MLL 550-01 Hispanic Film, Patrick

DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES & LITERATURES
PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY FALL, 2014
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Title: Hispanic Film
Instructor: Bert Patrick
Course Num: MLL 550-01
Office: 416 Grubbs Hall
Prerequisites: MLL351 Gram & Comp II &
MLL450 Readings Lit/Civ II
Office Hours: 10-10:50 until 10/ 7; 11-12 T-Th;
Credit Hours: 3
Office Phone: 235-4711
Course Time: 11-11:50 MWF
Home Phone: 308-6588 (before 10pm, please)
E-mails: [email protected]
[email protected]
2-5 MTTh or by apt.
***¡OJO!*** We will be viewing movies that contain material intended for adult audiences: nudity,
euthanasia, sexual activities, graphic violence and crude language, among others. If you are uncomfortable
watching such movies, or discussing them in the presence of the opposite sex, reconsider now if this class is
for you. However, be assured that each of the films we will view was chosen only after serious consideration
of the best that is available, taking into account their artistic merit, numerous recognitions and awards, and
the fact that they explore important topics being discussed in the Hispanic world. I believe that none of the
items above are superfluous or gratuitous but are included because they contribute to the overall effect of the
film and contribute to its artistic integrity.
I COURSE DESCRIPTION Activities designed to help you continue to improve your listening
comprehension, speaking, analytical and writing skills, and your
knowledge of Hispanic culture, by watching recent films, discussing them in class and then writing
analyses of them.
II PURPOSE OF COURSE The PRINCIPAL GOALS IN THIS COURSE are to help you
1) continue to improve your comprehension of spoken Spanish as used in
contemporary popular films; 2) learn about the various elements and characteristics of movies in order to
analyze them with greater skill; 3) develop your ability to express your opinions about the important
elements of these movies in class discussions; and 4) write insightful analyses of them. You will also
become familiar with aspects of Hispanic culture and issues which concern Hispanic directors.
III COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of this course you should have 1) improved listening
comprehension skills, 2) more knowledge about the elements of a movie,
3) greater ability to analyze films and to express your opinions about them, 4) a greater appreciation and
understanding of Hispanic culture, 5) a better awareness of contemporary issues in the Hispanic world,
and 6) the ability to write analyses in more precise and correct Spanish.
An additional question of growing importance is what is a Hispanic film? The nationality of the
director? [Isabel Coixet {The Secret Life of Words, Map of the Sounds of Tokyo}, Alejandro Amenábar
{The Others, Agora, Regression}, Alejandro González Iñárritu {Babel, 21 Grams}] Of the actors?
{Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem} The locale of the action? [Aguirre, the Wrath of God,
Vicky Cristina Barcelona] The language(s) in which the dialogue is delivered? The intended audience?
Keep these questions in mind as we go through the semester, as some of you may choose to do your study
of a director who directs films in languages other than Spanish and works with international casts or sets
his/her films in international locales.
IV TEACHING STRATEGIES
Class time will be spent in a variety of activities, including, but not
limited to, 1) watching portions of films, 2) analyzing aspects of them
in one-on-one, small group and whole class discussions, and 4) discussing aspects of films viewed outside
of class.
V ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY Each student is expected to behave in an ethical manner in
carrying out all aspects of their academic responsibilities. As
this is a very serious matter, it is important for each student to understand what these responsibilities are.
Please read ARTICLE 30. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT of the Student's Code of Rights and
Responsibilities on the Pittsburg State University web site at http://www.pittstate.edu/audiences/currentstudents/policies/rights-and-responsibilities/academic-misconduct.dot in order to know what the
University defines as “academic misconduct” and the potential consequences for violations of this policy.
VI SYLLABUS SUPPLEMENT FOR FALL, 2014 SEMESTER For additional important
information about this semester that affects you, please review the Syllabus Supplement at this
address: http://www.pittstate.edu/dotAsset/eb3c8820-1c48-4f7e-aae8-8ccf74dc449a.pdf
VII TEXT
1) A subscription to Netflicks or any other provider is HIGHLY recommended to insure
that you have the opportunity for multiple viewings of each movie. You are responsible for
viewing all films, whatever your decision in this regard.
2) (Optional:
3)
NOT a requirement)
Cinema for Spanish Conversation (4th Ed.) Gill,
Smalley, Haro [ISBN 978-1-58510-706-3]
http://classes.yale.edu/film-analysis/ This site is fantastic with many movie clips. I encourage
you to refer to this information regularly.
