Syllabus and Basic Policies for the Course
Syllabus for ENG 4/839
Subject to Adjustments
Required Course Books (available at UNL Bookstore)
Additional readings online (either follow hyperlinks in syllabus or notice "BB" for Blackboard).
A note on the readings: I do not expect that you do all the readings. Rather, consider the readings listed in syllabus as the research component of the course--research I've done for you well knowing that a 3-week session doesn't allow you to do proper research. I would like you to read as much from Bauman's book as possible and make sure you read at least one essay or interview assigned for each class meeting; those of you who are graduate students should read all of Bauman's book as well as at least two of the assigned readings on the film and/or filmmaker per screening. Note, too, that your blog entries should, on occasion, reflect knowledge of some of the readings (to be demonstrated by quotations and paraphrases--by, that is, engaging some of the arguments already made on the assigned films); for the grad students among you, your posts should always reflect such knowledge.
A note (and warning) on the films: Please beware that some of the assigned films include graphic violence and/or sex & nudity. These films are contemporary films engaging contemporary culture. If you--for whatever reasons--object to being exposed to such images and "difficult" topics you should not take this course. That said, the majority of these films won't have such images/scenes/moments.
Week 1:
- Bauman, Zygmund. Liquid Times: Living in the Age of Uncertainty (Polity, 2006).
- Fisher, Jaimey. Christian Petzold (U Illinois P, 2013).
- Jones, Kent, ed. Olivier Assayas (Synema, 2012).
Additional readings online (either follow hyperlinks in syllabus or notice "BB" for Blackboard).
A note on the readings: I do not expect that you do all the readings. Rather, consider the readings listed in syllabus as the research component of the course--research I've done for you well knowing that a 3-week session doesn't allow you to do proper research. I would like you to read as much from Bauman's book as possible and make sure you read at least one essay or interview assigned for each class meeting; those of you who are graduate students should read all of Bauman's book as well as at least two of the assigned readings on the film and/or filmmaker per screening. Note, too, that your blog entries should, on occasion, reflect knowledge of some of the readings (to be demonstrated by quotations and paraphrases--by, that is, engaging some of the arguments already made on the assigned films); for the grad students among you, your posts should always reflect such knowledge.
A note (and warning) on the films: Please beware that some of the assigned films include graphic violence and/or sex & nudity. These films are contemporary films engaging contemporary culture. If you--for whatever reasons--object to being exposed to such images and "difficult" topics you should not take this course. That said, the majority of these films won't have such images/scenes/moments.
Week 1:
Monday, May 16
Course Introduction
Film: Jerichow (Christian Petzold, 2008; 92 min.)
Tuesday , May 18
Film: Climates (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2006; 101 min.)
Readings for Wednesday: "Climates and other Disasters" (BB); "Climates of Nihilism" (BB); Review (BB)
Wednesday, May 19
Film: Old Joy (Kely Reichardt, 2006; 76 min.)
Readings for Thursday: Kelly Reichardt in Focus 19-33 & 58-83 (BB); "Kelly Reichardt"; Review of Old Joy; Interview on Old Joy; "New Voice"; Review
Thursday, May 20
Film: Clean (Olivier Assayas, 2004; 90 min.)
Readings for Friday: Bauman, 27-54; Jones, 154-161
Friday, May 21
Cumulative discussion of films screened during week 1
No film screening
Film to watch for Monday: Demonlover (Olivier Assayas, 2002; 129 min)
Readings for Monday: Jones, 140-153; Bauman, 55-70
Week 2:
Monday, May 23
Film: Boarding Gate (Olivier Assayas, 2007; 106 min.)
Readings for Tuesday: Jones, 170-179; Shaviro (BB)
Tuesday, May 24
Film: Yella (Christian Petzold, 2007; 89 min.)
Wednesday, May 25
Film: Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, 2008; 80 min.)
Readings for Thursday: "The Silent Majority"; Interview on Wendy and Lucy; "A Completely False Sense of Security"; Review; "Kelly Reichardt"
Thursday, May 26
Film: Three Monkeys (2008; 101 min.)
Readings for Friday: Bauman, 71-93; "Three Monkeys: An Interview" (BB); "A Lonely and Beautiful Country" (BB); Review (BB)
Friday, May 27
Cumulative discussion of films screened during week 2
No film screening
Film to watch for Tuesday: Winter Sleep (Nuri Bilge Ceylon, 2014, 194 min.)
Readings for Tuesday: "I Always Try to Find Something Better" (BB); Review (BB)
Week 3:
Monday, May 30: Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 31
Film: Night Moves (2013; 112 min.)
Readings for Wednesday: "Interview"; "Filmmaker Magazine"; "Film Comment"; "Fellow Travelers" (BB)
Wednesday, June 1
Film: Barbara (2012; 105 min.)
Thursday, June 2
Film: Phoenix (2014; 98 min.)
Readings for Friday: Fisher (BB); "Indiewire"; "Cinemascope"; "Just be Yourself"; "Film Comment"; "Survivor's Song"; Bauman, 94-110
Readings for Friday: Fisher (BB); "Indiewire"; "Cinemascope"; "Just be Yourself"; "Film Comment"; "Survivor's Song"; Bauman, 94-110
Friday, June 3
Cumulative discussion of films screened during week 3
Conclusions and course evaluations
No film screening
Course Policies
I have not been known to spell out the course policies in great detail and then not hold you accountable to them. In general, I intend to treat you as adults: you make your own decisions, and I do not judge you for the decisions you make; I will, however, hold you accountable for your decisions and their consequences according to the policies below. My assumption is that you have read and understood the policies and, by remaining in class, agree to be held accountable to them as they are stated. Thus, please read them and, if you have questions, ask me about them at the beginning of the session.
