1. W, Jan 7: Intro to course [
Syllabus,
Policy Statement]
Definitions
and History of SF Film
2. M, Jan 12: Readings on Definition: [
Bibliography, Reserve List]
-
Telotte, Chap 1 (pp. 3-33)
-
King and Krzywinska, Intro “Spectacle
and Speculation” 1-11
-
SFE on which films included and why, pp. xvii-xviii
-
Web
Site on Definitions of SF: <http://www.panix.com/~gokce/sf_defn.html>
T,
Jan 13: LAB1: A&E: History of SF Film
Intro
to History of SF Film Chronological
Chart
3. W, Jan 14: Readings on History of SF
Film:
-
Telotte, Chap 3 (63-123)
-
Nicholas,
“Cinema” entry in SFE
??
Handy,
Intro to Overlook SF Encyclopedia
M, Jan 19: MLK Holiday
Journal
#1: Intro to self and discussion of definition and history of SF film.
Due by Tuesday Jan 20. Hard Copy at my office (613 Strode) plus e-mail
to list
LAB2:
Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1924) Web
Page on SF Utopias and Metropolis
4. W, Jan 21: Discuss Readings on Metropolis
Required:
-
Patalas,
Enno. “Metropolis: Screen 103.” In Penley et al, Close Encounters.
(1991) 161-70.
-
Desser,
David. “Race, Space and Class: The Politics of the SF Film from Metropolis
to Blade Runner” In Kerman, Retrofitting Blade Runner (1990).
110-123.
-
Telotte,
J.P. “The Seductive Text of Metropolis.” Chapter 2 of Replications
Extra Credit
-
Available
On-Line Through Expanded Academic Index (Go to Clemson Libraries/ Article
Indexes and Databases, and click on Expanded Academic; once you are
in the database, search for the articles using author's names and words
in the title for keywords.
-
Emily S. Payne, "Fritz Lang's
Metropolis: Cinematic Visions of Technology and Fear." Historical Journal
of Film and Television. 22.1 (June 2002): 214 (2). Short review
of new book, collecting essays on Metrop. Gives overview of criticism
on film.
-
Roberts, Rex. Auld Lang
Syne: A Restored Print of the Silent Classic…” Insight on the News 18.28
(August 5, 2002): 33. Review of the new DVD gives good history
of movie versions (3 pp).
-
Steve Vineberg. “Heartbreak
City.” Christian Century 119.20 (September 25, 2002): 48 (2).
Nice
summary/overview (2 pp.)
-
Testa, Bart. Rev of Michael
Minden and Holger Bachman, eds. Fritz's Lang's Metropolis: Cinematic
Visions of Technology and Fear. Utopian Studies 13.2 (Spring
2002): 179 (5). Longer and more detailed review of new book; very
good explanation of critical perspectives.
-
Clark, Jill. "Scientific
Gazing and the Cinematic Body Politic: The Demonized Cyborg of Metropolis."
Intertexts
(3.2 (Fall 1999): 168 (13). Advanced feminist/postmodernist
analysis of the movie using Donna
Haraway's ideas about cyborgs.
-
Dolgenos, Peter. "The Star
on C.A. Rotwang's Door: Turning Kracauer on its Head." Journal
of Popular Film and Television 25.2 (Summer 1997): 68 (8).
Political-ideological anaysis of the film, dealing with Nazi and Jewish
elements.
-
Grad Students read: Dadoun, Roger. “Metropolis: Mother City –“Mittler’
– Hitler.” In Penley, Close Encounters
The Hero’s
Journey
5. M, Jan 26: Readings on Hero’s Journey:
LAB3: Star
Wars IV (New Hope) and V (Empire Strikes Back)
6. W, Jan 28: Discuss Campbell Quest and Readings
on Star Wars
-
Gordon,
Andrew. “Star Wars: A Myth for Our Time.” (1978): .