4) Four additional sites with information about analyzing films.
http://www.studyguide.org/fillmterms.htm
http://www.essex.ac.uk/filmstudies/current_students/Guidelines_for_analysis_of_film_sequences.htm
http://www.uni-koeln.de/~ame02/pppf.htm
VIII EVALUATION
A. OVERALL EVALUATION
1 ANALYSES OF FILMS You are to write an analysis (not a summary or retelling) of 6 films.
You may write about any aspect (or several of them) of the movies
watched: meaning of the title, conflict(s) and its/their resolution, character development, theme, setting,
sound, music, lighting, ideas, cultural messages /content, camera/filming techniques, etc. Each analysis
should be a minimum of two full pages, maximum of three. Each is to be handed in on the date indicated
by Entregar on the course schedule below. Each analysis should have a title page, be in Spanish, be
typed double-spaced with size 12 Times New Roman fonts (this font, one size larger), and have 1”
margins all the way around. Each analysis will be graded according to five criteria, each worth 20%: 1)
content development (in how much depth is/are the main idea[s] treated); 2) physical organization (does
the presentation move naturally from an introduction to a development of the main ideas and then end
with a reiteration/summary /conclusion); 3) vocabulary (does the analysis use the same words over and
over or does it reveal a variety of words and expressions, a sign that you are growing linguistically); 4)
language usage (syntax [word order], idioms, transition expressions, real Spanish [not “English
translated into Spanish”]; and 5) language mechanics (spelling, subject-verb agreement, correct verb
tense usage, noun-adjective agreement, etc.). Each analysis is worth 7.5% of the final grade, a total of
45%. As you will notice, movies are grouped in pairs. As a consequence, you may choose to write
individual analyses of each film or a comparison of the two. In the latter case, your analysis should be a
minimum of four pages, maximum of six. Whichever of these two ways you approach the analyses is up
to you.
2 ORAL PRESENTATION -- PREZI/POWER POINT You are to give a 12-15 presentation in
Spanish over three films in addition to the
six that everyone must analyze. They should have something in common, for example, the same director,
the same actor/actress, the same style or genre, the same theme, the same era, etc. The last weeks of the
semester will be dedicated to these presentations (see the schedule starting Nov. 10). You are to inform
me in writing ASAP which three films you plan to analyze. First come, first served. Each person should
have a different topic. I will be glad to discuss possibilities with you in my office. If you are also taking
MLL 451 Advanced Conversation you can NOT use any of the films viewed in that course for this
analysis. This is 15% of the final grade.
3 ANALYSIS OF THREE FILMS You are to write an analysis of the three films over which you do
your oral presentation. Analyze aspects of them, do NOT merely
retell the plot of each. The title of your paper should be a question, for example, ¿Cuáles son las
semejanzas en las técnicas empleadas en tres películas del director Fulano de Tal?; o ¿Cómo están
opuestos los personajes que representa Lupe Lasagna en las películas ___, ___ y ___?; o ¿Cuál es el
papel de la música en las películas Yada, Yaya y Dada? This analysis is to be a minimum of 6 pages in
length and follow the same guidelines used for the shorter papers. In addition, it should demonstrate that
you have researched your topic by including quotes from articles and books and a bibliography at the end.
If you use information from other sources and do not cite it, you are committing plagiarism, a serious matter that could result in receiving no credit. This
paper is due on the last day of classes and is 25% of the course grade.
4 PARTICIPATION This portion of your grade will be based on 1) your participation in the
Q & A sessions over the oral presentations, 2) your written questions over
these, and 3) contributions of information on the days marked Información introductoria sobre… and
Discusión de… You are to read about the topics listed in Información introductoria… and, of course,
come prepared to discuss all aspects of the films watched. This is 5% of your grade.
5 ATTENDANCE I expect you to be in class every day, prepared to participate fully in the day’s
activities. Each day you are absent, for whatever reason, will reduce your score
in this area by 5%; each tardy by 2.5%. This is also worth 5% of your grade in the class.
6 CONVERSATION PARTNER SESSIONS Each student is to have a one-on-one session with
a conversation partner each week. More than any
other topic, I encourage you to discuss the films we/you are watching. Putting your thoughts into words
helps you significantly in the analysis process. Your attendance, participation and improvement in
speaking skills will be used to determine your performance in these sessions. This is 5% of your grade in
this course.
