in class.
Class Presentations – you will each have to give a presentation on your final project. Presentations should be 10 minutes in length.

**More detailed guidelines will be handed out in class.**

Undergraduate Grades:                                                  Graduate Grades:  
Blog Postings 25%                                                             Blog Postings 25%
Participation 10%                                                                Lead Discussion 15%
Impromptu Assignments 15%                                           Impromptu Assignments 15%
Midterm Exam 15%                                                           Midterm Exam 10%
Class Presentation 10%                                                    Class Presentation 10%
Final Project 25%                                                                Final Project 25%
Total 100%                                                                         Total 100%

              COURSE CALENDAR

**Please note: All readings are subject to change**
Week 1: What is Gender?
8/20 Introduction
8/22 Lorber, Gauntlett

Week 2: Understanding Gender
8/27   Mulvey, Gauntlett
8/29  Joyrich, Butler         UG BLOG POST 1 DUE

Week 3: Gender and Identity
9/3 butler2, walker
9/5

Week 4: Gender and Sexuality
9/10 Van Damme, Hoogland
9/12                                     UG BLOG POST 2 DUE

Week 5: Femininity as Spectacle
9/17 Wittig,
9/19 Doane

Week 6: Masculinity on Display – Jane will be leading discussion on Thursday
9/24  Joyrich
9/26  Connell, cohan2             UG BLOG POST 3 DUE

Week 7: Gender, Desire, and Power
10/1 Sturken, Bartky
10/3 williams

Week 8: Gender meets Race – Evette will be leading lecture on Thursday.
10/8 guzman, Hansen
10/10  Edgar, marchetti                UG BLOG POST 4 DUE

Week 9: Gender and Violence
10/15 FALL BREAK/ NO CLASS
10/17 Tasker, Rigney, cooper

Week 10: Gender and Violence – Kerra Taylor will present on Thursday
10/22 Fine, Clover
10/24  Mee,King            UG BLOG POST 5 DUE

Week 11: Queering Gender
10/29 Doty, cohan2
10/31 rainer, Roughgarden

Week 12: Gender Fluidity
11/5  Creekmur, Thompson
11/7  Hilbert, Halberstam               UG BLOG POST 6 DUE

Week 13: Gender Fluidity
11/12 Gauntlett, Walters
11/14 Moorman, Jackson

Week 14: Gender and Spectatorship – Nick Nylen will present on Tuesday.
11/19 hooks
11/21  weiss, Straayer, Peters             UG BLOG POST 7 DUE

Week 15: Gender and Post-feminism
11/26 Brooks, Tasker, Karlyn
11/28 THANKSGIVING / NO CLASS

Week 16 – Class Conference

12/3

2:00-2:10   Katie Voves

2:20-2:30   Jay Oetman

2:40-2:50   Evette Brown

12/5

2:00-2:10   Ryan Freels

2:20-2:30   Andrew Wire

2:40-2:50   Jane Flynn

3:00-3:10   Daniel Sliwa

3:20-3:30   Karsten Barghstahler

3:40-3:50   Reed Hoekstra

4:00-4:10   Kerra Taylor

4:20-4:30   Nick Nylen

FINAL EXAM: Dec 13, 2013 3:10 – 5:10

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