Questions?  

Email me at ruiz@gcc.mass.edu or call 1-413-775-1236.

Thanks,
Lillian Ruiz, Instructor

Sample Course Outline

COURSE OUTLINE

CMN 201
Topic: Horror Film in Media and Popular Culture

Note:

  Dates and assignments may be subject to change. 

Please bring assigned text(s) to class. 

         Readings should be completed before the dates indicated below.

Pursuant to the character of the genre, some of the course material is graphic in nature.

               

WEEK 1: Introduction

WEEK 2: Horror Film and Fear

Read:

Projected Fears – Introduction 

Horror Film – Chapter 4 (What is Horror?), Chapter 5 (Why of Horror),

Chapter 6 (Critics and Censors)

WEEK 3: Horror Film in the 1920’s 

                      View – The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Read: 

Nightmares - Chapter 1 (Origins in Film Gothic)

Horror Film - Chapter 1 (Genrification)

WEEK 4: Horror Film in the 1930’s

                      View -  Dracula (1931)

                       Read: 

Projected Fears –  Chapter 1 (Dracula)

Nightmares – Chapter 2 (Studio Horrors of the 1930’s), 

        Chapter 10 (Reality Bites), Chapter 11 (Browning)

                                                    Journal #1: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

WEEK 5: Horror Film in the 1940’s

                      View – Cat People (1942)

Read:

Nightmares - Chapter 3 (Shadow Play)

Horror Film - Chapter 2 (1939-1973)

               Journal #2: Dracula

WEEK 6: Horror Film in the 1950’s

                      View – Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Read:

Projected Fears – Chapter 2 (Thing from Another World)

Nightmares –  Chapter 4 (Body Snatchers)

Journal #3: Cat People

WEEK 7: Horror Film in the 1960’s

                      View – Psycho (1966)

Read:

Projected Fears – Chapter 3 (Psycho)

Nightmares - Chapter 5 (California Gothic), Chapter 12 (Hitchcock)

                                            Journal #4: Invasion of Body Snatchers

                                         

WEEK 8: SPRING BREAK - No Class

WEEK 9: Horror Film in the 1960’s: Part II

                     View – Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Read:

Projected Fears – Chapter 4 (Night of the Living Dead)

Nightmares – Chapter 6 (Apocalypse), Chapter 14 (Romero)

Journal #5: Psycho

                                                                                   

WEEK 10: Horror Film in the 1970’s 

                      View – The Exorcist (1973)

                                               Read: 

Projected Fears – Chapter 5 (Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Horror Film - Chapter 3 (1974 to Present)

.                                                       Journal #6: Night of Living Dead

WEEK 11: Horror Film in the 1980’s (Debuting in 1978)

                      View -  Halloween (1978)

Read:

Projected Fears – Chapter 6 (Halloween)

Nightmares - Chapter 7 (Shrinking Man), Chapter 15 (Carpenter)

Journal #7: The Exorcist

                                                                                                        

WEEK 12:Horror Film in the 1990’s

                      View – The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Read: 

Nightmares – Chapter 8 (Postmodern Horror I), Chapter 9 (Postmodern Horror II)

Horror Film - Chapter 9 (Digital Horrors)    

                               Journal #8: Halloween

WEEK 13:Horror Film in the 2000’s

                       View – 28 Days Later (2002)

                        Read – 

Projected Fears (Conclusion)

Horror Film – Chapter 7 (Spooky Sounds)

                                            Journal #9: The Blair Witch Project

 

WEEK 14: Horror Film in the 2010’s

View- Get Out (2017)

                         Read: 

  Horror Film – Chapter 8 (Colours of Fear)

                 Journal #10: 28 Days Later

WEEK 15: Horror Film in Media and Popular Culture

                       Nightmares – Skim Filmography 

               Journal #11: Get Out

FINAL EXAM & Final Course Project:

Wednesday, 5/11 

(early submissions encouraged)

Sample Syllabus

CMN 201

The Social Impact of Mass Media:

The Horror Film in Media and Popular Culture

INSTRUCTOR: LILLIAN RUIZ

Phone: 775-1236

Office: N328A

Mailbox: Humanities Office  

E-mail: ruiz@gcc.mass.edu

TEXTS:

Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture – Phillips

Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue – Maddrey

Horror Film: A Critical Introduction – Leeder

Note: It is assumed that students will have a good dictionary and thesaurus for reference.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An in-depth, focused analysis of a specific theme/topic in mass media (film, TV, print, music, and video games) in order to examine social and cultural issues such as race, class, and gender. Each semester the instructor selects the topic or major theme of the course. Prereq: ENG 101

Recommended: Media and Popular Culture (CMN 153)

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

As a result of successfully completing this course, students will be able to

Summarize scholarship of various mass media so to understand mass media’s academic relevance.

