History 319W
Latin American History and Film

http://www.history.umd.edu/Faculty/DWilliams/Summer04/HIST319W/syllabus.html

Prof. Daryle Williams
Department of History
2125 Taliaferro Hall
Office: (301) 405-0061
daryle@umd.edu
http://www.history.umd.edu/Faculty/DWilliams 
Office Hours: After class and by appointment

Course Description and Organization

HIST 319W tackles three interrelated problems of historical interpretation in the era of cinema: 1) How do motion pictures represent the past? 2) How do historians, moviegoers, and filmmakers approach historical film? 3) How do specific traditions and techniques of filmmaking affect the representation and interpretation of the past? In addressing these problems, we look at academic and popular readings of a number of motion pictures (feature-length; experimental; documentary) that purport to say something about three selected problems in the history of Latin America: the invention of a "New World;" the Mexican Revolution; and Truth and Reconciliation.The course meets every day of the Summer Session IA (June 1-18, 2004). Class sessions will last three hours and fifteen minutes.

The Three-Week Summerterm Format

Course Requirements

Throughout the course, all students should keep a Journal. The journal is a space where you are to thoughtfully consider major themes including the question of historical (in)accuracy, historical feel, scholarly vs. popular vs. commercial understandings of the cinematic past, and the relationship between contemporary events and historical film. The journal should engage the main themes and problems raised in the screened films and assigned readings. The journal is a space to reflect upon your personal reaction to the films. However, the language used in the journal should rise above everyday language of film criticism (e.g., "two thumbs-up!"; "I hated that movie!"; "Benecio del Toro is a hunk!"). The journal is pass/fail, and must be turned in on Thursday, June 17. No exceptions.

The First Writing Assignment, due on Monday, June 12, asks that you develop a five-page essay that analyzes how motion pictures have told the story of the Mexican Revolution, with a special focus on competing cinematic interpretations of revolutionary Pancho Villa and his followers.

The Second Writing Assignment, due on Monday, June 21, asks that carefully analyze one of the films screened in class (with the exception of Missing), applying Robert Brent Toplin's concept of "cinematic history." The paper should be seven-to-eight pages in length.

Each student select one film screened in class and prepare a list of five "Talking Points" for use in classroom discussion.

Grading Policies

Final grades will be determined by the following formula:

10% Journal
35% First Writing Assignment
35% Second Writing Assignment
20% Talking Points/Participation

Active participation and lively discussions enrich everyone's learning experience. It is important that all students use the in-class discussions to engage the assigned materials and one another. Active participation will work in your favor should your final grade fall on a borderline. Late papers will not be accepted without prior approval. With the exception of legitimate excuses, late papers may be subject to a grade penalty of one full grade for each day late.

Statement of Academic Integrity

Essential to the fundamental purpose of the University is the commitment to principles of truth and academic honesty. Because academic dishonesty, which refers to cheating, plagiarism, or helping someone else to cheat or commit plagiarism, jeopardizes the quality of education and depreciates the genuine achievement of others it must be reported to the Honor Council. The Code of Academic Integrity guides this and all other courses taught at the University of Maryland. Violations may result in a failing grade and/or referral to a University disciplinary committee. The full text of the Code is available on-line at http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/jpo/code_acinteg.html.

The Honor Pledge

Under the provisions of the resolution adopted by the University Senate on April 9, 2001, and approved by President Mote on May 10, 2001, all students will be asked to write by hand and sign the following pledge on all written assignments and examinations, unless otherwise instructed: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination.

For additional information on the Student Honor Pledge, visit http://www.umd.edu/honorpledge.

Films

Students are expected to watch all assigned films during the regularly scheduled class sessions. These same films are available for additional viewings at Nonprint Media Services in Hornbake Library. Most of the films are also available through commercial video rental/sales outlets.

Assigned Readings

The following readings are required.

Dorfman, Ariel. "Afterward from Death and the Maiden," Southwest Review 85:3 (Summer 200): 350-54. [EBSCO]

__________. Death and the Maiden. New York: Penguin, 1994.

Knight, Alan, "The Mexican Revolution," History Today 30:5 (May 1980): 28-34. [EBSCO]

Orellana, Margarida de. "The Incursion of North American Fictional Cinema 1911-1917 into the Mexican Revolution," in eds. King, John, Ana M. López, and Manuel Alvarado. Mediating Two Worlds: Cinematic Encounters in the Americas.  London: BFI, 1993; 3-14.

Seed, Patricia "'Are These Not Also Men?': The Indians' Humanity and Capacity for Spanish Civilisation," Journal of Latin American Studies 25:3. (Oct., 1993): 629-652. [JSTOR]

Stevens, Donald. Based on a True Story: Latin American History in Film. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources, 1997.

Toplin, Robert Brent. History by Hollywood: The Use and Abuse of the American Past. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 1996.

All assigned books will be available for purchase through the University Book Center and online vendors. These books will also be held on two-hour reserves at the Reserves Desk of McKeldin Library.

Full-text journal articles on EBSCO and JSTOR can be freely accessed, read, and downloaded from the database section of the University Libraries homepage <http://www.lib.umd.edu/cgi-bin/databases.cgi>. Access to these databases will be automatically authorized from any computer linked to the internet though the University of Maryland (on campus or dial-up pool). If you access the University Library's webpage through AOL, Verizon, Earthlink, .com and .gov domains, etc., you will need to access EBSCO and JSTOR via ResearchPort, available at http://researchport.umd.edu/.

Film Resources

The University Libraries have prepared a very extensive list of resources related to the study of cinema and the motion picture industry. The list includes major print and electronic resources such as Film Literature Index, International Dictionary of Films and Filmmaker, International Index to Film Periodicals, Lexis-Nexis Academic, MLA International Bibliography, and the Internet Movie Database.

For a complete list, see:http://www.lib.umd.edu/MCK/GUIDES/film_reviews.html

Course Schedule