This course explores cultural representations of national heroines in film. We are going to examine the filmic treatment of women in selected films, trying to elicit whether there are specific characteristics ascribed to British and American female protagonists. In addition, the role of women in the film industry will be touched upon as well as general aspects of gender representation in film. Concerning film analysis, emphasis will be placed on aspects of mise-en-scène in general and iconography in particular.
Required Reading (before class):
Benshoff, Harry M., and Sean Griffin. America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies. 2nd ed. Malden, MA, USA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print. 217–37.
Brosh, Liora. Screening Novel Women: From British Domestic Fiction to Film. Basingstoke; New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. Print. 1—13.
Andris, Silke, and Ursula Frederick. Women Willing to Fight: The Fighting Woman in Film. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars, 2007. Print. 15–37.
During reading concentrate on the following questions and take notes (including page numbers) accordingly:
1. How have women been represented in film in the course of history. Which factors influenced changing perceptions and representations?
2. Which types of women can be identified and what are their characteristics?
3. Which aspects of “national identity” play into the portrayal of women?
4. Who is defined as “norm” and who as the “other” (deviating from the norm)?
Required Viewing:
Zinnemann, Fred. High Noon (1952) (Formatvideothek or online)
Koster, Henry, The Virgin Queen (1955) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkM0qhGsh-E
Please fill in the worksheets while viewing and bring to class.
