ARTS 616
Film Comedy
Ethan de Seife
Course Ojectives | |||||||
The principal goal of this course is to familiarize you with the historical and aesthetic traditions of motion-picture comedy. Along the way, we’ll consider various theories of comedy; national traditions of comedy, and how they compare to one another; and investigate several subgenres contained within comedy. We’ll also watch a bunch of funny movies: Hollywood comedy will receive particular emphasis, but we’ll look at certain European and Asian comic traditions, as well. |
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Required Text | |||||||
• Jenkins, Henry, What Made Pistachio Nuts?: Early Sound Comedy and the Vaudeville Aesthetic This book has been placed on order at Broad Street Books in Middletown (45 Broad Street; 860-685-7323), but you should feel free to search around online for better deals. Good places to start are www.abebooks.com and www.daedalusbooks.com. Most of the readings for this course can be found in the course reader, which is available at PIP Printers (179 Main St. Middletown; 344-9001). All readings from the course reader are marked with an asterisk (*). Additionally, some articles are available online. In order to download them, you must access the Wesleyan proxy server: http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/proxy.htm. The readings themselves are at http://eres.olin.wesleyan.edu, where you can search by course or instructor name. All downloadable readings are marked with a dagger (†). |
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Course Requirements & Assignments | |||||||
Midterm paper Final paper I will require each of you to meet with me – or at least call or email me – so we can discuss your paper topic. You should start thinking about possible paper topics right away. My suggestion is that, within the first 4-5 weeks of class, take special note of the topics, performers, films, etc., that are interesting to you, and start thinking about how you can turn your interests into a research paper. I will give more details about the paper assignment soon. |
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Late Assignments | |||||||
I will not accept late assignments. Please have all your work completed on time. |
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Communication | |||||||
Please check your e-mail frequently. I will set up a class e-mail list, and will send you messages from time to time regarding course business. Email is generally the best way to get in touch with me; use ethan.deseife@gmail.com. If you need to speak with me, try my cell first (914-434-1958), then my home (860-343-7253). |
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A Note on Class Meetings | |||||||
Though the readings are extremely important, our primary texts for this class will be the films themselves. However, since we have only three hours per week devoted to course time, time is at a premium. Our meetings will generally be a mix of Also, since 6-9pm is prime dinner time, feel free to bring food and drink to class, so long as it doesn’t get too distracting for you or your classmates. |
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Class Meetings | |||||||
September 11 |
Introduction / Basics of Comedy Theory Screening: |
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September 18 |
Chaplin and Keaton Reading: Screening: |
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September 25 |
Anarchistic Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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October 2 |
Sophisticated Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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October 9 |
Screwball Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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October 16 |
Preston Sturges Reading: Screening: |
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October 23 |
Gags and the Comedians Who Tell Them Reading: Screening: |
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October 30 |
Jerry Lewis and Frank Tashlin Reading: Screening: ***Midterm Paper due*** |
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November 6 |
Ozu: 1930s Japanese Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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November 13 |
And Now for Something Completely Different Reading: Screening: |
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November 20 |
Jacques Tati Reading: Screening: |
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November 27 |
Animation as Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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December 4 |
Hong Kong Comedy Reading: Screening: |
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December 11 |
The Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever Reading: Screening: ***Final Paper due*** |