Autobiographical Storytelling
FILM 395
Spring 2023
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
WLIT 207 |
How do filmmakers and writers negotiate memory, identity, and the author's voice to create original work drawn from life? Through analysis of a broad range of autobiographical narratives by experimental, documentary, and fiction filmmakers and writers, we will investigate various modes of working with personal source material, and explore the capacity and complexities of family and individual narratives to showcase diverse perspectives and interrogate assumptions about the self on screen. Inspired by the films and writing we will study, the creative work produced in this course may be drawn from a variety of sources: one's own lived experience, the lived experience of a family or community member, an event, a place, an artistic and/or cultural tradition. Thinking through the fluid nature of autobiography and the vast range of narrative possibilities for representing autobiographical material on screen will be part of class discussions. In this reading- and writing-intensive course, students should expect to spend several hours reading and writing outside of class per week. For most class periods, students will use Perusall to read and annotate either scholarly articles or pieces of autobiographical writing, or to read and comment on their peers' screenplays via Google Drive. Weekly screenings and readings may include work by Pedro Almodovar, Chantal Akerman, Radha Blank, Julie Dash, Mati Diop, Nathalie Léger, Barbara Loden, Lucrecia Martel, Jonas Mekas, Nanni Moretti, Alice Rohrwacher, Céline Sciamma, Agnès Varda, and others. In addition, the course will include screenings and discussions of videographic criticism (e.g., audiovisual work that critically reappropriates existing works of film and media). |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FILM-MN)(FILM)(GSAS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
SUITE FOR BARBARA LODEN by Nathalie Léger
DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST: THE MAKING OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN'S FILM by Julie Dash
MY MOTHER LAUGHS by Chantal Akerman
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly Perusall and/or screenwriting assignments, two in-class presentations, in-class writing workshops of screenplays in progress, submission of final portfolio. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Interested students should email Professor Shepard ASAP during pre-registration with a paragraph about your academic interests, why you hope to enroll in this course and your prior experience, if any, with creative writing. No experience is required but strong interests in film analysis and screenwriting, as well as a willingness to read and give feedback on your classmates¿ screenwriting, will be necessary. Please note: This course has one required Sunday afternoon screening in February, TBD. Preference will be given to Film majors and minors.
Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. To apply, please email a paragraph about your academic interests, why you hope to enroll in this course and your prior experience, if any, with creative writing to Professor Shepard at: sshepard@wesleyan.edu. |
| Instructor(s): Shepard,Sadia Quraeshi Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: CFS116; CFS112; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 10 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 3 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 3 |
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