-
Gordon,
Andrew. “The Empire Strikes Back: Monsters from the Id.” (1980)
-
Rubey,
Dan. “Star Wars: “Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away.” 1978
Journal
#2: Metropolis; The Hero’s Journey and a SF film of your choice:
DUE F, Feb 6
The
50's:Alien Invasions and Creature Features Web
Site on 50's SF Film
7. M, Feb 2: Iconography of SF
-
King and Krzywinska, Intro “Spectacle
and Speculation” 11-50
-
Lucino,
Patrick. “Myths and Motifs of the Monster Movie.”
-
Wells,
Paul. “The Invisible Man: Shrinking Masculinity in the 1950s Science
Fiction
-
B-Movie.”
-
Tarratt,
Margaret, “Monsters from the Id”
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
Utopian Studies, Wntr 2001 v12
i1 p196. "Paranoia, the Bomb and 1950s Science-Fiction Films." (book review)
Christopher K. Cosner.
-
Mosaic (Winnipeg), Dec 1999 v32
i4 p73. "From Trauma to Paranoia: Nuclear Weapons, Science Fiction and
History." CYNDY HENDERSHOT.
LAB4:
The Thing (1951) and The Day the Earth Stood Still
(1951)
My
viewing Notes on The Thing from Another Planet
My
viewing Notes on The Day the Earth Stood Still
End
Xerox Installment I/ Begin Installment II
8. W, Feb 4: Discuss Readings on The
Thing and Day the Earth Stood Still
-
Warren,
Bill. Entry on The Thing from Another World from Keep Watching
the Skies, pp. 48-54.
-
Landon,
Brooks. “The Thing in All Its Guises: Reconsidering a Science Fiction
Classic”
-
Biskind,
Peter. “The Russians Are Coming, Aren’t They? Them!, The Thing, and
the Extremists from Beyond the Center.” In Seeing Is Believing, pp.
123-36.
-
Biskind,
Peter. “Friends in High Places:The Day the Earth Stood Still , It
Came from Outer Space and the Suppression of Paranoia” In Seeing
Is Believing, pp. 145-59.
Comparsion/Contrast
of The Thing and Day the Earth Stood Still
-
Grad Students read: King and Krzywinska, Chap 3 "Case Study: Star Wars
Episode 1: The Phantom Menace"
9. M, Feb 9: Readings on Invasion
of the Body Snatchers I Biblio
on IBS
-
Sobchack,
120-136 (dehumanizing humans)
-
Entry
on Them! from Keep Watching the Skies
-
Biskind,
Peter. “The Mind Managers: Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the
Paranoid Style in American Movies.” In Seeing is Believing
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
"Genre
and closure in the seven versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Finney
('54, '55, '78), Siegel ('56, '56), Kaufman ('78), and Ferrara ('93)."
(Critical Essay) Robert Shelton. West Virginia University Philological
Papers Fall 2002 p71(7) (4274 words)
-
"FILMS FOR OUR TIME: USING 'INVASION
OF THE BODY SNATCHERS' TO TEACH RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY." Neil Liss, Cameron
White. Teaching History: A Journal of Methods Spring 2001 v26 i1 p13 (4369
words)
-
"The
Other Americans, Biskin, Seeing is Believing pp. 102-122. (On Reserve)
LAB5:
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and THEM (1954)
My
viewing Notes on Invasion
of the Body Snatchers
My
viewing Notes on THEM
10. W, Feb 11: Invasion of the Body Snatchers
II
-
Entry
on The Invasion of the Body Snatchers from Keep Watching the Skies
-
Steffen
Fluhr, Nancy. “Women and the Inner Game of Don Siegel's Invasion of the
Body Snatchers”
-
Johnson,
Glen M. “'We'd Fight~.~.~.~We Had To': The Body Snatchers as Novel and
Film.” Journal of Popular Culture, 1979, 13, 5 14.
