Politics Through
Film and Literature
(PS 323) Dr. W. Wesley
McDonald
Tuesday 6:30 - 9:15 p.m. Office Nicarry 223
Nicarry 201 Ex.:1306
Email: mailto:mcdonaldw@etown.edu
web address: http://www.etown.edu/home/ Mcdonald/Mcdo.html
A. Political
Novels
Henry
Adams, Democracy
Truman
Capote, In Cold Blood
Charles
Dickens, Hard Times
William
Golding, Lord of the Flies
Herman
Meville, Billy Budd
Ayn
Rand, The Fountainhead
B. Course
Description and Objectives
Political
philosophy, understood as a tradition of inquiry having as its ultimate object the
comprehensive knowledge of man’s relationship to the state, originated in
Ancient Greece. Since then, following
the example of Aristotle, the master political thinkers typically employed the
prose essay or treatise to communicate their vision of political reality. Yet, even the ancient Greeks recognized that
the discussion of politics need not be limited to these literary forms. Greek plays, such as Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone,”
or Aristophanes’ comedies “The Clouds” or “Lysistrata,” represented for them
alternative vehicles for the imaginative expression of political ideas.
In
the modern era, likewise, the novel and cinema have influenced and shaped our
political consciousness.
The
purpose of this course is to examine some classic examples of these latter art
forms and to critically evaluate the political messages their creators intended
them to convey. Through a careful
examination of the themes expressed in this diverse group of films and novels,
you will be able to critically evaluate widely differing political
visions. It is expected that these
films and novels will spark a thoughtful classroom discussion of some of the
most significant enduring issues of politics.
Some of the questions to be addressed during the course of this semester
are: Are liberty and equality compatible?
Is man by nature good or evil?
Are we obligated to obey unjust laws?
Does the individual have rights against the claims of the state? Can a totalitarian society alter human
nature? Is politics an inherently
corrupting activity? What are the
causes and consequences of war and can war be eliminated? How can film and fiction be used as
instruments of political persuasion?
C. Requirements
of the Course
1. Examinations: The mid-term and final examinations will be
composed of short answer and essay questions and are designed to test the
student’s knowledge comprehension of the films, novels and classroom discussions,
and critical thinking skills.
2. Grading: The final grade will be based upon:
| Final examination | 30 points |
| Mid-term examination | 30 |
| Book Review Assignment | 30 |
| Class participation and attendance | 10 |
3. Book Review Essay: Write a five page typewritten essay on Democracy
by Henry Adams in which you describe the major plot and characters of the
novel. Discuss as well some of the
following questions: What is the point
of the view of the author regarding whether American democracy is a success or
failure? What does the author believe
to be the major weaknesses of democracy?
Is he optimistic or pessimistic about its future? Explain, citing examples from the novel. Would the author be surprised to find that
there is still political corruption in Washington, D.C. today? Explain.
The essay is due Feb 20.
4. Attendance
Policy: The student will be held
responsible on examinations for all lectures and class discussions.
Unexcused absences will adversely affect the class participation grade.
5. Code of Integrity: This course abides by the College’s Code of
Integrity. On all submitted material
for a grade, students are requested to sign the following pledge: “I support the Elizabethtown College Code; I
will uphold honesty in our community.”
Infractions of the code will not be tolerated and will be dealt with
severely.
D. Course
Outline
Film: “Dr. Strangelove”
(1964). Can the threat of accidental
nuclear war be funny? You wouldn’t
think so, but this classic black comedy is hilarious. This movie made one former Secretary of State livid. Can you figure out why?
Jan. 21 The Anti-War Film: A Soldier’s View
Film: “All Quiet on the Western Front” -- the horrors
of life in the trenches in World War I as seen from the prospective of ordinary
German recruits.
Jan. 28 Terrorism
and Counter-Terrorism
Film: “The Battle of
Algiers”—this classic and rarely seen film today depicts the struggle of the Algerians
in the 1950s for their independence from France. This film is used to train the US military in counter-terrorism
techniques. The successful Algerian
revolution became a model for subsequent terrorist movements.
