CLTR 4520 3.00 S2

  Social Movements and the Expressive Arts

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE DIRECTOR: Gillian Helfield

OFFICE: CFT Room 217OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday. 3:00-3:30PM Thursday 3:00-3:30PM

E-MAIL: Through course website Moodle Message (website)

CLASS TIME: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-7:00PMLOCATION: R N814

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS COURSE.

MAKE SURE YOU READ IT CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND ALL REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS.

Course Description:

Designed for the student who enjoys film but has no background in art or criticism. It will introduce students to a variety of strategies that will help the student articulate how movies use sound and image to represent the world.

Organization of the Course

The course involves formal lectures by the Course Director, supplemented by films and film extracts pertaining to the subject matter. Lectures and screenings will be supported by film or television extracts, as well as readings provided in the course text and in articles posted on the course website.

A good portion of each class also will be devoted to group discussion of the relevant topic and materials for that week.

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Students are expected to regularly visit the course website to remain up to date with course announcements, and also to access supplementary reading and audio-visual materials posted online

Website and Materials

Access to the Course Website is a requirement for this course.

Although lectures will be given in person during scheduled class times, there is a website for this course, available through Moodle, which students are required to access for important updates and announcements, and through which they will communicate with the Course Director, submit their written work, participate in on-line discussions, and receive their grades.

In order to have access to the website, students must have a valid YorkU e-mail account, and then a Moodle Account, which can be acquired through Computing Services at York.

How to request/access this service:

Online:http://itservicedesk.yorku.ca By Email: write to ithelp@yorku.ca By phone 416-736-5800

(Mon - Fri 8:30 AM - 5:50 PM) By visiting the Service Counter at William Small Centre - Computing

Commons.

If you do not have access to Moodle or the website, you will not be able to fully participate in this course.

Learning Outcomes/Course Objectives

This course aims to encourage productive discourse about social movements in the expressive arts and culture, particularly the cinema, with attention to classical and contemporary social, cultural and film theory.

By the end of the term, students will have a good understanding of the definition and formulation of social movements, and be able to trace the evolution of social movements from the 19th to the 21st century art and culture, and be able to relate social movements of the past, to those in the present, expressed in current cinematic forms.

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Communication

Please make sure that you keep in touch with the course website, on a daily basis, so that you are up-to-date on all information and announcements.

This is the only way in which information will be communicated to students in this course throughout the term. If you are not checking the website then you are at risk for missing important announcements or updates that may affect your ability to complete assignments, and perform successfully in this course.

Make sure you respond to all e-mails or attempts at communication in a timely fashion.

Course Director Availability

Contact the Course Director:

The best way to reach the Course Director immediately is through the Moodle Message Board (on the Course Moodle website). You can also reach me at ghelfie@yorku.ca, but it may take longer for me to respond, as I do not check that email as frequently as moodle while the course is running.

If you need to leave a telephone message, you may do so through the Film Dept. Reception (416) 736-5149. But the message may not be delivered immediately as the Course Director is not in the Film Dept every day.

Meeting with the Course Director

If you wish to speak with the Course Director, you may book an appointment during office hours (listed above). Please send your meeting request in advance through Moodle so that the Course Director can schedule it. If you book a meeting, please be there on time. If you must cancel, please let the Course Director know ahead of time, or contact by moodle message to say you’re not going to make it

Course Material Combo

Each Lecture Unit is comprised of an in-class lecture, discussion, screening and/or extracts and possibly a reading assignment.

In addition to what is screened in class or assigned as a specific reading for a given unit, students will have access to a ‘Warehouse’ in Moodle, containing additional suggested screenings and readings,. The materials can be accessed through links posted on the website or through the URLs provided

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Participation

Participation in this course is heavily weighted – worth 35% of the grade as it is an intrinsic part of each lecture and of student engagement in the materials . That means attendance and in-class discussion are vital to your success.