-
Comparsion/Contrast
of all four fifties films
Journal
#3 Fifties Movies (Thing, Day Earth Stood Still, Invasion of BS, Them):
M, Feb 16
The
60's : Holocausts and Expanded Visions Holocaust
Films |
11. M, Feb 16: Readings on Disasters
-
Sontag,
Susan, “The Imagination of Disaster”
Study
Questions
-
Cumbow,
Robert C. “Survivors: The Day After Doomsday.” (Peary 1984)
-
Broderick,
Mick. “Surviving Armageddon: Beyond the Imagination of Disaster.”
(1993)
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
LAB6:
Dr. Strangelove (1964) Dr.
Strangelove Web Site & Biblio
My
viewing Notes on Dr. Stranglelove | Sean
Callot's Viewing Notes
Class Discussion Notes on Dr. Strangleove | Sean's
Class Notes
12. W, Feb 18: Discuss Readings on Strangelove
-
Brustein,
Robert. "Out of This World." The New York Review of Books,
February 6, 1970. Rpt. In Perspectives on Stanley Kubrick,
ed, Mario Falsetto, pp. 136-40.
-
Kolker, RObert Phillip.
"Dr. Strangelove nad 2001: A Space Odyssey" 1980. Rpt. In Perspectives
on Stanley Kubrick, ed, Mario Falsetto, 141
-
Nelson,
Thomas Allen. "The Descent of Man." Chapter 4 of Kubrick:
Inside a Film Artist's Maze. Bloomington:Indiana UP, 1982.
-
Devries,
Daniel. Chapter 4 of Kubrick: The Films of Stanley Kubrick.
Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1973, pp. 34-44.
-
Kagan,
Norman. Excerpt from The Cinema of Stanley Kubrick. New York:
Continuum, 1993, pp. 132-144.
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
The New Leader, Oct 10, 1994 v77
n10 p20(2) Dr. Strangelove. (movie reviews) David Bromwich.
F,
Feb 20: Proposal and Initial Reference biblio for Research Project due
List
of some critical articles for Research Projects
The
Research Project
End
Xerox Installment II/ Begin Installment III
13. M, Feb 23: Readings on 2001
I 2001
Web Site & Biblio
-
Michel
Ciment “The Odyssey of Stanley Kubrick” (1972) (Early short summary)
-
Daniel Devries, Chapter on 2001 (pretty short, intro main ideas)
-
Excerpts from Perspectives on Stanley Kubrick, ed. Mario Falsetto: Herb
Lightman “Filming 2001: A Space Odyssey”, Douglas Trumbull, “Creating
Special Effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey,” and David G. Hoch, “Mythic
Patterns in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
"From technology to transcendence:
humanity's evolutionary journey in 2001: A Space Odyssey." (Critical Essay)
Carrol L. Fry. Extrapolation Fall 2003 v44 i3
p331(14)
-
"2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY." (Critical
Essay) Robert Poole. History Today Jan 2001 v51 i1 p39 (3862
words)
-
,Timothy E. Scheurer The
score for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Journal of Popular Film and Television.
Wntr
1998 v25 n4 p172(11)
-
"2001 at 25." (movie '2001: A
Space Odyssey') Piers Bizony. Omni May 1993 v15 n7 p42(6) (2904 words)
LAB
7: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
My
viewing Notes on 2001
List
of things to talk about re: 2001
Hero's
Journey in 2001
14. W, Feb 25: Readings on 2001 II
-
Miller,
Mark Krispin. "2001: A Cold Descent." Sight and Sound 4:1 (January
1994): 18 25.
-
Nelson,
Thomas Allen. Chapter 5 of Kubrick: Inside a Film Artist's
Maze. 1982.
-
Falsetto,
Mario. Excerpt from SK: A Narrative and Stylistic Analysis (1994)
(space & time)
Journal
#4 – Kubrick (Dr. Strangelove and 2001): Due M, Mar 1
The
70's: Critiques Web
Site on 70's Critiques
15. M, Mar 1: MIDTERM
(take-home) | Core
List of Articles
-
Telotte, Chapter 2, SF: The Critical
Context, 33-63
-
Ryan,
Michael and Douglas Kellner. “Technophobia” From Camera Politics.
