Tom Whalen
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Winter Semester 2011/2012
Art: Seminar (conducted in English)
Ort + Zeit: Neubau II, Raum 2.08
Beginn Fr 16.10.09, 13:30-17:00 Uhr
Für alle Studiengänge
Sprechzeit: Freitags nach der Veranstaltung, Neubau 2, Raum 2.18, e-Mail: whalen.t@gmail.com

SEMINAR - AMERICAN MATTERS

The better films may not have messages, but they often have issues. The issues in the films in „American Matters“ include racism, poverty, war, addiction, honor, and the marketing of children’s toys. This course will examine the cinematic means select American directors (Sturges, Ford, Fuller, Ray, Mann, Peckinpah, DePalma, Dante ... ) have used to explore these and other issues in a variety of genres.

Oct 14
Sullivan’s Travels – Preston Sturges (1941) 86’

Oct 21
The Mortal Storm – Frank Borzage (1940) 100’

Oct 28
To Be or Not To Be – Ernst Lubitsch (1942) 93’

Nov 4
Bigger Than Life – Nicholas Ray (1956) 91’’

Nov 11
Men in War – Anthony Mann (1957) 100’

Nov 18
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – John Ford (1962) 118’

Nov 25
Soldier in the Rain – Ralph Nelson (1963) 87’’

Dez 02
Castle Keep – Sydney Pollack (1969) 103’

Dez 09
The Wild Bunch – Sam Peckinpah (1969) 145’ Referat topic due

Dez 16
McCabe & Mrs. Miller – Robert Altman (1971) 116’

Jan 13
French Connection II – John Frankenheimer (1975) 114’

Jan 20
My Dinner with Andre – Louis Malle (1981) 107’

Jan 27
White Dog – Samuel Fuller (1982) 90’

Feb 03
Dead Zone – David Cronenberg (1983) 104’

Feb 10
Matinee – Joe Dante (1993) 99’

Feb 17
Referate or TBA

To obtain a Pro- or Hauptseminarschein: regular attendance (no more than 3 absences), presentation and a critical paper (Proseminar: 1600 – 2000 words, Hauptseminar: 2400 – 5000 words on a film or films from the course’s filmography (see „Courses“ at www.tomwhalen.com). Grade will be based on class participation (40%), Referat (30%), papers (30%). Non-credit students are welcome at any of the screenings and discussions.