Attendance is self-explanatory. Discussions will take place during class time. Each students will be asked to prepare a brief opening statement related to that week’s topic, to kick off the discussion. (See below under participation)

Evaluation

See Assignment sheets posted in Moodle for all assignment instructions, guidelines, and final due dates.

Assignment #1 15%**Word Cloud

Assigned: Tuesday June 28Due: Thursday, June 30In MoodleTo be reviewed & discussed in class

Assignment #2 20%Timeline

Assigned: June 28th

Due Date: End of course

Assignment #3 30%Creating/Contributing to a Social movement

Assigned: July 7Due Date: end of courseLength – 5-10 minutes*

Participation – 35%

Attendance & Participation in class discussions (15%) Timely submission of all Assignments (5%)Discussion Intros (15%)

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Discussion Intros:

Individual students will be asked to prepare a brief opening statement related to that week’s topic, to kick off the discussion.

The statement may be related to the topic itself, to a current event related to a social movement in the news, or to one of the course materials (i.e. a relevant reading or film, TV program, website article, etc. To be included in the intro are any comments, critiques, offered by journalists, social theorists., experts, ordinary citizens, etc. along with the students’ own insights, to spark conversation..Students will be asked to submit their ‘intros’ in written form by the end of the course. Students are also expected to participate in all in-class discussions.

Assigned. Begins July 7thDue Date: Based on discussion assigned

*The word limit for assignments represents a guideline. It also represents the minimum number of words for the assignment, not the maximum. Details for length & presentation are provided in the Assignment Sheets.

**The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade. See the policy for exceptions to this aspect of the policy -http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=86

*** If Term Test will be held outside of regularly scheduled class time, include announcement of day, date and time here (e.g., Saturday, October 29, 2011, 10 am to 11:30, room TBA).

Grading, Assignment Submission, Lateness Penalties and Missed Tests

Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.). Assignments and tests* will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.)

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(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar – http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/calendars/2011-2012/academic/grades/)

* If an alternative number grade/percentage system is used for assignments or tests, it must be fully described in the course outline. Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis. For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the Faculty of Fine Arts section of the Undergraduate Calendar - http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/calendars/2011-2012/faculty_rules/FA/grading.htm Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment. Assignments are to be handed in (specify how, where and when if this information was not provided in the Description of Assignments above). Assignments for past-due dates will not be accepted beyond the last day of classes, unless the student has been granted permission by the Course Director. Lateness Penalty: Written assignments received later than the due date will be penalized 5% per day (1 half-letter grade) per day that assignment is late, including weekends. Exceptions to the lateness penalty ONLY for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course Director, but will require supporting documentation.

Assignments more than one week late will not be accepted without an extension or permission given by the Course Director.

Late penalties do not count for participation – if you miss a class that part of your participation grade cannot be made up another way.

Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. (eg. permission to write a makeup test on an alternate date. Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.

Deferrals: If you are unable to submit work during the term, but wish to do so at a later date you may apply for a Deferral (forms available through the Registrar’s Office or website). Please note that you must provide a justifiable reason for your request, as well as supporting documentation (eg. Doctor’s notes, etc.)

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Reappraisals and Re-evaluations of All Submitted Work: The following are the procedures for grade reappraisals and re-evaluations or re-readings of submitted work:

All requests for reappraisals or re-evaluations must be requested in writing, in a letter or e-mail to the Course Director, providing the reasons for the request, and allowing sufficient time for request to be received and considered.

Please note that the Course Director will not re-evaluate or re-read work that has received a grade of C or above. If you wish to have your paper formally appraised by someone other than the Course Director, you must submit a request to the Film Department.

Also please note that we will not ‘bump’ your grade to the next half or full-grade level to raise your GPA, so please do not request it.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Specific Requirements: students must have access to e-mail and the internet. Students must also have a valid YorkU e-mail address, a YorkU passport, and a Moodle Account in order to participate in the course. .

