SUM4506 – Political struggle in film
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
When studying inequality, poverty, racism, sexism, authoritarianism and all the challenges this world and life throws at us, film emerges as another medium, method and pathways to approach and strengthen our knowledge of these issues.
Political Struggle in Film offers another gateway to approach political struggle through the lens of cinematography, providing a texture of depth, feeling and emotion that is often lost in the academic context. Films, and the stories that they tell, allow us to see actors negotiate and respond to the challenges and unjust circumstances that confront them, of which we might be able to relate. At the root of these issues, from colonialism to contesting political control, are contestations over the methods of development, distribution of resources and environmental relationships. This course provides another avenue to think and approach issues of development, the environment and, in some instances, ‘sustainable development’.
The course specifically focuses on political struggles depicted in film. The course offers eight films, which are ordered chronologically in time-period, with one exception— the first film in class that birthed the “political drama.” Each film will remain unknown until the start of class, to prevent any background research and, more importantly, allow the viewers a clean and minimally influenced visual experience, which will be discussed for a minimum of 30mins after class.
The subsequent class, before watching the next film, will begin with another 20min discussion reflecting on the previous film with the assigned reading in mind. The course will not serve as a comprehensive history of film and politics. Instead, it will closely examine the ideas, themes, and politics embedded in each of these films, asking the question of does this relate to development, the environment and sustainable development.
In course discussions, we will try to extrapolate the main political themes and tensions expressed in the film, locating in each film the different perspectives on development and environmental issues. Asking, what is unreasonable or reasonable about this film narrative? What is manipulative about these films and how do they depart from reality? How do racial and civil rights issues relate to development? But more importantly, examining the emotional states and ideas these films leave with us, and why? This includes, locating the contemporary relevance of the themes and concerns communicated through these films produced and set at different times in relation to issues of development and the environment.
The primary goal of this course is to learn how to actively exercise critical thought around development and environmental issues while (hopefully) enjoying a product of the entertainment industry. In addition to different strategies to write about movies, students will also be exposed to key readings by social scientists on some of the political issues raised by the films shown in class.
Learning outcome
The central learning outcomes of this course are as follows:
- Exercising critical faculties.
- Understand different analytical political ideologies expressed in Film.
- Identify different political contentions within film narrative.
- Locate development issues within film narrative.
- Identify manipulative techniques in film that trigger different emotions.
- Grain historical understandings and contentions around specific historical events.
- Obtain a broad understanding of environmental politics, mobilization & action.
- Exploring how we learn and relate with visual narratives.
The learning outcome also includes developing practical skills, namely:
- Enhancing academic oral and writing skills.
- Further developing note-taking methods.
- Strengthening collaborative skills through group presentations & resulting exercises.
Teaching
The class meets two days a week. The instructor will briefly introduce the film. Then after the film, the instructor will facilitate a discussion of the film for a minimum of thirty minutes. The readings for the film should be done after the film is watched to further explore the context and issues depicted in the film.
This course will show a film and afterward host a 30min discussion seminar. The next class, before watching the next film, will begin with another 20min discussion reflecting on the previous film with the assigned reading in mind. The course is pass/fail, yet as such, participation and preparation are essential. The course combines mandatory and self-assigned readings. The mandatory readings are to ensure political context, depth, and exploration of controversial topics. While the self-assigned readings (e.g. student-driven readings) complement the open and exploratory nature of the course and the writing assignment. The course reinforces a humanities and cultural studies approach to development and environmental issues, offering academic texts and background, meanwhile combining with film and literary theory. While the course and assigned readings open a door to this, film and literary theory will be an interest largely perused through self-assigned readings. Mandatory class readings, inversely, prioritize academic articles and books to offer contextual background.
Class participants are expected to complete all assigned readings (1 per class) and attend the seminar ready to discuss these issues critically. The course operates based on an essay assignment, where a minimum of one page of typed notes are suggested for each film, which should be done by hand during the film (e.g. computers are distracting during a film). The suggested note-taking assignment is open, and are designed to stimulate thinking, refection and support course participants to write about ANY aspects from the film: ideas the film triggered, concerns that arose and/or hypothesis about the directors (perceived) politics, message, dilemmas or criticisms that emerge while watching the film.
The suggested notes are designed to assist in locating themes or topic of interests for the course paper.
While the paper must demonstrate academic or literary structure, the choice of topic is open. This means focusing on 1 or more films, a particular theme or controversy within a film, or literally anything as long as it fits a coherent narrative and exploration based on one or more of the eight films in the course. Framing and linking essay topics around development and environmental issues is suggested, but not mandatory. The essay will require consistent formatting, quoting, and citation systems, having 1.5 spacing between lines using Times New Roman 12pt font. The Journal of Peasant Studies format guidelines and style is recommended. Most important, however, is the consistency of formatting and citation.
Examination
Course paper
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Use of sources and citation
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Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.