Rpt. In Kuhn, Alien Zone. (On THX1138, Logan’s Run and BR)
-
Bruce
Franklin, “Visions of the Future in SF Films from 1970-82.” Rpt in Alien
Zone (1990)
LAB8:
Silent Running (1971) and Dark Star (1973)
My
viewing Notes on Silent Running
My
viewing Notes on Dark Star
16. W, Mar 3: Discuss Silent Running and
Dark Star
Midterm
due by Monday Mar 8.
The 70's:
Gender Issues
17. M, Mar 8: Readings on Gender Issues: Gender
Issues in SF Film
LAB9:
The Stepford Wives (1975)
My
viewing Notes on Stepford Wives
18. W, Mar 10: Discuss Movie.
Readings on Sex in SF Films
-
Vivian
Sobchack, “The Virginity of Astronauts: Sex and the Science Fiction Film”
(Kuhn 1990)
-
Thomson,
David. “Sex in Science Fiction Films: Romance or Engineering?” (1984)
(Peary)
-
GRADS
READ:
-
Sam B. Girgus. "Representative
men: unfreezing the male gaze." College Literature, Oct 1994 v21
n3 p214(9) (Availble on Expanded Academic)
Journal
#5 – Seventies Critiques and Gender Issues (Silent Running, Dark Star,
Stepford ): Due M, Mar 22
SPRING
BREAK (March15-19)
The
70's: Horror meets SF
19. M, Mar 22: Alien
Contexts Critical Biblio
on Alien
and Sequals
-
Byers, Thomas B. "Commodity
Futures: Corporate State and Personal Style in Three Recent Science Fiction
Movies." (Alien , BR, STII: Kahn)
-
T.J Matheson, “Triumphant Technology
and Minimal Man: The Technological Society, Science Fiction Films, and
Ridley Scott’s Alien”(1992)
-
Nostromo
by Joseph Conrad
LAB10:
Alien (1979)
My
viewing Notes on Alien
Study
Questions on Alien
Alien
and Campbell
20. W, Mar 24: Readings on Alien
-
Barbara Creed. “Gynesis,
Postmodernism and the Science Fiction Horror Film.” (Kuhn 1990)
-
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, “Woman:
The Other Alien in Alien” (1985)
-
Judith Newton. “Feminism and Anxiety
in Alien.” (SFS 1980)
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
Steffen Hantke. "In the
belly of the mechanical beast: technological environments in the Alien
films." Journal of Popular Culture Wntr 2003 v36
i3 p518(29) (11387 words)
-
Grad
Students Read
-
Robert Torrey, “Awakening
to the Other: Feminism and the Ego-Ideal in Alien” (1994)
F, Mar 26: 5 Summaries of important articles DUE
End Xerox Installment III/ Begin Installment
IV
The 80's:
The Future Revisioned: Postmodernism meets SF
21. M, Mar 29: Alien and Blade Runner
-
Re-read (Xer I) Desser, David,
"Race, Space, and Class." In Retrofitting Blade Runner, ed. Judith Kerman.
-
Interview with Ridley Scott on
directing Alien and Blade Runner by Danny Peary.
-
Bukataman, Scott. Excerpt
on Production in BFI book on Blade Runner (1997)
-
C. Carter Colwell, "Primitivism
in the Movies of Ridley Scott: Alien and Blade Runner."
-
Dick, Philip K. Excerpt
from “Man, Android, and Machine”
-
My P. K. Dick Pages
-
My
Reading and Discussion Questions Comparing Book and Movie
-
Things
to Discuss About the Film
-
Explanation
of anamorphic filming
LAB11:
Blade Runner (1982) Web
Site on Blade Runner and the Postmodern City
My
viewing Notes on Blade Runner (conceptual, visual, allusions)
A
Transcript of the Script of the 1982 Version of the Film
22. W, Mar 31: Discuss Blade Runner
-
Doll, Susan and Faller, Greg .
