Each of these critically acclaimed films explores the relationship of love (romantic love, friendship, familial love) in relation to politics. As we view films and read articles that provide historical contextualizing and critical commentary on the films, we will take up the following questions: What relationships do the films stage between love and politics? How and why do the films use a love story to make an intervention into a political conflict? When and why is love represented as that which transcends, provides a solution to, or succumbs to political conflict? What are the possibilities and limitations of providing political commentary through a narrative centered on relationships between lovers, friends, or family members? How and why have the films occasioned fierce political controversies? What has been their political impact, whether it be in creating social change and/or in helping to maintain the status quo?
Films take up different geopolitical contexts that address, for example, Hindu fundamentalism in contemporary India; racism in the U.S., during and after the civil rights era; transphobia in midwestern America; Nazi-era Germany; divorce law in contemporary Iran; post-Oslo Israel/Palestine; the 1917 Russian Revolution; 1975 Argentina and the Dirty War; a dystopia set in what was formerly North America.
Assignments: A research paper of 12 pages (worth approximately 55% of the final grade); a 5-page film review (20%); regular entries in a team journal (10%); 1-2 page papers, a class presentation, and other in-class activities (15%). Attendance is mandatory; missed classes will negatively impact your grade. If you are not able to attend any film screenings held in conjunction with the class, you are responsible for arranging to view the films on your own.
Tentative list of films:
Hany Abu-Assad, Omar (2014)
Hector Babenco, Kiss of the Spiderwoman (1985)
Warren Beatty, Reds (1981)
Costa-Gavras, Betrayed (1988)
Ava DuVernay, Selma (2014)
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation (2011)
Deepa Mehta, Fire (1996)
Kimberly Peirce, Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Eran Riklis, Lemon Tree (2009)
Gary Ross, Hunger Games (2012)
Elia Sulieman, Divine Intervention (2002)
Fred Zinnemann, Julia (1977)
Readings: Alongside viewing the films, you will be assigned readings that provide contexts for the films. Such readings will include, for example, articles and essays by authors including bell hooks, Gayatri Gopinath, Judith Halberstam, Robin Kelley, Saree Makdisi, Darnell Moore, and Edward Said.