Sonoma State University                                                                                 Fall 2006

 

 

CALS 393: Chicana/o and Latina/o Cinema

Nichols 204, Tuesday and Thursday, 5-6:50pm

Dr. Patricia Kim-Rajal

NH 208, 664-3294, patricia.kim-rajal@sonoma.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday 1-2pm, Wednesday 4:30-6:30pm and by appointment

 

Course Description

This course will explore several issues surrounding visual representations of Latinas/os. Over the course of the semester we will examine how Latina/o populations have been depicted by the mainstream U.S. film industry. We will evaluate both the accuracy and ramifications of these portrayals, paying particular attention to the role of stereotypes. We will also chart the emergence of Latina/o-produced films, tracing the evolution of aesthetic and narrative strategies as filmmakers shift from independent to major studio productions. We will conclude the class with a look at the small screen. This section will address both the increased visibility of Latina/o performers in mainstream broadcast television and representations of Latinas/os on Spanish-language (U.S.-based) television networks.

 

Course Objectives

Over the course of the semester students will:

• Analyze the social implications of visual representation, especially those that reproduce stereotypes about racial/ethnic groups
• Understand the major economic and political forces that have shaped how Chicanos/Latinos have been portrayed in visual media (film and television) during the past century
• Acquire the technical and analytical vocabulary needed to write an academic film review
• Gain an understanding of Chicano/Latino contributions to cinema arts, both as independent producers as well as within the mainstream studio system
• Become acquainted with some of the key texts in Chicano/Latino cinema

 

Course Requirements

Journal                                                            20%

Two film reviews, worth 15% each                30%

Midterm Exam (short answer)                        25%

Final Exam                                                      25%

 

Film/Reading Journal

You will be required to keep a film journal as part of this course. Journals will be collected and evaluated periodically throughout the semester. Journal entries will be written in response to prompts provided by the instructor. Keep in mind that entries must be completed within a week of receiving a prompt.

 

Film Reviews

Over the course of the semester you will have the opportunity to write two (2) film reviews (3-5 pages). This will give you a chance to apply some of the analytical frameworks and techniques discussed in class to a text of your choosing. Details will follow.

Midterm Exam

There will be one in-class midterm comprised of a series of identifications/definitions and short essay questions.

Final Exam

The final exam will consist of several essay questions. A review sheet will be provided in advance.

 

Course Readings

• Charles Ramírez-Berg, Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion and Resistance. Available at North Light Books, 550 E. Cotati Avenue.
• Course readings (marked with a [W]) available via WebCT: http://webct.sonoma.edu:8900/webct/public/home.pl

 

Special Notes

• Film reviews will be marked down one-third of a grade (ex. A to A-) for each day they are late. In the event you cannot attend a class the day an assignment is due, I will accept e-mail submissions assuming a prior agreement between student/instructor is made. I do not, however, accept responsibility for transmission failure.
• Should you need special accommodations, please see me during the first few weeks of classes so that arrangements can be made for you.

Weekly Topics and Assignments

 

Week 1. Why Representation Matters

8/22     Overview of the course.

8/24     Ramírez-Berg, Introduction and chapter 3

            MEDIA: The Bronze Screen

 

Week 2. The Function and Effects of Stereotypes

8/29     Ramírez-Berg, chapter 1

            Sander L. Gilman, "Introduction: What Are Stereotypes and Why Use Texts to Study Them?" in Difference and Pathology:          Stereotypes of Sexuality, Race, and     Madness (Cornell UP, 1985): 15-35 [W].

8/31     Ramírez-Berg, chapter 2

Richard Dyer, "The Role of Stereotypes," in The Matter of Images: Essays on Representations (Routledge, 1993): 11-18 [W].

MEDIA: Falling Down

 

Week 3. Self-stereotyping and Parody      

9/5       Christine List “Self-Directed Stereotyping in the Films of Cheech Marin” in Chicanos and Film (Minnessota UP, 1997): 183-193 [W].

MEDIA: Born in East L.A. (VHS 231), Mambo Mouth (VHS 4323), Blazing Saddles (DVD 57).

9/7       Ramírez-Berg, chapter 4

 

Week 4. Analyzing Visual Texts. The Social Problem Film.

9/12     Timothy Corrigan, “Film Terms and Topics” and “Six Approaches to Writing About Film” [W].

            Handout: Film Terminology  

            MEDIA: Touch of Evil (VHS 4799)

9/14     Ramírez-Berg, chapter 5

            MEDIA: Stand and Deliver (VHS 518), Real Women Have Curves

 

Week 5. Latinos and the Western Genre

9/19     Peter Hutchings, “Genre Theory and Criticism” in Approaches to Popular Film (Manchester UP, 1995): 59-78 [W].

9/21     Ramírez-Berg, chapter 6

            MEDIA: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (VHS 1543), My Darling Clementine (VHS 1509), El Mariachi (VHS 2267).

 

Week 6. Hollywood does Immigration

9/26     Ramírez Berg, chapter 7

            MEDIA: Men in Black

9/28     FIRST FILM REVIEW DUE

            Richie Perez, “From Assimilation to Annihilation: Puerto Rican Images in U.S. Films” in Latin Looks (Westview, 1997): 143-163 [W].

