This course will explore representations of gender and race in American cinema and popular culture, ranging from Classical Hollywood, social critical cinema of the 1950s/1960s to contemporary films that feature representations of the body in various contexts. Weekly readings of contemporary gender and race theories will guide us in identifying the various stereotypes and subversive aspects depicted in cinema and popular culture. Topics include various representations of masculinity and the crisis of white masculinity; the black woman’s gaze; objectification and lighting of white women; race/ethnicity and hypersexuality; white privilege; sexual orientation; and transgender performance. This course is reading and writing intensive and examples from films will be discussed and closely analyzed in class. Films discussed include Deliverance; Jackie Brown; Pocahontas; Twilight; Paris is Burning; Moonlight; Get Out; BlacKkKlansman; Creed; The Farewell. Please note that this course requires heavy use of myCourses (mC).

In Fall 2022 this course satisfies the Race Requirement for English department majors. 

ENGL 778 may be taken as an upper-level elective by general English majors.

In Fall 2022 ENGL 778 may be taken for Capstone credit by English department majors if it is not used to satisfy any other requirement areas. Pick up a Capstone Declaration form in the main English office (HS 230F) if interested.