Syllabus for Roster(s):
- 15F ISHU 3304-101 (SCPS)
The Films of Orson Welles & Alfred Hitchcock
ISHU 3304 – Fall 2015
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Undergraduate Course, 3.0 Credit Hours
University of Virginia
The Films of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock
Robert Kolker, Lecturer in Media Studies
rkolker@virginia.edu
Virtual Office Hours by app’t
Course meets online each Wednesday, 4-6:45
Course prerequisites: none
Course description:
Examines and analyzes the films of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, two very different but equally
creative filmmakers, who explored their medium with an intensive imagination. Analyzing the major
works of these directors, we will examine what makes them work and also look at the cultural and
historical context of the films.
Course objectives: Students will closely study a selection of films by Alfred Hitchcock and Orson
Welles. The main objective of the course is to learn how to “read” film intelligently. To this end
we will examine the history, production, and reception of the films of these directors: how they work;
how the filmmakers transmit an understanding of the culture of their time and place.
Textbooks:
Marshall Deutlebaum, A Hitchcock Reader [HR]
James Naremore, The Magic World of Orson Welles [MW]
Kolker, Film, Form, and Culture Fourth Edition From Routledge– suggested if you have not had a film course.
Other readings are linked from the syllabus
Course Methodology and Requirements: The course is run online, on Blackboard Collaborate,
seminar style. Attendance is mandatory.
Each week, the class will view films as indicated on the syllabus (DVDs are on reserve in Clemons
Library and readily available at most streaming and rental outlets). For each meeting, there will be two sets of
questions. One set will be very general and applicable to all the films we will analyze.
These questions will form the basis for group presentations for the week. The groups will be
selected at the beginning of the semester. Each team within the group will be assigned to
one of the general questions each week and prepare a Powerpoint presentation for the week.
Depending on the size of the class, there will be 4-5 presentations each week.
The second group of questions will be specific to the films for the week and will form the basis for
discussion in the forums. Participation in forum discussions is required and will constitute part of
the grade for the course.
There will be two research papers of approximately 7-9 pages in length. The papers will analyze
one or more of the films by the directors we are studying, including films not discussed in class.
The papers can be on any topic—a close analysis of a film or films, a study of some historical or
cultural issues surrounding the films, a discussion of influences on the films or on other
films by our directors—chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. Late Papers are not accepted.
Papers account for approximately 75% of the course. Class presentations 20%. Forum participation 5%.
UVaCollab: each week the course will meet online on Blackboard Collaborate,
accessed through the “Live Online Meetings” tab on the class Collab website.
The online course name is “Welles-Hitchcock.”
Weekly assignments appear both as a link on the syllabus and under “Weekly Assignment” under the
“Resources” tab in Collab.
End of Semester course evaluations are also available on Collab.
Technical Requirements:
- UVa Computing IDs and Passwords
- Internet Explorer (7.0 or above) or Mozilla Firefox
- Headset/Mic: Recommended Logitech Headset with USB
- Technical Support is available:
- Login/Password: scpshelpdesk@virginia.edu
- UVaCollab: collab-support@virginia.edu
- Blackboard Collaborate: scpshelpdesk@virginia.edu or http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com
Course Syllabus
Members of Presentation Groups
Questions for Presentation Groups
What to look for in a film
Narrative-Critical Terms
A Resource for Citations & Footnote Form
Tips for Writing Film Papers
Twelve Writing Principles
Tips on Using Commas in Your Essays
A Welles Resource
A collection of images from Hitchcock films
|
Week |
Films |
Readings |
|
Introduction |
|
|
|
The 39 steps, Hitchcock, 1935 DVD 00201 |
HR, 9, 10 |
|
|
Too Much Johnson (1938) |
MW pp. 1-95 Denning, “The Politics of Magic” |
|
|
Magnificent Ambersons, Welles, RKO, 1943, DVD 11742 |
MW 96-123 |
|
|
The Stranger, Welles, RKO, 1946 DVD 00609 |
Topics for First Paper Due HR, 13 |
|
|
6-Sept. 30 |
Lady from Shanghai, Welles, Columbia, 1948 DVD 01420 |
MW 136-149 |
|
Rear window, Hitchcock, Paramount, 1954 DVD 01875 |
Mulvey, “Visual Pleasure” MW 198-212 First Paper Due |
|
|
The Wrong Man, Hitchcock, Warner Bros., 1956 DVD 04749 |
HR 16 |
|
|
Strangers on a Train, Hitchcock, 1951 DVD 00080 North by Northwest, MGM, Hitchcock, 1959 DVD 01529 |
George Toles, "The Forgotten Lighter and Other Moral Accidents in Strangers on a Train" |
|
|
Touch of Evil, Welles, Universal, 1958 DVD 01659 |
MW 158-187 George Toles, "'If Thine Eye Offends Thee'" |
|
|
Othello, Welles, 1952 DVD05961 Chimes at Midnight, Welles, 1965, DVD 04865. Or, watch it here.
|
MW188-198, 236-261 Anderegg, from Orson Welles, Shakespeare & Popular Culture Stone, "Black & White as Technique in Orson Welles's Othello" |
|
|
Vertigo, Hitchcock, Paramount, 1958 DVD 00019 |
Topics for Final Paper Due |
|
|
The Immortal Story, Welles, 1968, DVD09687
|
Fake" |
|
|
The Birds, Hitchcock, Universal, 1963, DVD01406 Marnie, Hitchcock, Universal, 1964, DVD01595 (If we have time. Otherwise, catchup) |
HR 20, 21, 22 Final Paper Due |
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