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the York University Secretariat Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy (ASCP) webpage (see Student Information Sheet under Reports, Initiatives, and Documents)

http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/senate_cte_main_pages/ASCP.htm• Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website • Access/Disability: course requirement accommodation for students with

disabilities, including physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities • Ethics Review Process for research involving human participants • Religious Observance Accommodation • Student Conduct Standards

If only paper copies of the course outline are distributed, the information below should be appended to the course outline in place of the statement and weblink above:

Academic Honesty and Integrity

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York students are required to maintain high standards of academic integrity and are subject to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty (http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/policies/document.php?document=69).

There is also an academic integrity website with complete information about academic honesty. Students are expected to review the materials on the Academic Integrity website (http://www.yorku.ca/academicintegrity).

PLEASE NOTE THAT ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY IN THIS COURSE.

There is Zero Tolerance for academic dishonesty. Students who violate academic integrity standards (i.e. cheat on tests or plagiarize from other sources) will be given an automatic ‘o’ on the assignment, with the possibility of further action. DON’T DO IT – IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK.

Access/DisabilityYork provides services for students with disabilities (including physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities) needing accommodation related to teaching and evaluation methods/materials. These services are made available to students in all Faculties and programs at York University.

Students in need of these services are asked to register with disability services as early as possible, to ensure that appropriate academic accommodation can be provided with advance notice. You are encouraged to contact your professor at the start of the term to discuss your accommodation needs. This may be done either in person or by e-mail.

Registering with disabilities services and discussing your needs with your professors is necessary to avoid any impediment to receiving the necessary academic accommodations to meet your needs.

Students who require accommodation must advise their Course Director and/or tutorial leaders at the start of the course (not partway through).

Additional information is available through Counselling & Disability Services at www.yorku.ca/cds or from disability service providers: • Personal Counselling and Learning Skills Services: N110 BCSS, 416-736-5297 • Mental Health Disability Services: N110 BCSS, 416-736-5297• Learning Disability Services: W128 BCSS, 416-736-5383• Physical, Sensory and Medical Disability Services: N108 Ross, 416-736-5140, TTY: 416-736-5263

Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing students may also contact dhh@yorku.caGlendon students - Counselling & Disability Services, Glendon Site: Glendon Hall E103, 416-487-6709

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Note for faculty: there is a Faculty Resource Guide for Teaching Students with Disabilities, designed to assist faculty and TAs in supporting students with disabilities in their courses.  The Guide is available online at: http://www.yorku.ca/facultyawareness

Ethics Review Process

York students are subject to the York University Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants. In particular, students proposing to undertake research involving human participants (e.g., interviewing the director of a company or government agency, having students complete a questionnaire, etc.) are required to submit an Application for Ethical Approval of Research Involving Human Participants at least one month before you plan to begin the research.  If you are in doubt as to whether this requirement applies to you, contact your Course Director immediately.

Religious Observance Accommodation

York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents.  Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for an in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the Course Director within the first three weeks of class.  Similarly, should an assignment to be completed in a lab, practicum placement, workshop, etc., scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict, contact the Course director immediately.  Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination periods (December and April/May), students must complete an Examination Accommodation Form, which can be obtained from Student Client Services, Student Services Centre or online at http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/exam_accommodation.pdf  (PDF)

Student Conduct

Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship.  Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom, and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour.  Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class. 

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These expectations extend equally to students’ relationships with their tutorial leaders and fellow students. Rude, disrespectful or bullying behaviour will not be tolerated.

A statement of the policy and procedures involving disruptive and/or harassing behaviour by students in academic situations is available on the York website http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/policies/document.php?document=82

Please note that this information is subject to periodic update. For the most current information, please go to the ASCP webpage (see Student Information Sheet under Reports, Initiatives, and Documents) http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/senate_cte_main_pages/ASCP.htm

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Course Schedule*(*In-class screenings may be subject to change depending on availability. This will not affect lecture

content or assignments.**Readings provided on separate reading list posted on Moodle Website. Readings may be added

during the course. These will be made available online, through posted articles, links or URLS.)***Assignment due-dates are provided in assignment sheets and posted on Moodle website.

