Topics in Israel Studies (280-6-1)
Topic
Otherness and Othering in Israeli Film
Instructors
Hanna Tzuker Seltzer
847/467-5684
Crowe 5-159
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00, or by appt.
Hanna Tzuker Seltzer was born and raised in Jerusalem, where she also studied Film & Television. Her short narrative film aired on the prominent Israeli network Arutz Shtayim (“Channel 2”) and was awarded the channel’s Snunit Prize for emerging Israeli filmmakers. Prior to her PhD studies at the University of California Berkeley, she graduated summa cum laude from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, earning her BA in Hebrew Literature with Designated Emphasis in Creative Writing. Dr. Seltzer also holds a certificate in teaching Hebrew as a Second Language from the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University, where she taught in the Summer Ulpan. Dr. Seltzer is also the director of the Hebrew Program at Northwestern and received The Council on Language Instruction’s 2023-2024 Excellence in Language Teaching Award. She teaches advanced Hebrew classes on Israeli literature and film as well as on Israeli and Jewish literature and film for the general community of students.
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-440: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Since its inception, Israeli society is comprised of various and different social groups; immigrants, Arabs, Jews, foreign workers, religious people, secular people, ultra-orthodox Jews, Christians, to name several. In a society where many feel themselves as outsiders, what does Otherness actually mean? Is it a subjective stance or a definite (and "objective") position? Does Otherness exist only when juxtaposed with what is supposedly the social norms of "Israeli society" or can it stand by itself? Does Israeli society is othering others to have a false sense of unity? And is there an actual entity of "Israeli society" or is it only imagined by those who seek to be part of it? Film in its nature is an introspective tool, and in the case of Israeli film it has always been a prism through which Israeli directors examine questions of identity, the treatment of "others", and the relationship between the center and the margins. In this class we will watch various Israeli films that relate to the notion of otherness and to the dilemmas that arise from the characters' complex position in Israeli society. Among the movies we will watch are "Noodle", "Borrowed Identity", "Sandstorm" and "Baba Joon". We will read texts that will contextualize the movies and will shed light on the stance of otherness in Israeli society. No previous knowledge of Hebrew or Israel or Israeli cinema is required. All the movies will have English subtitles and all the readings will be in English, as well as the lectures and class discussions.
Learning Objectives
- Gain knowledge about various sectors and minorities in Israeli society and the dilemmas individuals in these groups are confronted with.
- Gain some knowledge on theories of Otherness in the context of Israeli society.
- Be able to identify cinematic signifiers in given scenes such as frame composition, its size and kind (long shot, close-up, shoulder camera, point of view, etc.).
- Be able to use their understanding of cinematic language to analyze scenes in movies we watched and explain how the cinematic language supports or undermines the position of a character or the film's narrative.
- Develop a sense of empathy towards characters in different life and culture's circumstances.
- Develop critical reading and thinking
- Develop writing, collaboration, and interpersonal communication skills.
Evaluation Method
Attendance & Class Participation: 30%
Readings/Writing Assignments/Papers/Homework: 35%
Final Paper: 35%
Class Materials (Required)
Materials will be provided by the instructor.
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area