THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THE CLASS THIS SEMESTER!

APRIL 30

Films:

Poto and Cabengo (Jean-Pierre Gorin 1980) DVD 4520

La Libertad (Lisandro Alonso 2001) DVD 4571 

Reading (to be done by May 6):

Robert Koehler. “Agrarian Utopias/Dystopias: The New Nonfiction.” 

Paper topic (Paper due May 7 via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file):

The final long paper is due before the last class session on May 7.

"The irony," Robert Koehler concludes, "is that there's nothing absolutely Argentine about La libertad. Its freedom is a freedom from nationality, time-space, narrative laws, camera laws and the expectations that audiences instinctively impose on themselves. But pay attention to the actual translation of the Spanish title: 'Liberty'--a harder, more profound word than 'freedom,' a word pointing to a greater leap, a commitment to an ideal, an identifier for an equation that even describes its opposition--oppression. Liberty is harder-won. Liberty is that thing that the films that really matter aspire to. This one just has the balls to take it as its own name."

APRIL 23

Films:

The Apple (Samira Makhmalbaf 1998) DVD 2189

The House is Black (Farrokhzad 1962) DVD 5056 

Reading (to be done by April 29):

Adrian Danks. “The House That Mohsen Built: the Films of

Samira Makhmalbaf and Marzieh Meshkini.”  

Jonathan Rosenbaum. “Radical Humanism and the Coexistence of 

Film and Poetry in The House is Black.” 

Paper topic (Paper due April 30 - undergraduates print copy and bring to class, graduates send via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file):

All short papers due. Please check your email; I will contact people who still owe papers.

The final long paper is due before the last class session on May 7.

APRIL 16

Film:

Young Soul Rebels (Julien 1991) DVD 5339    

Excerpts:

The Filth and the Fury (Temple 2000) DVD 891 (00:00:24 - 00:04:59; 00:56:48 - 01:00:49)

Sylvester. "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)."

Reading (to be done by April 22):

The Bazinian. "Young Soul Rebels Meets Hip-Hop Through the Cultural Exchange of the Black Atlantic."

Paper topic (Paper due April 30 - undergraduates print copy and bring to class, graduates send via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file):

Two more pages of progress on your final paper. This week, I care about what you turn in – I would like two pages of solid analysis of whatever film you’re discussing, working from a scene within the film. Since I’ve asked all of you to dedicate at least some of your paper to working with the films themselves, breaking down and discussing scenes in cinematic terms, THAT is what I expect in this week’s paper. Consider it another two pages out of the way to finishing your finals.  

It is due the Wednesday after next, on April 30, along with ALL short papers. If you are behind, you need to catch up and have two weeks to do it.

APRIL 9

Film:

Mes Petites Amoureuses (Eustache 1974) Personal DVD on Mairs reserve shelf    

Reading (to be done by April 15):

Nick Pinkerton. "His Little Loves."

Paper topic (Paper due April 16 - undergraduates print copy and bring to class, graduates send via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file):

Compare two performances from films screened in class this semester. This is best done through careful consideration of two short scenes. Issues to consider might include your sense of the authenticity or naturalism of the performance, the level of theatricality or artifice and the extent to which the performance leads you to identify with the character. Please define your terms carefully; don't expect your reader to understand what you mean by a "real" or "natural" performance.

APRIL 2

Film:

The Ascent (Shepitko 1977) DVD 3651     

Excerpt:

Come and See (Klimov 1985) DVD 2602  (opening ten minutes)   

Reading (to be done by April 8):

Leonard Pierce. “A Country As Ugly as War Itself.”  

Paper topic (Strict deadline – paper due April 9, to be sent via email to elkrugamigos@earthlink.net, attached as a .doc, .docx, .rtf or .odt file. All late papers must be arranged discussed with me before the due fate!):

Two pages of work on your final paper. This can be virtually anything: an outline, research notes from one of your sources, an annotated bibliography, a sketch version of analysis of a film or a scene – anything at all, so long as it gets you two pages further into work on your paper.