CINE 897 Schedule

Course Description
The premise of this course is to develop a body of research that lays the foundation for a strong thesis. The hope is that during this process we might reveal gaps, fissures, or an impasse in your topic/research before you begin to write your thesis. Further, this process should be viewed as a way to accrue the cultural capital necessary to write your thesis.

As for this latter point: Even if you’re only focusing on one film, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with a wider body of films that are related in one way or another. EVEN if this work doesn’t explicitly materialize in your thesis, it’s necessary with respect to doing due diligence. Let’s say for example I’m writing a thesis on surveillance in Michelangelo Antonioni 1966 film Blow-Up, it would be advisable to be familiar with films that address this subject, for instance: Michael Haneke’s 1992 film Benny Video; Brian De Palma’s 1981 film Blow-Out; Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film The Conversation.

Course Objective:
At the end of the process you should have:

1. Substantive draft and/or body of material to draw on for your thesis.
2. Clear direction for your thesis.
3. A strong and substantive bibliography.

Meeting 1 (First Week of School)

• Initial meeting to discuss proposed thesis:
• Meet to discuss:
• Film(s)
• Research area

Meeting 2 (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)

• Prior to meeting submit written (2-3 page) synopsis of thesis
• Establish a clear argument and/or a definitive question (understanding that your position will probably need to be modified as you progress).
• Meeting to discuss:
• Submitted synopsis
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 3 (Sept. 20-24)

• Prior to meeting submit (2-3 page) survey of research (film/text)
• Meeting to discuss:
• What research/film material looks like it has potential?
• Or is the research/film material leading to an impasse?
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 4 (Oct 4-8)

• Prior to meeting submit (2-3 page) survey of research (film/text)
• Meeting to discuss:
• Has your research necessitated changes in your principle argument?
• What research/film material looks like it has potential?
• Or is the research/film material leading to an impasse?
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 5 (Oct. 18-22)

• Prior to meeting submit (2-3 page) survey of research (film/text)
• Meeting to discuss:
• Has your research necessitated changes in your principle argument?
• What research/film material looks like it has potential?
• Or is the research/film material leading to an impasse?
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 6 (Nov. 1-5)

• Prior to meeting submit (2-3 page) survey of research (film/text)
• Meeting to discuss:
• Has your research necessitated changes in your principle argument?
• What research/film material looks like it has potential?
• Or is the research/film material leading to an impasse?
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 7 (Nov. 15-19)

• Prior to meeting submit a sample course syllabus based on your research (click here for template)
• You should have a relative good picture of the scholarship in your subject.
• Organize a course syllabus that charts a “narrative” through your subject
• For example:
• A genre-based syllabus charting the contours of a genre
• An auteur-based syllabus charting the stylistic traits of a filmmaker (perhaps also including influences)
• A thematic-based syllabus charting a trajectory through a specific subject (e.g., the male body in teen vampire films)
• Meeting to discuss:
• Syllabus – and its relationship to your body of research
• Has your research necessitated changes in your principle argument?
• What research/film material looks like it has potential?
• Or is the research/film material leading to an impasse?
• Suggested film(s)
• Suggested research material

Meeting 8 (Dec 6 - 10)

• Prior to meeting submit a preliminary draft of your thesis
• Revised synopsis
• Drafted section(s)
• Outlined trajectory for thesis (in the following term)
• Complete bibliography and filmography (thus far…)