History 319W
Latin American History and Film

http://www.history.umd.edu/Faculty/DWilliams/Summer06/HIST319W/syllabus.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND ORGANIZATION

HIST 319W tackles four interrelated problems of history and 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?; and, 4) how do movies affect history?

In addressing these problems, we look at academic and popular readings of a number of motion pictures that purport to say something about selected episodes/themes in the history of Latin America.
For the summer 2006 term, our focus will be on cinema and the history of Rio de Janeiro. Our discussions will contribute to the development of a new textbook, The Rio de Janeiro Reader: Itineraries through the Marvelous City, under development with Duke University Press.

The majority of the films screened will be feature-length, commercial films, but we will make some forays in documentaries, film shorts, and educational films.

The course meets Monday and Wednesday afternoons during Summer Session I (June 5-July 16, 2006). Class sessions will last three hours and fifteen minutes, including a break.

THE SUMMERTERM FORMAT

Our summerterm format is very well-suited for the study of film. The extended sessions provide sufficient time to screen and discuss each film and related readings. The single greatest drawback to this format is that a semester's worth of work must be squeezed into six weeks, rather than fourteen. The pacing is, obviously, much faster than a conventional semester. It will be very difficult to make up for missed work. Therefore, it is extremely important that all students budget their time so that they are able to dedicate at least 90 minutes per day beyond in-class time to meet all course requirements.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The First Writing Assignment is to craft an introductory guide to the city of Rio de Janeiro, drawing upon Ruy Castro's popular history of the city, Rio de Janeiro: Carnival Under Fire, as well as other sources readily available in the mainstream media. The six-page assignment is due Monday, June 12, 2006.

Each student will be responsible for leading the screening of an assigned film. The screening should include the development of a basic summary sheet on the assigned film (see models distributed during the first week of class) and a set of discussion questions that bring together issues of history and film.

The Second Writing Assignment, due at the end of the term, asks that you develop an extended lesson plan for the film discussed in the screening. Additional details to be distributed during the second half of the course.

GRADING POLICIES

Final grades will be determined by the following formula:
25% First Writing Assignment
25% In-class Film Screening
25% Second Writing Assignment
25% 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.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/code.html.

THE HONOR PLEDGE

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, see: http://www.umd.edu/honorpledge.

FILMS

Students are expected to watch all assigned films during the regularly scheduled class sessions. Most of the films are available through Nonprint Media Services in Hornbake Library. Most of the films are also available through commercial video rental/sales outlets, such as Video Americain, Potomac Video, and Netflix.com.

READINGS

The following readings are required:

Bowman, Donna. "Faith and the Absent Savior in Central Station" Journal of Religion and Film 5:1 (April 2001). [ResearchPort: MLA International Bibliography]

COURSE SCHEDULE