Academic Honesty
The university’s policy on academic honesty is stated in the “Student Code of Conduct.” For more information, go to http://stuafs.unl.edu/DeanofStudents/Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20May%20Rev%202014%20a.pdf. The policy prohibits plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple submissions. Violation of the policy will result in automatically failing the course, and I reserve the right to pursue disciplinary sanctions with the university.Attendance
English Department policy states that if students miss more than 20% of scheduled class time for any reason, the student fails the course, no matter what other work s/he completed and regardless of the quality of that work. We have 14 scheduled classes. 20% of this amounts to 2.8 class periods. So if you miss three (3) or more scheduled class meetings you will automatically fail the course.
Other than the 20% rule and the policy regarding the mandatory attendance at the two lectures, the following consequences will ensue from your lack of attendance:
- One absence: no immediate consequence.
- Two absences: your final grade will automatically be lowered by 2/3 of a full grade (so if you earned a B+ you'd end up with a B- for the course).
Attendance will be taken a the start of class when I call roll. If you are not present at the start of class it will be your responsibility to make sure you inform me of your presence at the end of class. If you fail to do so I will automatically record you as having been absent—even if you were in class but forgot to sign in.
Please note that should you have been absent once earlier in the session and then catch a cold later on and as a result will have to miss class, you still will have exceeded the allowed number of absences and will lose points accordingly (or fail the course, as the case may be). The same holds true for “family emergency” excuses and the like: if you think it’s more important to drive your sister to the airport or attend a distant family member’s funeral then so be it. Just be aware that you will lose points once you exceed one (1) absence, regardless of what the reasons for those absences are. Those of you who have to miss class due to university-sanctioned activities or military engagements should indicate this to me in person at the beginning of the semester.
Late Arrivals
I expect you to be in class on time. Period. Latecomers distract me and other students. If I notice that you come late on a regular basis I will tell you to be on time or not come at all.
Note: If there is a class meeting in our classroom before our scheduled meeting time, please avoid attempting to enter the classroom before the previous class’s professor and students have left. It’s only a matter of courtesy to let the preceding class’s professor finish his or her business as well as to allow students to leave the classroom without having to fight their way through you.
Your are responsible for all material covered in class
Because you are responsible for all material covered in this class, I strongly encourage you to exchange email addresses and phone numbers with fellow students so that you can find out what we’ve done in class (and get notes from someone who attended class). Please do not contact me to find out what you’ve missed.
Classroom behavior
It should go without saying that I expect you to treat the classroom space appropriately. By this I mean:
- Do not sleep in class. I find this seriously offensive and will not hesitate to wake you up and ask you to leave. My general advice is this: if you are so tired that you fall asleep you should go home, since your bed is undoubtedly more comfortable than our classroom’s chairs. (If you've been diagnosed with
- Phones: I don’t want to see any cell phones. There's no reason for them to be on your desk or in your hand. It’s ok if you are not available for 3 hours. Really. It’s ok. So turn them off before class starts and put them away until class is officially over.
- Computers: I do think it is acceptable and often helpful for you to have a website open that relates to the film(maker) we discuss; however, I don't think it's acceptable or helpful for you to check sports scores, news stories, chat rooms, Facebook, or whatever else is better left for time after class--so: don't do it.
- Do not read newspapers or any other unrelated texts.
- I will do my best to finish on time. To this end I will start screening the film on the film screening days so that the film ends at 400p; please do not begin packing your stuff before the end of the film. On the days (Fridays) when we don't watch a film in class, I will have my phone alarm set to ring two minutes prior to the official end of our class meeting time. If I forget and end up going over time, please call my attention to it, as you have the right to leave according to schedule so that you make it to your next class in a timely fashion. Having said this, I do not appreciate you starting to pack your bags before I signal that we’re done. Packing your bags makes a lot of noise and distracts: it’s flat-out rude, so please refrain from doing so.
Withdrawals & Incompletes
As a general rule I do not grant incompletes. University policy states that incompletes may be given only in special hardship cases and that they will not be used merely for extending the time for completion of course requirements. Consult university policy on this matter as well as matters pertaining to withdrawing: http://registrar.unl.edu/adds-drops-changes-and-withdrawals-summer.
Check your email
I expect you to check your email account that you have registered with Blackboard regularly. I do tend to send announcements to class via email of which I want you to be aware before any given class meeting; and I might want to contact you individually as well. You should therefore consider it part of your daily routine for this course to monitor your email account.
Emailing me
When contacting me via email (which is the easiest and fastest way to contact me), please write our course number (ENG 4/839) in the subject line so I recognize you as one of my current students, which will facilitate the speed at which I respond. If you email me with a question, please make sure first to check our various course documents: chances are that the answer to your question (especially if it is not a question about the content of a text) can be found in these documents. Don’t be surprised if I merely reply by writing, “Please check course documents.”
Office Hours:
I'm not going to set up regular office hours since we'll see each other every day. Just let me know--either verbally or via email--that you want to talk with me, and we'll set up a meeting, possibly even right after class.
Last but not least:
Your decision to stay in this course indicates to me that you understand and agree to the above course contract. This means that I will hold you accountable for abiding by its rules throughout the course of the semester.
With all of this said, I hope you will have a great semester. Welcome!
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