Zombies & Beyond for 3/2

Talking Points for Alien:

1) Do you find this movie scary? Why or why not?
2) Is it thematically significant that Ripley is female?
3) What do you make of the famous scene in which the alien emerges from the body of a crew member?
4) Does this film remind you of any other film or films we've seen this semester?

Law in Film: Schedule Change

We've tweaked the schedule for the rest of the semester slightly. Please follow this new schedule and not the old one:

SYLLABUS CHANGE: The Law in Film. FIL 3930H. Spring 2015.

3/5. Fifth paper assigned. Lecture: The lawyer. Intro to The Verdict. View The Verdict (1982, 129 m.).

Reading: NYT review of The Rainmaker.

3/12. Spring Break. No classes.

3/19. Fifth paper due. Sixth paper assigned. Intro to The Rainmaker. View The Rainmaker (1997, 135 m.) Reading: NYT review of Erin Brockovich.

3/26. Sixth paper due. Lecture: the trial. Discuss The Verdict. Discuss The Rainmaker. Lecture: tort reform and class-action suits. Other items TBA.

Reading: NYT review of Erin Brockovich.

4/2. Seventh paper assigned. Intro to Erin Brockovich. View Erin Brockovich (2000, 131 m.). Reading: NYT review of Philadelphia.

4/9. Seventh paper due. Eighth paper assigned. Discuss Erin Brockovich. Lecture: discrimination. Intro to Philadelphia. View Philadelphia (1993, 125 m.). Final paper proposals.

4/16. Eighth paper due. Discuss Philadelphia. Final paper proposals. Reading: NYT review of To Kill a Mockingbird.

4/23. Ninth paper assigned. Intro to To Kill a Mockingbird. View To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, 129 m.). Final paper proposals.

4/30, Final Exam period. Final paper due. Ninth paper due. Discuss To Kill a Mockingbird. Additional discussion. Goodbyes.

Zombies & Beyond for 2/23

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in Alien

This week, we'll discuss both Jaws and The Elephant Man. (Your papers for both films are also due this week.) In addition, we'll watch Alien. That should mostly catch us up.

Talking Points for Jaws:
1) Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper: What does each represent?
2) What does the shark represent to each one of them?
3) What political, sexual and ethical themes are represented in Jaws?

Talking Points for The Elephant Man:
1) What explanation (or explanations) does the film offer as to why the title character looks the way he does?
2) Does the film end happily?
3) Did the sound in this film strike you as distinctive?

Law in Film for 2/26

This week, we will not be watching a film. Instead, we'll focus on discussions and on a few things that may have slipped through the cracks. You'll also receive your prompt for your Final Paper so that you can start thinking about what you want to do there.

One discussion will be about Chicago. Here are some Talking Points:
1) What is this movie saying about the legal system, either through song-and-dance sequences or in some other way?
2) Were you surprised that a movie can convey thematic points through songs?
3) Is the film cynical or just realistic?

Law in Film for 2/19

Talking Points for 12 Angry Men:

1) Do you like the movie?

2) What legal issues does it raise?

3) What socio-political issues does it raise?

4) How do you feel about it being set in one room?

5) How does the director single out individual characters?

6) Do you like the b&w cinematography?  

Zombies & Beyond for 2/16

The Elephant Man

REMINDERS:
1) We'll be meeting in NSC 145. If  you arrive late and don't see us there, try next door at NSC 148.
2) Contrary to what the syllabus says, your papers on Jaws are not due on 2/16. You can hand them in on 2/16 if you like, or you can wait to the next week. Your choice.
3) Due to technical difficulties last time, we'll be rewatching the last 10-15 minutes of Jaws on 2/16.
4) We will also be watching The Elephant Man.
5) Sorry for all the technical, scheduling and other glitches we've experienced so far. I'm working hard to keep them to a minimum as we move forward!

Law in Film for 2/12

Talking Points for Reversal of Fortune:

If you had been one of Prof. Dershowitz's students, would you have joined his team to defend Claus von Bulow? Why or why not?

  What are Dershowitz's stated reasons for defending von Bulow?
  What legal issue is involved when Dershowitz attempts to introduce new evidence in the case in court?
  How and when is humor used in the film?  

Zombies & Beyond for 2/9

Talking Points for Night of the Living Dead:
   Do you like it? Why or why not?

  Is it different from/similar to other zombie films you've seen?

  What is it saying socio-politically?

  Does the race of the main character matter?

NOTE: We will meet in NSC 148 and then possibly move to NSC 145.