Research Seminar for Literature Majors (397-0-20)

Topic

Divas of Classical Hollywood

Instructors

Julia Ann Stern
847/491-3530
University Hall Room 415
Office Hours: Mondays 1:1:50; Tuesdays 10-11; and Thursdays 12:20-1

Meeting Info

University Hall 318: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

In this seminar, we will explore the concept of the classical Hollywood Diva by studying the films of actresses working during the Golden Age of Cinema, 1930-1950. Our divas include Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Hattie McDaniel, Barbara Stanwyck, Theresa Harris and beyond. At least one of each of these women's films appears on our Course Reserves list and will form our objects of study for the seminar. Several of the films feature two of our actresses performing together. After choosing an actress as your focus, you will be asked to begin research in five areas: star biography; industry history (how Hollywood was created; the classical era; modes of production; the studio system); historical studies of the Great Depression and Roosevelt's commitment to WWII; primary source documents (contemporaneous film reviews and artifacts from fan mail and clubs, often run out of the studio ); and film criticism from 1950-the present. This work will culminate in a 12-15 page research paper in which you argue for your diva's transformational significance in feminist film history.

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Department Majors Only

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Department Majors and Minors Only. No Freshmen/First Years