Media Historiography

Dr. Kathy Fuller-Seeley

This course is a seminar for graduate students in the theories and methods of film and media history. We will be looking at theoretical aspects of "what's history, what's film history and how do you do media history?" We'll start with some historiographic overviews, and then look at some of the many ways film history is being studied and interpreted. There will be small weekly analytical assignments (one page -- what's this book about?); a midterm essay assignment, and a 15-20 page primary source research paper. We will all get copies of a CD-Rom history of an early Hollywood studio that comes with tons of primary source documents. Then we will each develop topics that tie in what we are learning with what aspects of media study you might be interested in, and work on historical papers about this Thanhouser studio, which we will present at the end of the term.

Required texts:

Reading Packet (5 articles) available at Printshop copy shop around the corner

And Q. David Bowers: Thanhouser Films: An Illustrated History (CD Rom that we will order from the author/publisher)

Assignments:

Weekly worksheets: Due in class on each week's readings; a 1-page document analyzing the author's questions, theses, approaches and relationship to course readings
In-Class presentations: You will be asked to lead class discussion one week (we will choose book assignments in class; and make an oral presentation of your research findings on the Thanhouser material at the end of the semester).

Participation: this grad is based on your regular attendance, the quality of your participation in discussions, and the level of preparation and effort you put into your thinking, reading, writing and speaking. Missing more than one class or failing to turn in your worksheets and make presentations in a timely manner will cause the participation grade to suffer greatly.

Short mid-term paper (5-7 pages, 1250-1750 words) will expand your analysis of one of the key texts we have discussed, especially relating it to our readings and discussion on historiographic theory and methodology. Due October 21 in class.

The course also requires a traditional graduate-level research paper (15-20 pages) that will use for primary sources the material found in the "Thanhouser Films" CD-Rom. We will work together to develop specific topics for you based on the approaches taken by books we will have read in the course, your own interests, and other secondary literature found in our libraries. The instructor must approve all research paper topics. You will make a presentation of your findings the last two weeks of the class, and turn in preliminary bibliography, initial outline, and a first draft before submitting the final paper. Due December 16th (date to be discussed further in class.)

Late assignments will not be accepted. Plagiarism or cheating in any form will not be tolerated and will result in failure for the entire course and possible termination from the program. The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.

Class Schedule:

Week 1 August 26 Introduction

Week 2 September 2 Media History and Historiography;

Week 3 September 9 Classical Hollywood, history and theory

Week 4 September 16 More Classical Hollywood Bordwell/Thompson/Staiger

Week 5 September 23 Star culture and Gender

Week 6 September 30 Genre, technology, aesthetics
Henry Jenkins, What Made Pistachio Nuts?

Week 7 October 7 Economics, technology, industry and social history

Week 8 October 14 Reception and audience studies

Week 9 October 21 **Midterm essay due

Week 10 October 28 Primary source history project

Week 11 November 4 Industrial practices

Week 12 November 11 Alternative Cinemas

Week 13 November 18 Film and History

Week 14 November 24 (Thanksgiving week)

Week 15 December 2 researching and writing film history

Week 16 December 9

Final papers due December 16th (date to be discussed further in class)