SECTION I – CULTURE

LECTURE 1 –TUESDAY- JUNE 28 - INTRO

Defining Social Movements: Mobilizing Ideas

Classifications, types of Social Movements

Social Movements as Progressives: Disruption and Change

Movement Cultures

Screenings and Extracts:

Battle for Brooklyn (Michael Galinsky and Sukie Hawley, 2016)Occupation 101 (Abdallah Omeish, Sufyan Omeish, 2006) The Battle of Algiers (Gilles Pontecorvo, 1966)Hour of the Furnaces (Fernando Solanas, Octavio Getino, 1968)

Readings: TBA

LECTURE 2 –THURSDAY - JUNE 30 –:REALISM

Capital R and small r realism Artificiality vs. TruthRealism and the Birth of Cinema: The Documentary Impulse

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Dawn of the Eye, Parts 1 & 2 (Mark Starowicz, CBC, 1996)Documentary Realism: Lumieres, Flaherty, and Grierson

Readings: TBA

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TUESDAY – JULY 5 – ***NO CLASS***

LECTURE 3 – THURSDAY JULY 7: MODERNISM: “MAKE IT NEW!”

Urbanism & Industrialism

Art as Social Criticism

Self-Consciousness and Process

Fragmentary Art

Other ‘isms’ (Constructivism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Dadaism, Futurism)

Mise-en-Scene vs. Montage

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion 

Un Chien Andalou (Luis Bunuel, 1929)

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Walter Ruttman, 1927)

Man With the Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov, 1929)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Weine, 1919)

Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927)

Battleship Potemkin (Sergei Eisenstein, 1925)

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro #1

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SECTION II –COUNTER-CULTURE

LECTURE 4 – TUESDAY JULY 12 – THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Marxism, Socialism & CommunismPopular Front vs. FascismRise of the Working Class HeroPopulist Revolt

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Daily Bread (King Vidor, 1934)The Grapes of Wrath (John Ford, 1940)Belle Equipe (They were Five) (Julien Duvivier, 1936)Coal Face (Albert Cavalcanti, 1935)

Documentary footage

USA Factor Workers’ strike:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVtpIbeJ0o8

American Autoworkers: "From Dawn to Sunset" 1937 Chevrolet Division, General Motors

Flint Sit-Down Strike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7v1FQJTiQ

strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuI7QT0Czy4

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro #2

LECTURE 5 –THURSDAY, JULY 14 – EXISTENTIALISM: RISE OF THE INDIVIDUAL

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Contemplating the Human conditionFrench Poetic RealismFate vs. Freedom (Choice)Post-War Trauma, Anxiety

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Le jour se leve (Daybreak) (Marcel Carne, 1939)

Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)

The Killers (Robert Siodmak, 1946)

Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick, 1957)

The Seven Samurai  (Akiro Kurosawa, 1954)

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro #4

LECTURE 6 – TUESDAY - JULY 19 – LIBERATION & IDENTITY POLITICS

Human & Equal Rights Movements (Civil Rights, The Women’s Movement, Pride, AIM, Hispanic and Chicanos) Identity Politics

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Freedom on my Mind (Connie Field, Marilyn Mulford, 1994)Baadaassss Cinema (Isaac Julien, 2002)Salt of the Earth (Herbert J. Biberman 1954)Viva La Causa (Bill Brummel, 2008)Cesar Chavez (Diego Luna, 2014)Year of the Woman (Sandra Hochman, 1970)Stonewall Uprising (Kate Davis, David Heilbroner, 2010)Taking Aim: The Story of the American Indian Movement (Lucas Langworthy, 2010)

Great Women’s Rights Moments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wJlao3vJNY

