- the class -

During the course of the semester we will view five films, read essays (either directly or indirectly associated with those films), and the instructor will occasionally, though regularly, lecture. The structure of the course will go as follows:

- Beginning with the third week of the semester (as you can see on the attached calendar), we will view a film every three weeks, for a total of five films. With the exception of one film by the Coen Brothers and one by Luis Bunuel, all the films were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

- For the week following each film, students will conduct an "open discussion" of the film viewed the preceding week. This discussion will be conducted by you, the instructor will attempt to stay out of the discussions. This is not to foster chaos. Instead each student is to be prepared to say something about the film. Through discussion you will be expected to listen and to argue for a particular viewing of the film. It is hoped that you will try to incorporate what others have said so as to come to have as "sophisticated" an understanding of the film as you can. That is, it is hoped that you will not just react to the film, but that you will think about the film -- both in terms of its content, its structure, its cinematography, its narrative, its direction, etc. You may be given a list of questions that can help to guide you in your viewing of each of the films.

- Following your discussions, I will lecture on the film, incorporating a philosophical interpretation of the film (which is not to be taken as definitive, but is intended to give you something else to think about for each of the films). I will discuss different philosophical positions, explain them, argue for them if desired, and show how various philosophical questions are raised by these films, and how these films respond to those questions. In this sense, the cinema can be related to certain philosophical texts and problems, and cinema raises philosophical issues that are unique to cinema itself.

- We will then discuss the critical essays assigned for reading. It is intended that these sessions be oriented toward discussion of the essays and their relevance to the film(s) we’ve viewed in class.

- We will then view another film and repeat the circuit mentioned above, throughout the semester.

- the films -

Each of the following films, which we will view in class, was directed by Alfred Hitchcock:

- Why the emphasis on Hitchcock? Alfred Hitchcock is recognized by film critics, theorists, and myself to be one of the greatest film directors in the history of cinema (see his Filmography). Moreover, his films deal with a number of philosophical issues, and raise a number of philosophical questions concerning cinema itself. This is not to say that there are not other exceptional film directors, nor is it to say that there are not other film directors whose films are philosophical (the French director Jean-Luc Godard, Joel and Ethan Cohen, Brian DePalma, Jean Cocteau, Ingmar Bergmann, and others could equally well have been used) . The reason for picking Hitchcock, in addition to the merits of his films, is that we have to restrict the number of films, due to time restraints. And in terms of learning to appreciate film, Hitchcock’s methods, procedures, shots, sequences, direction, etc., have been paradigmatic for a number of directors (in French cinema in particular). His style of directing has probably been more influential on cinema than that of any other director. Additionally, learning to understand Hitchcock’s works critically (even though we’ll see only five) can provide a good basis for approaching films by other directors.

- the books -

We will have only two books (available at Williams' Booksellers):

Gerald Mast and Marshall Cohen (editors), Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings

Slavoj Zizek, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lacan . . . but Were Afraid to Ask Hitchcock

- the hints -

It is suggested that you take notes during the viewing of each film. This will be of inestimable value in thinking and writing about the films. It may also be helpful to rent the films to view again, i.e. after they have been shown in class. If you wish to do so, since there are only a limited number of copies of these films available locally, it might help to make a "film party" out of it, so that you can maximize the number of people who will be able to see it again. Finally, you can check the list of Tips on Viewing Film.

- the course requirements -

There will be two papers required for this course, each of them 8 - 12 pages long (typed, double-spaced). Additionally, you will be evaluated on class participation in the film discussions and in the essay discussions.

jpurcell