SYLLABUS: SOCIOLOGY THROUGH FILM SYG-4003 SUMMER B 2003

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, 6:25-9:05 PM, JUNE 25-AUGUST 6, 2003

UNIVERSITY PARK; BUILDING: PCA (NEW ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING), ROOM 150

PROFESSOR: Dr. Abraham D. Lavender, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Office: University Park, Building DM, Room 322B. Best contact is abelavender@aol.com. More contact information will be given during the first class.

PURPOSE OF COURSE: The purpose of this course is to learn how the movie industry in the United States reflects values in the U.S., how the movie industry is influenced by values in the U.S., and how the movie industry influences values in the U.S. We will look at six demographic groups based roughly on ethnicity, religion, race, language, gender, and sexual orientation, and see how movies have portrayed the groups, and how and why those portrayals are changing over time. We also will look at the extent to which these groups are or are not represented in the movie industry in the U.S. We see that movies don’t just happen, but that they are influenced by larger forces and also influence the larger society. For each group, there will be a movie, class discussion, and lecture by the professor.

READINGS: (1) PAST IMPERFECT: HISTORY ACCORDING TO THE MOVIES, edited by Mark C. Carnes. This book discusses about sixty movies, analyzing the accuracy or inaccuracy of the movies’ portrayals of events. As the flyleaf says, “There is no denying the tremendous power movies have in shaping our perceptions of the past.”

(2) HOLLYWOOD’S AMERICA: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEMES IN MOTION PICTURES, by Stephen Powers, David J. Rothman, and Stanley Rothman.

GRADING: There will be two tests. Each test will consist of about 33 questions, mostly multiple choice or short answer ranging up to several sentences. Each test will be about half each from class lecture/discussion and readings. The highest test, whichever it is, will count double.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken frequently, and the professor reserves the right to adjust a grade downwards for any student who misses more than three classes. Education also consists of the class atmosphere, hearing other student comments, observing class interactions, etc. Students who do not regularly attend classes will be at a grade disadvantage in this class.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND MOVIES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

1–“Little Big Man”; introduction to course, history of movies in the U.S., lecture on Native Americans in films

2--“The Perez Family” (or a documentary film) and lecture on Hispanics in Hollywood

3--“Rosewood” and lecture on Blacks in Hollywood

4--“An Empire of Their Own”and lecture on Jews in Hollywood

5-- “The Celluloid Closet” and lecture on sexual orientation in Hollywood

6--“The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful”and lecture on gender roles in Hollywood.