This course examines the work of female directors from around the globe. We will begin with silent-era directors Alice Guy Blachè and Lois Weber and culminate our study with films from the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival. An exploration of women directors’ work not only allows us to analyze cinematic narrative and form, but also provides a unique perspective on film history. Moreover, course films raise questions about the relationship between an individual filmmaker’s work and larger cinematic traditions or social movements. Throughout the term, we will address the following questions:

o What, if anything, distinguishes the work of women directors? Are there particular subjects and stylistic or narrative strategies that characterize films directed by women?
o How does an investigation of women directors change our conception of film history?
o How does feminist film criticism help us to interpret films made by women? What challenges do particular directors pose to critics?
o How do historical, cultural, and industrial factors shape the work of women directors?
o How do films made by women engage ideologies of gender, race, class, and sexuality?

As we explore these questions, we will discuss films produced both within and outside the mainstream film industry, films made by lesbian and heterosexual women, and films by women of color white women. Directors likely will include Chantal Akerman, Allison Anders, Dorothy Arzner, Alice Guy Blachè, Catherine Breillat, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Julie Dash, Claire Denis, Maya Deren, Germaine Dulac, Su Friedrich, Miranda July, Clara Law, Ida Lupino, Samira Makhmalbaf, Deepa Mehta, Kira Muratova, Mira Nair, Kimberly Peirce, Sally Potter, Helma Sanders-Brahms, Leontine Sagan, Marisa Sistach, Agnès Varda, Margarethe von Trotta and Lois Weber.

Texts:

• Butler, Alison. Women’s Cinema: The Contested Screen. London: Wallflower Press, 2002. [1903364272]
• Gillis-Bridges, Kimberlee. Reading Packet for English 345 Available at Professional Copy N’ Print on the northeast corner of 42nd and University.
• Villarejo, Amy. Film Studies: The Basics. New York: Routledge, 2006. [0415361397]