“Blade Runner and Genre: Film Noir and Science Fiction”
-
Peter Fitting, "The Neutralization
of Revolt in Blade Runner." (1987)
-
Marlene Barr, "Metahuman Kipple,
Or, Do Male Movie Makers Dream of Electric Women? Speciesism
and Sexism in Blade Runner,"
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
Nola Galagher. "Bleak visions:
Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. Director's Cut." Australian
Screen Education, Winter 2002 i29 p169(6)
-
Grads
Read
-
Guilliana Bruno, "Ramble City:
Postmodernism and Blade Runner." In Alien Zone, ed.
Annette Kuhn (1990) (On reserve)
Journal
#6 – Ridely Scott (Alien and Blade Runner): Due M, Apr 5??
23. M, Apr 5: Philip K. Dick and SF
Film
-
Telotte, J. P. “The Tremulous
Public Body: Robots, Change and the Science Fiction Film.” (Spring
1991)
-
Sparks,
Elisa K. “Visions of Dick: Men, Women, and Machines in Blade Runner and
Total Recall”
-
Philip K. Dick “We Can Remember
It for You Wholesale”
LAB12:
Total Recall (1989)
My
viewing Notes on Total Recall
Topics
to Discuss on Total Recall
Student
Web Page on Total Recall
Script
of Total Recall
Links
to Sites Explaining/ Defining Postmodernism
24. W, Apr 7: Readings on Total
Recall
-
Schmertz, Joanna. “On Reading
the Politics of Total Recall.”(1993)
-
Mizejewski, Linda.” “Total
Recoil: The Schwarzenegger Body on Postmodern Mars.” Postscript 12.3
(Summer 1993).
-
Grads Read: Telotte, Chap 6 on Robo Cop
The 90's:
Commerce is Our Goal
25. M, Apr 12: Discuss final exam: essay
and ID’s; SF Film in the 90's.
Science Fiction Film Criticism
LAB13:
Aliens (1987) (154 min extended) and/or Independence Day (1996)
My
viewing Notes on Aliens
Class
Discussion on Aliens
Campbell Chart on Aliens
26. W, Apr 14: Discuss Readings on
Aliens and Independence Day
-
Greenberg, Harvey. “Fembo:
Aliens’
Intentions.” (1988)
-
Abbott, Joe. “They Came
from Beyond the Center: Ideology and Political Textuality in the Radical
Science Fiction Films of James Cameron.” Literature/Film Quarterly
(1994)
-
Friedman, Michael D. “Independence
Day: The American Henry V and the Myth of Daivd.” (2000)
-
Mair, Jan. “Rewriting the American
Dream: Postmodernism and Otherness in Independence Day” Aliens
R Us Ed. Ziauddin Sardar and Sean Cubitt. London: Pluto Press 2002,
34-49.
-
Extra
Reading On- Line on Expanded Academic Index:
-
• Richard Schickel. Help! they're
back! Aliens storms in as the summer's megahit. Time, July 28, 1986 v128
p54(5)
• JAMES KENDRICK. Marxist
overtones in Three Films by James Cameron. Journal of Popular Film and
Television, Fall 1999 v27 i3 p37
Journal
#7 – Postmodern SF (Blade Runner, Total Recall, Aliens, ID4): Due M, Apr
19 ??
27. M, Apr 19: Readings on The Matrix
-
Schuchardt, Read, “What Is the
Matrix?” (Yeffeth, 5-22)
-
Gordon, Andrew, “The Matrix: Paradigm
of Post-Modernism..” II. (Yeffeth, 85-102)
LAB14:
The Matrix (2000) Matrix Links
My viewing Notes on The Matrix
28: W, Apr 21: Discuss Matrix and
Final Exam
F,
Apr 24: Final Research Paper/ Project DUE
Journal
#8 – Matrix and Wrap-up Retrospective: Due M, Apr 26??
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