7 FINAL GRADE Your grade for the course will be determined in the following manner: results of
the analyses (45%), Oral Prezi/PowerPoint presentation (15%), 6 page paper
(25%), participation (5%), attendance (5%) and conversation partner sessions (5%).
B. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Analyses of six films
45%
Oral Prezi/PowerPoint presentation 15%
Written analysis of three films
Participation
Attendance
Conversation partner sessions
C. GRADING SYSTEM
A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
25%
5%
5%
5%
100%
D 69-60
F 59-00
IX KANSAS STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION (KSDE) TEACHING STANDARDS
This course meets the following KSDE teaching standards: Standard #1
1-4 and Standard #7 Knowledge 1 Performance 1, 3-5
Knowledge 1-6 Performance
IKE CREDIT This course counts towards the academic component of the IKE Certificate of
International Knowledge and Experience. The IKE Certificate may be earned by students in any major.
The academic component consists of five courses - two semesters of a foreign language, and three courses
with international content in three different disciplines. To receive the certificate, students must also
complete a second component, either by studying abroad, or by participating in co-curricular activities on
campus. Completion of the IKE certificate as an undergraduate is noted on a student’s PSU undergraduate
transcript, although graduate students may also earn the certificate. To be added to the IKE Canvas group
and start tracking your progress towards the certificate, please e-mail your GUS number in a request to
[email protected] . More information on the IKE program is available online at
http://www.pittstate.edu/department/ike/international-knowledge-and-experience/index.dot
STUDY ABROAD The department strongly recommends that all Modern
Languages and Literatures majors and minors participate in an accredited study
abroad program. PSU offers study abroad scholarships as well as assistance with
other financial aid. To learn about accredited programs, contact Tillie
Fathbruckner, Study Abroad Coordinator, at [email protected] or
235-4221, or visit 118C Whitesitt Hall. For information on transfer credits,
consult with Dr. Celia Patterson, Chair, English; Interim Chair, Modern
Languages and Literatures, 235-4689 or visit 434 Grubbs.
Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself. - Doris Lessing
HORARIO DE CINE HISPANO (MLL 550)
AGO 18 Introducción a la clase
20 ¿Qué elementos analizar en una película?
Prepare by studying Reading a Film Sequence in Files
22 ¿Cómo analizar/escribir un análisis de una película?
Prepare to share your ideas by thinking about what elements you would analyze in movies you’ve
recently seen
La conciencia individual contra las instituciones estatales.
25 También la lluvia (2010) [1’43”] España Icíar Bollaín
27 También la lluvia
29 También la lluvia
SEP 1 Día del Trabajo: ¡No hay clase!
3 Discusión de También la lluvia e información introductoria sobre Ramón Sampedro
5 Mar adentro (2004) [2’05”] España Alejandro Amenábar
8 Mar adentro
10 Mar adentro
12 Discusión de Mar adentro
15 Entregar el 1º análisis: También la lluvia y Mar adentro
17 Información introductoria sobre Pedro Almodóvar
¡Hay crímenes y hay crímenes!/La búsqueda del cariño humano.
19 Volver (2006) [2’01”] España Pedro Almodóvar
22 Volver
24 Volver
29 Discusión de Volver
OCT 1 La piel que habito (2011) [1’55”] España
3 La piel que habito
6 La piel que habito
8 Discusión de La piel que habito
10 Entregar el 2º análisis de Volver y La piel que habito
13 Información introductoria sobre Alfonso Cuarón y Alejandro Gónzalez Iñárritu
Un viaje al descubrimiento de uno mismo.
15 Y tu mamá también (2001) [1’45”] México Alfonso Cuarón
17 ASUETO OTOÑAL ¡No hay clase!
20 Y tu mamá también
22 Y tu mamá también
24 Discusión de Y tu mamá también
Las decisiones y sus consecuencias
27 Amores perros (2000) [2’33”] México Alejandro González Iñárritu
29 Amores perros
31 Amores perros
NOV 3 Discusión de Amores perros
5 Entregar el 3º análisis de Y tu mamá también y Amores perros
7 No hay clase
10 Dos presentaciones orales
12 Tres presentaciones orales
14 Tres presentaciones orales
17 Dos presentaciones orales
19 Tres presentaciones orales
21 Dos presentaciones orales
24 Tres presentaciones orales
26-28 ASUETO de THANKSGIVING ¡No hay clase!
DIC 1 Dos presentaciones orales
3 Tres presentaciones orales
5 Dos presentaciones orales; Día de entregar el análisis de las tres películas
8-12 Semana de exámenes finales