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 Mahogany; Deliverance; Jackie Brown; Pocahontas; Twilight; The Shining; Moonlight; The Silence of the Lambs; Get Out. Please note that this course requires heavy use of myCourses (mC)/Canvas.

In Fall 2023 this course satisfies the Race & Diversity requirement for English Department majors. 

General English majors may take ENGL 778 for Capstone credit if it is not taken to satisfy other major requirement areas. Pick up a Capstone Declaration Form in the main English office (HS 230F) if interested.