Cinema India: South Asia's Past on Film
HIST 123
Fall 2017
| Section:
01
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| Certificates: South Asia Studies |
This first year seminar course examines the relationship of film and history in India. We will focus on the way filmmakers represent the past and, alternatively, how films inform historical memory--particularly in the context of the competing trajectories of nationalism and globalization in South Asia. A central concern will be the historiographical challenges and opportunities of film. We will pay particular attention to Hindi cinema, especially films produced by the Bombay/Mumbai ("Bollywood") film industry since the 1950s. However we will also include the rise of "parallel" or "art" film. There will be one evening screening (Tuesdays) and two morning class sessions per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Films will range from classics like "Mughal-e Azam" and "Amar, Akbar, Anthony," to lesser-known works such as "Umraon Jaan," "Sangharsh," "Shatranj ke Khiladi," "Legend of Bhagat Singh," and "Rang de Basanti," to more recent blockbusters such as "Lagaan," "Hey Ram," "Jodhaa Akbar," "Bajirao Mastani," and "Rangoon." |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (GSAS-MN) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYS |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Sunil Khilnani, THE IDEA OF INDIA (new edition); Rachel Dwyer, BOLLYWOOD'S INDIA: HINDI CINEMA AS A GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY INDIA; Tejaswani Ganti, BOLLYWOOD: A GUIDEBOOK TO POPULAR HINDI CINEMA (2nd edition, 2013)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Students will write ten 2-page (200/250-word) essays reflecting on issues of historical representation in the films, drawing on the readings and lecture/discussion as well as supplementary resources made available by the instructor. These papers will undergo peer review prior to the Thursday morning session and final submission to the instructor for grading. The lowest graded paper will not be included in the final grade calculation. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Students are expected to attend all evening film screenings and all morning classes, and to have done all assigned reading prior to class as per the syllabus. Engaged, intelligent class participation is crucial to the success of the seminar and will also be graded. |
| Instructor(s): Pinch,William R. Times: ..T.... 07:00PM-10:00PM; ..T.R.. 09:00AM-09:50AM; Location: PAC136; PAC136; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 6 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 15 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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