Assignment: Adams, Democracy, chapters 1-3
III. The
Nature of Totalitarian and Democratic Forms of Government
Feb. 4 The Nature of
Totalitarianism: Science fiction as
predictive history
Film: “1984” – the noted actor Richard Burton’s
last film. Were Orwell’s pessimistic
predictions about the modern world justified?
Does the modern bureaucratic state resemble Orwell’s dystopia? Why does the modern totalitarian state want
more than merely obedience from its subjects?
Warning: This film does contain
brief nudity.
Assignment: Adams, Democracy,
chapters 4-5
Feb. 11 A
Futuristic World of Ultraviolence
Film: “A Clockwork Orange” (1971) In a futuristic world where all moral
restraint has broken down, society is terrorized by gangs of psychopathic
ultraviolent killers. Using the
techniques of modern behavioral modification, society “cures” one of the
killers of his violent tendencies. But
the question remains: Can a person be
called “human” if he or she can no longer chose to do evil.
Warning: This is a R-rated film that contains
disturbing scenes of violence including rape.
Some people may object to seeing these images. If you wish not to see this movie, please inform the instructor
at the beginning of the course and other arrangements will be made.
Assignment: Adams, Democracy,
chapters 6-7
Feb. 18 Democracy, Leadership
and Political Corruption
Film: “All the King’s Men: -- based on Robert Penn
Warren’s classic novel about political demagoguery, power, greed and corruption
in the Deep South before Watergate, Clinton, Paula Jones and Newt Gingrich.
Assignment: Adams, Democracy 8 – conclusion
Feb. 20 Reforming the System Through the Law
Film “A Civil Action” A crusading attorney struggles vainly to protect
a community against toxic chemical health hazards caused by polluting industries.
Is this film an indictment of corporate America or toothless environmental
laws?
Assignment: Book review essay due.
Feb. 27 MID-TERM EXAM - TWO
HOUR ESSAY
IV. Human
Nature and Justice
March 11 Justice and the Law: Are They
Compatible?
Film: “Billy Budd” -- actor and director Peter Ustinov’s personal interpretation of Meville’s allegory. Does the film interpretation of this classic sea story distort Melville’s point?Assignment: Meville, Billy Budd, pp 7-89 (or just the short story “Billy Budd”); Rand, Fountainhead, Part I
March 18
Rule of Law Versus Political Expediency
Film: “A Man for All Seasons”—a classic confrontation between an absolute sovereign who believed that he is above the law and one of his ministers who affirmed with his life his commitment to the rule of law.
Assignment: Rand, Fountainhead, Part II
March 25 Human Nature: Is Man Innately Good?
Film: “Lord of the Flies” -- a grim and disturbing portrait of a group of upper-class English school boys marooned on a desert island. Who said children are “innocent?”
Assignment: Golding, Lord of the Flies
April 1 An Examination of the Criminal Psych
Film: “In Cold Blood” -- a true story of a brutal and senseless murder of an innocent Kansas family. What were the killers’ motives? Guest lecturer Professor Russell Eisenbise will offer his personal recollections of the Clutter family.
Assignment: Capote, In Cold Blood
V. Propaganda
and Ideology
April 15 Film as an expression of nationalistic spirit.
Film: Sergei Eisenstein’s “Alexander Nevsky” -- a powerful expression of pre-World War II Russian nationalism. A copy of the movie’s subtitles will be handed out in class.
Assignment: Rand, Fountainhead, Part III
April 15
Literary Imagination in an Age of Utilitarianism:
Charles Dickens’ critique of 19th Century Liberalism.
Assignment: Dickens, Hard Times
No film this week -- a roundtable discussion of
the themes of Dickens’ novel. Everyone
will be expected to participate.
April 29 Individualism vs. Collectivism: The Program Novel
In this lengthy novel, Rand strives to articulate a complete philosophy of life and politics - Objectivism. Are we now living in the grim collectivist world of mediocrity and hypocrisy envisaged in her 1940s novel?
Film: “The Fountainhead” Which are you -- a creator or a parasite?
Assignment: Rand, The Fountainhead Part IV
May 6
FINAL EXAM - 2 HOURS