            MEDIA: West Side Story (VHS 915)

 

Week 7. The Chicano Movement on Film.

10/3     Ramírez-Berg, 185-189

            Cine Aztlán “Ya Basta con Yankee Imperialist Documentaries!” in   Chicanos and Film (Minnessota UP, 1997): 183-193 [W].

10/5     Jason C. Johansen, “Notes on Chicano Cinema” in Chicanos and Film (Minnessota UP, 1997): 183-193 [W].

MEDIA: I Am Joaquin (VHS 3787)

 

Week 8. Midterm Exam

10/10   Midterm Review

10/12   MIDTERM EXAM. Make sure you bring a bluebook to class.

 

Week 9. Activist Filmmaking: The Battle Over Language

10/17   Carl Gutiérrez-Jones, “Legislating Languages: The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez and   the English Language Amendment”

10/19   MEDIA: The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (VHS 2944)

 

Week 10. The Documentary Tradition

10/24   Ramírez-Berg, chapter 8

10/26   MEDIA: Chulas Fronteras/Del Mero Corazon (VHS 3291)

 

Week 11. Going Mainstream

10/31   Ramírez-Berg, chapter 9         

11/2     Ramírez-Berg, chapter 10

            MEDIA: Desperado (1995), Spy Kids (2001)

 

Week 12. The Ethnic Family Film as Genre

11/7     Ramírez-Berg, Conclusion. Additional reading TBA.

11/9     SECOND FILM REVIEW DUE

MEDIA: Mi Familia (DVD 854), My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Roots (DVD 90), Moonstruck (VHS 5651), The Joy Luck Club (DVD 310), The Brothers McMullen

 

Week 13. Screening Women

11/14   Morales, “Making Chicana” in Chicanos and Film (Minnessota UP, 1997): 308-    311 [W].

11/16   Rosa Linda Fregoso, “Chicanas making Movies” in Chicanos and Film (Minnessota UP, 1997): xxx-xxx [W].

MEDIA: Despues del Terremoto (VHS 5477), Brincando El Charco (VHS 5478)

 

Week 14. Thanksgiving Break.

11/21   Thanksgiving Break. No class.

 

Week 15. Latinos on the Small Screen

11/28   John Fiske “British Cultural Studies” in Channels of Discourse, Reassembled         [W].

11/30   S. Robert Litcher and Daniel R. Amundson, “Distorted Reality: Hispanic Characters in TV Entertainment” in Latin Looks, pp. 57-79 [W].

            MEDIA: The George Lopez Show, Kingpin.

 

Week 16. Spanish-language television.

12/5     Arlene Dávila, “Images: Producing Culture for the Market” in Latinos Inc., pp. 88-125 [W].

12/7     Arlene Dávila, “Language and Culture in the Media Battle Zone” in Latinos Inc., pp. 153-180 [W].

            MEDIA: Despierta América, telenovela clips

 

12/12   Final Exam: To be held in our usual classroom on this day between 5-6:50pm. Please be sure to bring a bluebook with you.

 

 

List of Films Approved for Review

I happily welcome any suggested additions to the list below but please keep in mind that if there is a film you want to watch that is not here you should clear it with me ahead of time.

 

Crossover Dreams; La Bamba; Tortilla Flat; Latino; El Norte; Born in East L.A.; Lone Star; Cabeza de Vaca; The Shrimp on the Barbie; Salt of the Earth; Break of Dawn; Ballad of an Unsung Hero; Heartbreaker; Piñero; El Super; Dance with Me; ...and the Earth Did Not Swallow Him; La Carpa (The Tent Theatre); The Ring; The Fighter; El Mariachi; Short Eyes; The Pérez Family; American Me; The Hunt for Pancho Villa; Alambrista!; Spy Kids; The Mambo Café; La Ciudad; I Like It Like That; Stand and Deliver; Requiem for a Heavyweight; Crazy from the Heart; Fools Rush In; Gangs; Desperado; Dusk to Dawn; A Million to Juan; Boulevard Nights; Walk Proud; A Touch of Evil; Blood in, Blood Out: Bound by Honor; Trial; La Ofrenda (The Offering); The Pest; A Pyromaniacs’ Love Story; Mambo Mouth; Spicorama; Selena; Corpus; The Devil Never Sleeps; Mi Familia/My Family; Roosters; A Walk in the Clouds; Luminarias; The Price of Glory; Red Sky in the Morning; Popi; Sweet Fifteen; The Mambo Kings; Freak; The Milagro Beanfield War; Short Eyes; El Super; The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez; Zoot Suit; Corridos; A Bowl of Beings; Listen, Paula; Across the Moon; Gas Food Lodging; The Double Life of Ernesto Gómez Gómez; The Puerto Rican Mambo (Not a Musical); Kissing Miranda; The Devil Never Sleeps; Fotonovelas; La Pastorela; The Cisco Kid; The Lemon Grove Incident; The Mark of Zorro; Mi Vida Loca; Tortilla Soup; Real Women Have Curves; Nueba Yol; Despues del Terremoto.