Recognize and articulate symbolic and metaphoric meanings in various mass media so to improve critical thinking skills.

Identify and analyze the cultural significance of mass media so to understand the influence of mass media in our society.  

Gather and appraise examples of various mass media so to identify some of the cultural and social anxieties in our society.

Explain in oral and written form the uses, meanings, and popularity of mass media so to improve oral and written communication skills.

Understand and draw connections between mass media and oneself, others, and society at large so to identify mass media’s social, political, and cultural influence.

Evaluate and interpret data on the use and popularity of various mass media so to improve analytical skills.

Examine social issues such as race, class, and gender portrayed in various mass media so to better understand such issues in our own society.            

PROCEDURES:

Procedures include class discussion, group work, mini-lectures and reading/writing assignments that emphasize critical thinking and critical analysis. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are expected to complete all reading and writing assignments by the due date. Students will submit periodic journal entries discussing their reactions to the various media (see JOURNAL). A final exam will also be given.

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES DISABILITY STATEMENT:

Greenfield Community College values inclusion and equal access to its programs and activities and is committed to fostering an environment of respect and full participation.  Our goal is to create learning environments that are equitable, inclusive, and welcoming.  If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or accurate assessment or achievement, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.  If you are a student with a disability and may need reasonable academic accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) as soon as possible to discuss your needs and options.  The ODS is located on the fourth floor of the Core in the Wellness Center, C423.  For an appointment, please call (413) 775-1332.

RESPONSE JOURNAL:

The journals are meant as an opportunity for students to analyze media. Guidelines will be very informal, as each student should use the journals as an opportunity to explore the media in the way he or she feels would be most beneficial. Some suggestions will be given in class, but on the whole the journals should reflect whatever relevant thoughts, questions, etc. the individual student has about a particular form of media. The journals will also provide an excellent opportunity to brainstorm and freewrite project topics and final examination questions.   Journals should be typed or handwritten in blue or black ink on loose paper (NOT in a notebook) and numbered. They will be collected on a regular basis and graded. Journals will be graded excellent, good, satisfactor, less than satisfactor, or unsatisfactory.. Late journals will lower your grade by one full grade and no late journal will be accepted after one week has elapsed unless you have made other arrangements with me beforehand. Please use a staple if your journal is over 1 page long. 

ATTENDANCE:

Class activity and discussion is extremely important and cannot be made up. Thus, absences and tardiness will be negatively reflected in your participation grade (while each case is different, anything more than 1 absence could lower your grade). In the event that you absolutely must be absent, you are required to obtain that day’s notes and assignments from another student. Excessive absences could result in failure. You do not need to notify me that you are going to be absent for a particular class. However, do speak with me if you miss several classes. 

CONSULTATIONS:

Students may meet with me by appointment.

COURSE PROJECT:

The final course project is a written analysis of horror film in a particular mass medium, although there is room for more creative approaches (guidelines will be discussed in class). It is due on or before the last day of class (early submissions encouraged). Text should be typed, double-spaced, and have one inch borders. Pages should be numbered. Papers should also be stapled and include a cover page. Cover pages should include a title, your name, the course and section #, my name, and the due date. 

Note: Students may have the option to revise their graded project, subject to permission of instructor. Consult with me if you wish to revise. The original project must be submitted with the revision.

PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism is defined by the Modern Language Handbook: Fourth Edition as “ us[ing] another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source” (26). DO NOT plagiarize in your papers or writing. Plagiarism can result in stiff classroom penalties, and may also lead to college disciplinary action.

GRADING (approximate percentages):

10% Participation (attendance, in-class assignments and activities, etc.)

30% Journal

30% Course Project

30% Final Exam

100%                

A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Satisfactory, D = Poor, F = Failing