Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
By looking at representative examples of American and foreign films, this course will
critically examine the role of cinema in the construction and exploration of the racial, ethnic,
cultural and social aspects of immigration. Initially, we will look at the history of
immigration in relation to film industry as well as early portrayals of immigrants. We will
come across a wide range of film genres and take a closer look at stylistic and narrative
choices and how they visually construct immigrant identity in relation to family, society,
race, and gender. Throughout the course we will consider the position of cinema in the
debate between assimilation and multiculturalism as well as recent visual narratives that
delve on the issues of globalization and its close relationship to immigration.
Course Objectives
Students will become versed in an overview history of immigration in United States and how
the patterns, behavior and treatment of immigrants are portrayed in film. Students will learn
concrete skills of film analysis regarding how images are constructed to create meaning and
how this information permeates history, culture and art within the immigration purview.
Students will learn how to support their work with visual and theoretical evidence of critical
inquiry relating to immigration. The aim of the course is to provide the student with an
opportunity to develop your critical thinking and writing skills through class discussions,
close readings of films and critical literature, as well as writing assignments.
Course Texts
Texts will be available online in PDF format at the course’s blog.
http://dmsimmigrationandfilm.blogspot.com/.
Evaluation
DMS 213 Immigration and Film is a theory-oriented course for which accuracy and mastery
are essential. In general grades will be calculated as follows:
• Midterm: An in-class midterm will evaluate the student on concepts covered during
the first half of the semester.
• Oral Presentation: You will be divided in groups of 3 or 4 and present for 30-40
minutes (10 minutes each) on the film assigned for that week. You must send me with
anticipation (2 hours before class at the latest) an outline of your presentation. All
group members must participate equally in the making of the presentation. Although
it will be up to you to meet outside of class, I may designate in some cases some class
time to coordinate work distribution among the group.
• Final Paper: You will complete a 6-8 page final paper on material covered during the
second half of the semester (you may also do for example, a comparative analysis on
a film screened during the first half of the semester and one screened during the
second). I encourage you to look over the material in anticipation and meet with me
during office hours to discuss the topic of the paper or email me any questions you
might have. You must submit the paper topic by November 30th at the latest and must
have a draft by December 7th, in which you will pair up in class and review each
other’s papers. Final paper is due December 14th before 12 pm in my office.
Course Policies
NOTE: If you begin to experience inordinate difficulties with the course, or have
issues regarding the class that you want to discuss, please see the instructor as soon as
possible. If notifying the instructor does not seem appropriate, seek assistance from
the Academic Advisor for the Department of Media Study. If you wait until the end
of the semester, the possibilities of being helped are less promising.
General:
• Student athletes must provide an official letter with the dates of their meets
and travel days during the first weeks of classes. Make up quizzes and exams
that fall during those days must be rescheduled with the instructor at least 3
days before departure. As a rule of thumb, we will administer make-ups and
move work deadlines to the day before the student leaves town.
• Students are expected to turn off and put away cell phones, pagers, iPods, CD
players and computers before entering class.
• Students are not permitted to enter the classroom with any type of food.
Please eat before or after class.
• The grade of incomplete will be given only to students who have some
serious, well-documented medical condition or in cases of family tragedy, etc.
and who have satisfied the attendance policy and are missing only one major
assignment. No incomplete will be given to substitute for a poor or failing
grade or for any other reasons. A written agreement must be drafted and
signed by the instructor and the student. The instructor reserves the right to
request completion of the incomplete prior to the 12 months set by the
University.
• Final grades are final. Once grades are submitted, they will not be changed.
Thus, students should refrain from cajoling instructors (via email, phone, in
person, etc.) into changing the final grade, which goes against University
policy.
Class work:
• Students are expected to do their own work on all assignments and course work.
• Be prepared for class each day by having done the assigned readings, etc.
Each student will be required to meet with the instructor for a progress report before the end
of the resignation period. Students who are failing the course will be encouraged to resign
the course before the deadline designated by the university.
RE: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a disability (physical or learning) which may make it difficult for you to carry out the course
work as outlined, and/or requires accommodations such as recruiting note takers, readers, or
extended time on exams and assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen
Hall, 716-645-2608, http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/ods/ , and also your instructor during the
first two weeks of class. ODS will provide you with information and will review appropriate
arrangements for reasonable accommodations.
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RE: PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is theft and a betrayal of trust. The term is derived from the Latin word for kidnapper
and refers to the act of signing one’s own name to words, phrases, or ideas which are the literary
property of another. Plagiarism comes in many forms, all to be avoided: outright copying, or
paraphrase, or a mosaic or disguised use of words and phrases from an unacknowledged source. To
avoid plagiarism, make it your habit to put quotation marks around words and phrases, or to isolate
and indent longer passages that you are using from someone else’s writing. And be sure to cite the
source, in a footnote or endnote or within parentheses in your text. The penalties for plagiarism can
be severe: from an F for the particular assignment, to an F for the course, to referral of the case to
the Dean of Education for administrative judgment. If you are unsure about how to use and
document sources, please consult with your instructor.
PLAGIARISM ALSO INCLUDES THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF VIDEO / AUDIO / DIGITAL
IMAGES OF OTHERS! FOR THIS CLASS, YOU MUST PRODUCE ORIGINAL MATERIAL!
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WARNING!!!
IF you are planning a student production which involves using any prop which could be
interpreted to be a weapon [toy gun, BB gun, knife, etc.]
AND you are planning to shoot on the UB campus or any other public place,
you MUST obtain WRITTEN permission from the University Police or the equivalent
authority before you shoot.
If you do not, you will face serious problems, including possible expulsion from the
University.
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Introduction/ Overview
Screen Alex Rivera’s Sleep Dealer
Homework: Read Carlos E. Cortés “Them and Us: Immigration as Societal
Barometer and Social Educator in American Film”
Email top 3 choices of films for oral presentation
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
Thursday September 30
Oral Presentation, group 3
Discuss Rogin
WEEK 6
WEEK 7
Thursday October 21
Oral Presentation, group 5
Discuss Shohat & Stamm and Hooks
WEEK 9
Thursday October 28
Oral Presentation, group 6
Discuss Mayne
WEEK 10
Thursday November 4
Oral Presentation, group 7
Discuss Said and Minh-Ha
WEEK 11
Thursday November 18
Oral Presentation, group 9
Discuss Mehta and Rushdie
WEEK 13
Tuesday November 23
Screen Michael Haneke’s Code Inconnu
Homework: Read Samir Dayal’s Diaspora and Double Consciousness
WEEK 14
WEEK 15
I have read the DMS _________________ syllabus and I am aware of the program’s
requirements and policies including the attendance policy. I understand that I should keep
the syllabus and course policies for my records.
Date:_________________________
Semester:______________________
Print name:________________________________________________
Signature:__________________________________________________