NORAM4521 – Interracial Sex and Romance in the Movies
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
We will examine intersections of race, gender, sex, and popular culture by looking at movies in the United States. As the fantasies of a nation, movies can tell much about how race, gender and sex are viewed, the conflicts between the separate ideas about each and how these ideas intersect. As a research seminar, everyone in the course, including the teacher, will be engaged in conducting research on some aspect of the topic, Interracial Sex and Romance in the Movies. We will read some secondary sources and view a few films in common. Then each will choose a specific theme to study in depth. As individual research projects progress, each will critique another’s work, according to specified guidelines.
Learning outcome
You will learn how to analyze film as a primary source, grounded in an historical era, and you will learn how to integrate secondary (scholarly) sources into your analysis to create a scholarly argument. You will also learn how to critically analyze the research and scholarship of others and of yourself. In doing this, you will gain a deeper understanding of how race, gender, sex, and popular culture intersect.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Admission to the EAS-NORAM master program, LP or other relevant master programs.
Recommended previous knowledge
NORAM4500 – Methods course. North America studies, Program for European and American studies (discontinued) should be taken either before this course or at the same time, if possible.
Good oral, reading and writing skills in English are expected and other BA and 2000-4000 level courses involving race, gender, film, and ethnicity are appropriate recommended preparation for this master’s seminar.
Teaching
Seminar, two hour seminar for 10 weeks, 20 hours in all. Attendance at least 80% of the class hours is obligatory, and regular participation in classroom discussions is expected. Students will share their research with the class.
There will be a set of preparatory qualifying assignments.
These must be approved for the student to be able to take the exam. Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the two consecutive semesters when the course is given.
Examination
A term paper of 10 standard pages.
Language of examination
English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The marks will be available on the StudentWeb within three weeks of the exam date.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.