History 399

American West in Film

Summer 2006 (first session) Mon.-Thurs. noon-1:50

Instructor: Jeff Ostler

Office: 301 McKenzie (Office Hours: Mon. and Tues., 2:00-3:00)

Phone: 346-1265

Email: jostler@uoregon.edu

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course offers an exploration of the themes in films about the American West. We will consider how the films draw upon, shape, and produce images of and ideas about the American West and how the films reflect cultural and political issues at the time of their production.

Films include Stagecoach (1936), My Darling Clementine (1946), The Searchers (1956), The Wild Bunch (1969), Once Upon a Time in the West (1969), and Unforgiven (1992). Readings include Jane Tompkins, West of Everything and several articles available through either a course packet (CP) or a handout (HO).

ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. A midterm and final exam (in class) consisting of short answers to specific questions about the films and readings. Worth 25% each.

2. A paper (4 pages) comparing a film viewed outside of class from a list of films approved in advance with one of the assigned films.. Due in class on July 17. Worth 25%

3. A final paper (4 pages) comparing how two of the required films deal with a theme of your choice. Due on July 21. Worth 25%. Note: The two papers will need to discuss four different films (in other words, you can't use the same film for the first and second papers).

SCHEDULE:

Week 1

6/26 Introduction

Begin Stagecoach

6/27 Finish Stagecoach

Discussion

Readings :

Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” (CP)

Kitses, “Authorship and Genre: Notes on the Western ” (HO)

Tompkins, introduction

6/28 Continue discussion

Begin My Darling Clementine

6/29 Finish My Darling Clementine

Discussion

Readings :

Durgnat and Simmon, “Six Creeds that Won the Western” (HO)

Buscombe, “Inventing Monument Valley ” (HO)

Tompkins, chapters 1-2

Week 2

7/3 Discussion

Begin The Searchers

7/4 HOLIDAY

7/5 Finish The Searchers

Discussion

Readings :

Pye, “Double Vision” (CP)

Eckstein, “Darkening Ethan” (CP)

Budd, “A Home in the Wilderness” (HO)

Tompkins, chapters 3-4

7/6 Discussion

Start Wild Bunch

Week 3

7/10 MIDTERM EXAM

Finish Wild Bunch

7/11

Discussion

Readings :

Slotkin, “Cross-over Point” (CP)

7/12 Start Once Upon a Time in the West

7/13 Finish Once Upon a Time

Week 4

7/17 Discussion

Readings :

Landy, “He Went Thataway” (HO)

FIRST PAPER DUE

7/18 Unforgiven

7/19 Discussion

Readings :

Thumin, “‘Maybe He's Tough...'” (CP)

Kelley, “Giggles and Guns” (CP)

Grist, “Unforgiven” (CP)

Tompkins, chapters 5-8, 10

7/20 Discussion continued

7/21 FINAL EXAM

FINAL PAPER DUE