English 4109:

Film as Literature - American Independent Cinema



( er ) = electronic reserve on library website



The Beginnings

January

10
Introduction to course, policies, etc.




12
What do we mean by "independent" film?

Reading:  Merritt, "1896-1916: Birth"; Levy, "Introduction" (p.1-7)

In-class Screening: Traffic in  Souls (Tucker, 1913)




17
Exploitation and the Silent Era

Reading: Merritt, "1917-1928: Exploration"

Screening: Within Our Gates (Micheaux, 1920)




19
Alternatives to the Studios

Reading: Corrigan, "Film Terms and Topics" (Chapter 3)  er

Group Discussion Leaders #1






24
White Zombies: B-Movies and Poverty Row

Reading: Merritt, "1929-1944: Outside the Walls"

Screening: Shock Corridor (Fuller, 1963)

Writing Workshop




26
Corman, Fuller, and B-aesthetic

Reading: Merritt, "1945-1952: System Breakdown"

Group Discussion Leaders #2




31
Documentary and Flaherty

Reading: Merritt, "1953-1959: Opportunity Knocks"

Screening: Primary (Drew, 1960)


February
2
Political Post-War Documentaries

Reading: Merritt, "1960-1967: Ahead of the Curve"

Group Discussion Leaders #3

Formal Response Due




7
Superflies, Blaxploitation and Civil Rights

Reading: Merritt, "1968-1974: Pushing the Envelope"

Screening: Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (Van Peebles, 1971)


9
Trash Cinema: Waters and Flamingos

Reading: Levy, "The Pope of Trash" (p.74-82)

Group Discussion Leaders #4




14
The Independent Auteur

Reading: Sarris, "Notes on the Auteur Theory"; Sarris, "Towards a Theory of Film History" er

Screening: A Woman Under the Influence (Cassavetes, 1974)




16
Those Who Followed Cassavetes

Reading: Levy, "Fathers and Sons" (p.102-119)

Recommended Reading: Wollen, "The Auteur Theory" er

Group Discussion Leaders #5




21
Horror, the Youth Audience, and Midterm Review

Reading: Merritt, "1968-1974: Pushing the Envelope" (cont.)

Recommended Reading: Elsaesser, "Shock Corridor" er

In-class Partial Screening: Night of the Living Dead (Romero, 1968)




23
Midterm Exam




28
Coming of Age

Reading: Merritt, "1983-1989: Coming of Age"

Screening: sex, lies, and videotape (Soderbergh, 1989)

Introduce Auteur Research Paper


March

2
Sundance and Distribution Deals

Reading: Levy, "The New American Independent Cinema" (Chapter 1)

Group Discussion Leaders #6

LAST DAY to withdraw with grade of W




7
The Legacy of Foreign Art Film

Reading: Levy, "The New York School of Indies" (Chapter 5)

Screening: Mystery Train (Jarmusch, 1989)

Writing Workshop - Research and Annotated Bibliography




9
The New York School

Reading: Keough, "Home and Away" (1992 interview with Jim Jarmusch) er

Group Discussion Leaders #7



Analyzing the Films

14
Spike Lee

Reading: Levy, "The New African American Cinema" (Chapter 11)

Screening: She's Gotta Have It (Lee, 1986)




16
Selling an Independent Film

Reading: Pierson, "She's Gotta Have It" er

Writing Workshop - Auteur Draft Due


March 20-24
SPRING BREAK


28
The New System

Reading: Merritt, "1990-1999: The New System"

Screening: Clerks (Smith, 1994)




30 Sundance and the Loss of Independence

Reading: Pierson, "$26,685" er; Pierson,  "The Odd Couple: Sundance 1994" er


April
4
New Queer Cinema

Reading: Levy, "The New Gay and Lesbian Cinema" (Chapter 12)

Screening: Go Fish (Troche, 1994)

Auteur Research Paper Due




6
Other Film Festivals

Reading: Taubin, "Beyond the Sons of Scorsese"; Rich, "Goings and Comings" er 

Presentation Abstract/Outline Due




11
Feminist Filmmakers and Female Filmmakers

Reading: Levy, "Female/Feminist Sensibility" (Chapter 10)

Screening: The Ties That Bind (Friedrich, 1984)

Introduce Film Festival Review




13
Auteur Presentations




18
Auteur Presentations




20 Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival -- Decatur, GA (http://www.sjuff.com/)



25
Conclusions and Exam Review

Reading: Levy, "Independent Film Now"




27
LAST DAY OF CLASS

Review of Film Festival Due


May
4
Essay Exam from 2-4 pm