Requirements:
Class attendance and participation. (15%)
Each student will lead a discussion on one of the films screened in class. (35%)
A 15-20 page typed paper presenting an in-depth examination of one or more issues explored in class and reflecting the student's ability to provide relevant insight into specific films.Students are asked to limit films discussed to those screened in class or available on reserve.This paper is due no later than Monday, May 6. (50%)

Readings:
All books are available either at the bookstore and/or on reserve at Clemons.There is a short course packet available at the Copy Shop on Elliewood Avenue.All suggested readings are on reserve.

Available at the bookstore:
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, Minneapolis and London: University of Minnesota Press, 1994.
Haskell, Molly, From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in Films, New York, Chicago, San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974.
Mast, Gerald et al., Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, 4th edition, New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Mulvey, Laura, Visual and Other Pleasures, Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1989.
Shohat, Ella and Stam, Robert, Unthinking Eurocentrism: Multiculturalism and the Media, London and New York: Routledge, 1994.

On Reserve:
Barnouw, Erik and Krishnaswamy, S., Indian Film, New York, Oxford, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1980.
Doane, Mary Ann, Mellencamp, Patricia, and Williams, Linda, eds., Re-Vision: Essays in Feminist Film Criticism, Los Angeles: The American Film Institute, 1984.
Roy, Manisha, Bengali Women, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1992.
Vasudev, Aruna and Lenglet, Phillippe, Indian Cinema Superbazaar, New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., 1983.
Downing, John D.H., Film & Politics in the Third World, New York: Praeger, 1987.

Jan. 17 -Introduction of the course and instructor, administrative tasks.Discussion of what might be learned by studying women's relationship to film in South Asia.
Jan. 22 -Introduction to film theory. Discussion of feminist "seeing" through aesthetic images and how to adapt critical approaches for looking at women's inside / outside relationship to cinema in South Asia.
Required:
Mast, Gerald et al., Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, pp. 52-58, 66-69, and 121-126.
Mulvey, Laura, Visual and Other Pleasures, pp. 14-77.
Haskell, Molly, From Reverence to Rape, pp. 1-41.
Doane, Mary Ann, Mellencamp, Patricia, and Williams, Linda, eds., Re-Vision: Essays in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 83-99.
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 48-64.
Suggested:
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 176-190.

Jan. 22 - Historical artistic precedents for Indian cinema and women's roles in particular. Literary depiction of women and cultural paradigms for female behavior.
Required:
packet, pp. 3-10 and 28-103.
(on reserve) Roy, Manisha, Bengali Women, pp. 1-147.
Suggested:
(on reserve) Narayan, R.K., The Ramayana, Penguin Books, 1972. (very short and readable)
(on reserve) Dhruvarajan, Vanaja, Hindu Women and the Power of Ideology, Bergin & Garvey Publishers, Inc., 1989, pp. 25-98.

Jan. 29: Historical overview of the development of the cinematic industry in South Asia. Introduction of Jan. 31 film. Images of women in early Indian Films. (clips)
Required:
(on reserve) Vasudev, Aruna and Lenglet, Philippe, Indian Cinema Superbazaar, pp. 1-27.
Shohat, Ella and Stam, Robert, Unthinking Eurocentrism: Multiculturalism and the Media, pp. 100-177.
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 65-81.
Suggested:
(on reserve) Barnouw, Erik and Krishnaswamy, S., Indian Film, pp. 1-219.

Jan. 31: Screening of "Awara." (if available. Otherwise, film T.B.A.) [I ended up showing "Kal, Aaj aur Kal" because "Awara" didn't arrive in time.]
Required:
packet, pp. 11-27 and 110-119.

Feb. 5: Discussion of Jan. 31 film. Focus on aesthetics and structuring of female roles. Post- independence cinema and views of westernization.
Required:
Haskell, Molly, From Reverence to Rape, pp. 42-152.

Feb. 7: The Vamp: one who is not sati - development of the bad girl. Paradigms for behavior and redemption. (clips)
Required:
Haskell, Molly, From Reverence to Rape, pp. 153-276.
Mast, Gerald et al., Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, pp. 561-577.
(on reserve) Vasudev, Aruna and Lenglet, Philippe, Indian Cinema Superbazaar, pp. 98-105.

Feb. 12 : Screening of "Krodhi."

Feb. 14: Discussion of Feb. 12 film. Sex in the cinema: Songs, wet saris, rapes and censorship. (clips)
Required:
(on reserve) Vasudev, Aruna and Lenglet, Philippe, Indian Cinema Superbazaar, pp. 55-61.
(on reserve) Barnouw, Erik and Krishnaswamy, S., Indian Film, pp. 214-219.

Feb.19: Screening of "Painter Babu."

Feb.21: Discussion of Feb. 19 film. Recent developments: the vamp and the heroine coalesce. (clips)
Required:
packet, pp. 143-154.

Feb.26: Women within the commercial film industry: the stars, the directors and Lata Mangeshkar.
Required:
packet, pp. 130-141.
Mast, Gerald et al., Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, pp. 614-621 and pp. 646-653.
(on reserve) sampling of Indian fan tabloids.

Feb.28: Screening of "Inquilaab."

Mar.4: Discussion of Feb. 28 film.

Mar.6: Screening of "Katha."

Mar. 18th: Discussion of difference between art films and popular films. How does this affect the portrayal and participation of women?Overview of the development of art cinema and its influences.
Required:
Shohat, Ella and Stam, Robert, Unthinking Eurocentrism: Multiculturalism and the Media, pp. 248-337.
(on reserve) Vasudev, Aruna and Lenglet, Philippe, Indian Cinema Superbazaar, pp. 145-156.

Mar. 20: India's most internationally recognized director: Satyajit Ray. His depiction of women and social issues. Screening of "Two Daughters."Introduction to Mar. 25 film.
Required:
(on reserve) Barnouw, Erik and Krishnaswamy, S., Indian Film, pp. 290-291.
packet, pp. 120-128.

Mar. 25: Screening of "Devi."

Mar.27: Discussion of Mar. 25 film. "New" cinema.Introduction of April 1 film.
Required:
Downing, John D.H., Film & Politics in the Third World, pp. 167-180

April 1: Screening of "Koodevide?"

April 3: Discussion of April 1 film.

April 8: Women directors and the vision of new cinema: the films of Aparna Sen and Ketan Mehta.
Required:
packet, pp. 155-77.
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 293-304.

April 10: Screening of "Mirch Masala."

April 15: Discussion of April 10 film. Women's documentaries.Screening of Mira Nair's "Jama Masjid Street Journal."
Required:
Carson, Diane, Dittmar, Linda, and Welsch, Janice R., eds., Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism, pp. 406-420.

April 17th: South Asian women in films from the west. The work of Pratibha Parmar, Mira Nair and Gurinder Chadha. Screening ofGurinder Chadha short films. [ "Acting Our Age," "I'm British But...," "A Nice Arrangement," and "What do You Call an Indian Woman who's Funny?"]
Required:
packet, pp. 178-183.

April 22: Discussion of Chadha's short films.

April 24: Screening of "Bhaji on the Beach."

April 29: Discussion of April 24 film.

May 6: TERM PAPERS DUE (please deliver to Cabell Hall Basement 22)

Back to the top