Syllabus keep handy for reference
Dr. Aeon J. Skoble
341 Tillinghast, x2460
Email:
askoble@bridgew.edu Web:
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/askoble
Office hours: M 10-11, T,TH 1:45-2:45, or by appointment
Required Texts:
The Philosophy of Film Noir, Mark T. Conard, ed. (Univ. Press of
Additional
readings to be distributed in class or via web
For
film viewings, you can either (a) borrow them from
your local public library, (b) rent/stream them from Netflix, or (c) buy/stream
them at Amazon
Overview and objectives:
The classic period of Film
Noir is generally taken to range from The Maltese Falcon (1941) to Touch
of Evil (1958), in a cycle of films notable for their unusual lighting,
disorienting photography, mysterious characters, sinister plots, and a dark (noir) atmosphere that mirrored concerns
about corruption, crime, and social decadence.
This course is aimed at examining the philosophical roots, and ramifications,
of these films. We will also consider
some films from the neo-noir catalogue, and examine how the noir legacy was
translated to the small screen, with an eye towards their philosophical
dimensions. Some of the issues involved
this semester include: the question of genre, existential themes, values and
nihilism, moral ambiguity, reasoning and detection.
Requirements:
This is a one-credit
class. We will meet once a week to
discuss the films and the readings, and you will write an 8-10 page paper on a
topic to be determined later by mutual agreement, which is due Nov 30. In our final meeting, Dec 7, we will discuss
the papers.
Required film viewings:
Classic noir You should
watch these as soon as possible, but not later than September 28:
The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep,
Kiss of Death, Laura, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The
Big Clock, Double Indemnity, Touch
of Evil
Neo-noir you should watch
these as soon as possible, but not later than Nov 9:
TV Noir selected episodes
(TBA) of Dragnet, Secret Agent, The Fugitive, Miami
Vice
General Outline:
Sept 10 intro to topic;
opening discussion of classic film noir
Sept 14
Sept 21
Sept 28
Oct 5
Oct 19
Oct 26 begin discussion of
neo-noir
Nov 2
Nov 9
Nov 16 noir television part
1
Nov 23 noir television part
2; the legacy and future of film noir
Nov 30 -- Papers due; final
discussion of readings
Dec 7 discussion of student
papers