Fall 2018, Weds. 6-9 PM, Clow 224 Office: Sage Hall 4622 Office Hours: MW 10:20-11:30 Phone: (920) Political Film

Transcription

1 Political Science 351 (3 credits) Prof. David Siemers Fall 2018, Weds. 6-9 PM, Clow 224 Office: Sage Hall 4622 Office Hours: MW 10:20-11:30 Phone: (920) Th 9-10 or by appointment Political Film Course Description: This class uses the medium of film to raise enduring questions and frame classic ideas about politics. This is a political theory course, which means that you will become familiar with a variety of texts and arguments that are not about films, but are statements about what politics is like and what it should be like. In their own way, films do this too. Generally speaking, there will be a theme for each week, rooted in a major idea from political theory that will be illuminated in some way by the film that you are assigned. I will supplement what you view and read with background lecture. Course Objectives: -learn about important political theories, considering their utility and implications -develop a careful, analytical approach to entertainment media -consider the interactions between politics and mass culture in a variety of nations -ponder the state of and improvement of the human condition

2 Department Learning Goals: General learning goals are related to the specific course objectives. The Department of Political Science has developed a comprehensive set of learning goals that its classes aim to address. The two that are most emphasized in this class are to understand and apply theoretical frameworks and to communicate effectively. The former asks you to recognize the normative and ethical features of politics, as well as understanding theories and their value in making sense of the world. The latter requires you to be able to understand others, articulate their views, as well as to develop and present your own analysis and understandings. Our full articulation of the learning goals is found here: Course Schedule, Topics of Study and Assignments Political theory is often dense and difficult to read, so I will offer a preview of upcoming readings at the end of each class meeting. This information will help you make sense of the reading when you do it, which should be done before the class assigned. You are also assigned films to view outside of class. Each of these films will be on 2 hour reserve at Polk Library, available for viewing. There are dedicated viewing carrels where you can play them (that have space for two people). Each of these movies is also available on YouTube (some free and some for $2.99) and on other subscription streaming services (like Netflix, FilmStruck, Sundance Now). It is up to you if that is a more convenient way of seeing them. If there is interest in seeing the seven movies that are not free on YouTube as a group (RBG, The Fog of War, City Lights, V for Vendetta, Persepolis, Ikiru, and Being There), I will arrange it. The time I would be available for this is on Mondays at 8PM. September 5 Film and Culture; Film Law and Regulation I reading: Richard Taylor, ed., Eisenstein on Eisenstein (D2L) Plato s image of the Cave (D2L) film assignment: none September 12 Film Law and Regulation, II reading: Plato On Poets and Stories (D2L) John Stuart Mill, Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion (D2L) film assignment: This Film is not yet Rated (2007), 97 min. September 19 Human Nature reading: Thomas Hobbes, Of the Natural Condition of Mankind John Locke, chapter 2 ( Of the State of Nature ) and chapter 3 ( Of the State of War of the Second Treatise on Civil Government John Dewey, Democracy and Human Nature (D2L) film assignment: Lord of the Flies (1963), 96 min.

3 September 26 Human Equality and Diversity reading: Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman, chs. 1 and 9 Susan Moller Okin, Justice, Gender, and the Family excerpts Christensen and Haas: Women, Politics, and Film: All About Eve? film assignment: RBG (2018), 98 min. October 3 Rationality and Self-Interest reading: Thucydides: Speeches at the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War by the Corinthians and the Athenians: Thomas Jefferson letter to James Madison of 6 September 1789: Michael Oakeshott, Rationalism in Politics (D2L) film assignment: The Fog of War (2003), 95 min. October 10 property, economics, and class reading: Locke, ch. 5 ( Of Property ) of Second Treatise on Civil Government Milton Friedman, The Role of Government in a Free Society (D2L) Michael Walzer, Money and Commodities (D2L) film assignment: City Lights (1929), 87 min. October 17 midterm exam reading: Gardels and Medavoy. Hollywood Films Export (D2L) Heymann and Stokes, Introduction, from D. W. Griffith s Birth of a Nation (this item is available as an ebook through the Polk Library site) film assignment: none October 24 Authoritarianism/Tyranny reading: Locke, ch. 18 ( Of Tyranny ) from Second Treatise on Civil Government, Hannah Arendt, On the Origins of Totalitarianism, Preface to the First Edition and Totalitarian Propaganda film assignment: The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993), you may watch the whole movie, but it is 3 hours, so here are suggested chapters: 1-3, 7-14, 16-18, or 0:00-10:00, 31:35-1:54:08, 2:07:50-2:33:22; 3:05:24-end October 31 Political Legitimacy and Consent of the Governed reading: Declaration of Independence, Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience (D2L) Michael Walzer, Complex Equality (D2L) film assignment: V for Vendetta (2005), 132 min.