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Readings - TBA

Discussion Intro #5

LECTURE 7 –THURSDAY – JULY 21 : THE COUNTER-CULTURE : LOVE AND PROTEST

The Counter-Culture

Turn on and Tune Out: The Hippie Movement

Environmental Movement

Rock ‘n Roll & Cinema Verite

Screenings, Extracts, Discussion 

Easy Rider (Dennis Hopper, 1968)Don’t Look Back (D.A. Pennebaker, 1967)Revolution (Jack O’Connell, 1968)Commune ( Jonathan Berman, 2005)Helter Skelter (Jonathan Gray, 2004)Dirty Harry (Don Siegel, 1969)Making Sense of the 60s (PBS Mini-Series, 1991)A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet (Mark Kitchell, 2012)Soylent Green (Richard Fleisher, 1973)Cinema Verite: Defining the Moment (Peter Wintonick, 1999)

Discussion Intro #6

PART II: SOCIAL REVOLUTION Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Radicalism and the New left

Student Movement

Events of May

Anti-War Movement

Third Cinema

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Mills of the Gods (Beryl Fox, 1965)

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The Strawberry Statement (Stuart Hagmann, 1970)

Medium Cool (Haskell Wexler, 1968)

Deliverance (John Boorman, 1968)

If... (Lindsay Anderson, 1968)

Coming Home (Hal Ashby, 1978)

Soldier Blue (Ralph Nelson, 1970)

The Weather Underground, (Sam Green, Bill Siegel, 2002)

Hour of the Furnaces (Fernando Solanas, Octavio Gettino, 1968)

Action: The October Crisis of 1970 (Robin Spry, 1970)

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro #7

SECTION III – THE COUNTER COUNTER-CULTURE

LECTURE 8 – TUESDAY JULY 26 - POSTMODERNISM: THE COUNTER-COUNTER CULTURE

‘Greed is Good’: Capitalist Excess and ConsumerismThe New Conservatism and the Liberal Backlash (White Male Anger)Punk vs. Hip HopMass Media and the Tabloid Era

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Wall Street (Oliver Stone, 1987) American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000) Falling Down (Joel Schumacher, 1993) And the Band Played On (Roger Spottiswoode, 1993)Network (Sidney Lumet, 1974)

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The Decline of the Western Civilization (Penelope Spheeris, 1979-1980)

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro #8

LECTURE 9 –THURSDAY JULY 28– THE RISE OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

Reaction to ModernismThe Iranian Revolution9/11 and The War on Terror Religious Extremism: The New Orthodoxy

Screenings/Extracts/Discussion

Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2007)Kandahar (Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 2001)God’s Next Army (Tom Hurwitz, Jed Rothstein, 2006)The Revisionairies (Scott Thurman, 2012)A Matter of Faith (Rich Christiano, 2014)Haredi: The Ultra-Orthodox in Israeli Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGJg1lHPPZwExcerpt from True BloodFahrenheit 9/11 (Michael Moore, 2004)

Readings: TBA

Discussion Intro # 9

LECTURE 10: -TUESDAY AUGUST 2 – THE REFUGEE CRISIS AND ANTI-REFUGEE MOVEMENT

European Refugee/Migrant CrisisAnti-Refugeeism and the New Xenophobia Post 9/11 TraumaDonald Trump and the Spectre of American Fascism

Screenings/Extracts/Discussions

God Grew Tired of Us (Christopher Dillon Quinn, Tommy Walker, 2007)

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Pushing the Elephant (Elizabeth Mandel,  Beth Davenport, 2010)

Live and Become (Radu Mihaileanu, 2005)

The Walking Dead  (AMC TV Series)

Readings

Discussion Intro #10

LECTURE 11 – THURSDAY AUGUST 4 – SOCIAL MOVEMENTS TODAY: WRAP-UP

Social ActivismSocial JusticeSocial Media

Discussion:

Occupy Movement (99%)Anonymous Movement (‘Hactivists’) #BlackLivesMatter#Bringbackour girlsThe Ice Bucket ChallengeWikileaks

END OF COURSE

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