Jose Alamillo

LATINOS AND LATINAS IN FILM

CES 358

Meets:         Thursday, 3:10pm-6:00pm

Fulfills:        [M] Writing in the Major

Semester:    SPRING 2006

Classroom:   CUE 409

Instructor:   Jose Alamillo

Office:         Wilson Hall 120

E-mail:        alamillo@wsu.edu

Phone:         509-335-4793

Office Hours:  Tuesday & Thursday 10:30-12noon

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines Latino/a culture in the United States through Hollywood feature films and independent films. The course will begin with discussion of how to critically analyze films and popular culture. Then we will examine the history of Hollywood images of Latino/as. Each subsequent week we will watch a film for its content of the Latino and Latina experience in the United States . Each film will be accompanied by a reading that should be read prior to the screening of the film. We will also read a novel and play to compare with the medium of film. The films and readings should serve as a basis for discussions of broader social issues affecting Latinos and Latinas in the United States . We will also spend time writing about and discussing various elements of films, including type, stereotype, plot, genre, and characters, as well as racial, class and gender representations. Students will take detailed notes on each film to be used for more developed film papers and class discussions. This course is a [M] Writing in the Major course which requires a significant amount of writing.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1) Students will learn about the diversity of the Latino and Latina experience in the United States .

2) Students will write a critically informed film analyses about the Latino and Latina experience.

3) Students will learn to think critically about and uncover stereotypes of Latinos and Latinas in films and other forms of popular culture.

 

REQUIRED READINGS :

● Clara Rodriguez Latin Looks: Images of Latinas and Latinos in the U.S. Media (Westview Press, 1997).

● Denise Chavez, Loving Pedro Infante ( Washington Square Press, 2001)

● COURSE READER available in Cougar Copies.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

● Class Attendance and Participation

Since we only meet once a week for three hours, it is important that you attend class. Therefore, you must sign the attendance sheet to receive credit.  Since we will be meeting 14 times during the semester it is important that you not miss class unless you have an emergency. To receive an excused absence you need to provide documentation from a doctor or university representative. You should do the readings prior to class and watching the film. I will begin each class with an introduction to the film and a hand out a viewing guide. After the film students will discuss it and the reading(s) associated with it. If you attend all classes and participate in discussion you should receive 5 points per class for a total of 70 points..

 

● Film Viewing Guide

Each student needs to complete a viewing guide for each film, for a total of 11 films. The

viewing guide will include questions on the film, space for your film notes, and space for reading notes. The

viewing guide is available on the course website and should be printed out before class and you should

complete Part 3 of the viewing guide. Part 1 & 2 will be completed during the screening of the film. The viewing

guide will be due at the end of class each week. Part One will have questions on the film such as title, director,

plot, setting, characters. Part Two will be devoted toward notes on the film's representations of race, ethnicity,

culture, gender, class and otherness. Part Three will be devoted to questions on the assigned readings and

should be completed prior to each class meeting. Total 330 points.

Viewing Guide (30 points x 11= 330)

Part One (5 points)

Part Two (10 points)

Part Three (15 points)

 

● Three Film Papers

Students will write three film papers, incorporating the readings, film notes, viewing guide and other information, to make an argument about the Latino/a experience and film. Students can use ideas from their film notes, class discussions, and readings to craft an argument about the film. DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE FILMS. For further guidance please see Timothy Corrigan’s A Short Guide To Writing About Film (pp.1-40 in the COURSE READER). Total 600 points.

 

1. Film Review (100points)  (2-3 pages) See Corrigan’s description of a film review (pp.9-11) Since you have limited space you should make three main points about the film.

 

2. Critical Essay (200points) (5-6 pages) This paper is a critical essay on a film that reinforces or challenges stereotypes of Latinos and Latinas. See Corrigan’s description of a film review (pp.13-15)

 

3. Critical Essay (300 points) (7-8 pages) This paper will compare and contrast two films. One of the films must be outside of class. This paper needs to make a clear and concise argument about the Latino/a experience and film. The films can be within the same genre, Latino-produced versus non-Latino produced, or two films with a similar location (barrio, border etc..).

 

GRADING SCALE:

A        900-1000 points

B       899-800 points

C       799-700 points

D       699-600 points

F        below 599

 

 

SEE FILMS AND READINGS