4 November 7 Revolution and Political Violence reading: Machiavelli, The Prince, chapters Locke, ch. 19 ( Of the Dissolution of Government in Second Treatise Douglas Gentile, eds., Media Violence and Children excerpt (D2L) film assignment: Persepolis (2008), 95 min. November 14 Government Personnel and Operations reading: Walter Lippmann, Absentee Rulers from The Phantom Public Ernest Giglio, Reel Politicians: Idealists, Saviors, and Villains (D2l) film assignment: Ikiru (1952), 140 min. **November 19** term paper due November 21 Comparative Film Regulation reading: Daniel P. Franklin, Who Makes Em and Who Watches Em (D2L) film assignment: none December 5 Perception and Public Opinion reading: Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, chapters Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, The Culture Industry from Dialectic of Enlightenment Julie Miller, Is Reality TV to Blame for President Donald Trump? film assignment: Being There (1979), 130 min. December 12 course conclusion reading: Leo Strauss, What is Political Philosophy John S. Nelson, Doing Political Theory with Popular Films excerpt final exam Assessment and Grading: There are four components to your course grade Midterm Exam 25% Research Paper 30% Final Exam 25% Course Attendance and Participation 20% Exams: Tests will take place in class on October 17 th and December 12 th. There will be a variety of assessment mechanisms essays, multiple choice questions, and identification of terms. They will cover the material that we have gone over in class, including readings, films, and lecture. The week before the exam I will say more about format. These are open note exams but not open book/article.

5 Research Paper: You will choose a nation, writing a paper explaining its approach to the regulation and classification of filmed material. Since this is a political theory class, the paper must deal extensively with how your assigned nation s cultural, political, and legal traditions contribute to how it treats film. Additionally, the final major section of the paper will be your philosophical analysis of that nation s approach. Note that you must cover commercial feature films, but you are also invited to consider non-commercial material (such as private filmed content, including items critical of government, accusatory toward others, and obscene or otherwise offensive material. Below are questions for you to consider as you research and write: -What are specific traditions and practices in the nation s culture, legal system, and political history that help to explain how it approaches filmed materials? Are there important political thinkers or documents that help to explain the nation s approach? -Have there been major controversies about films and their content/regulation? How does the nation s law treat filmed material this may include such issues as obscenity and pornography, violence, liability issues, criticism of the government etc. When did significant changes occur in the nation s treatment of film? -Who has the job of viewing films and classifying/regulating them: a government board? an independent board regulated by government? an industry-run board? Who populates the board and how are they chosen? Is their work available to the public? -What does the film regulating body do? What powers do they have? What classification system do they use? Can they prohibit movies from being shown or encourage/order cuts to movies? How do they go about their business? How do they treat sensitive content like violence, obscene language, sex, and sexual innuendo? -What is the extent and effectiveness of their work? does it cover theaters and DVDs? Are its judgments recommendations or regulations? Is there relevant legislation involved? What does it require? Are there important or illustrative examples of what this organization has done? You might not find much about some of the questions above. Your job is to know and convey as much as you can about the nation s approach in your paper and then offer a serious analysis of the approach. There may be things of interest that you find that are outside the scope of these questions and if relevant, include it. Here is a wiki to get you started: But it is just a start. Your suggested page length is pages. The paper is worth 30% of your grade. One of our class days will be devoted to presentation of results. Only one person may choose a nation and they are available on a first come, first served basis. Participation and Attendance: Equal portions of this grade will be given to participation and attendance. If you attend the whole of every class, you will receive full credit for the participation portion. You will need to actively participate in order to score well on the participation portion of the grade. There are many ways to accomplish this: ask questions, make comments, show that you are engaged with the course readings, remark how events may relate to our discussions, reference other films or readings that relate to the topics we discuss etc. Feel free to ask me how you are doing on this part of the grade during the semester.

6 Please note that both tests and the term paper must be submitted to receive a passing grade in the course. Late papers will be penalized one grade increment (i.e. B+ becomes a B) if late by less than a week; thereafter a full grade penalty will be assessed (B+ becomes a C+). Barring documented medical necessity, exams must be taken on the scheduled dates. Absences expose one to a lowered course grade. If you are absent from class due to illness, religious holiday, a recognized University event, or another reason that may be considered excused, please let me know. I can excuse you from attendance and it will not harm your grade.