Topics in Popular Culture: AMST 340
On Monday evenings from 5 pm to 7:45, beginning January 14, 2013, I invite you to join me in a discussion of the American hard-boiled novel and its cousin, film noir. The detective novel and its cinema progeny are two of America’s most popular and original contributions to literary and popular culture. From The Maltese Falcon to No Country for Old Men, from the The Big Sleep to The Big Lebowski, the existential drama of the form involves detectives, heroines, the innocent and the villains in convoluted acts of fortune and misfortune.
Under the aegis of UNM’s Upper Division, AMST 340, we will discuss the origins of this art form, invented by Edgar Allen Poe and mastered by American originals like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. The journey through the other side of the American psyche and society continues through literature with contemporary interpretations of the form by novelists like Cormac McCarthy and Walter Mosley.
We will also view and discuss exemplary models of film noir from Roman Polanski’s Chinatown to the Coen Brothers, whose movies like No Country for Old Men derive their ironic humor from the hard-boiled tradition. Tony Hillerman’s Skinwalkers expands the genre with new settings in Navajo country and Frank Water’s workmanlike if incomplete tale of Arthur Manby in To Possess the Land adds a touch of local flavor.
You might ask yourself, who is really buried in Manby’s grave in Kit Carson Park? Who, if anyone, murdered this devilish swindler?
Whether you are interested in self-edification and entertainment, credit for a course in American Studies, or how to write your own detective novel and movie, AMST 340 will provide an invaluable seminar. And, during our seminars, we have a good time on Monday nights at UNM’s Harwood annex on Ledoux St.
See tentative list below of literary works and films the class will consider as well as times, terms, and requirements of the class for traditional students.
Instructor: William (Bill) Whaley
Email: bwhaley@newmex.com
Office: TBA Office Phone: 776–4115
Office Hours: TBA Course Credits: 3
Class Meeting Days: Mon. Class Time: 5—7:45 PM
Class Location/Room: 246-B, Ledoux St. Term/Semester: Spring 2013
Phone Mary or Alison at 758–2828 for information about registration.
Topics in Popular Culture: AMST. 340. History of an American Art Form: The hard-boiled detective novel and film noir. The course will focus on literary lights like Poe, Hammett, Chandler, Mosley, Hillerman, McCarthy and filmmakers like John Huston, Howard Hawks, Carl Franklin, Robert Altman, Curtis Hanson, Chris Eyre and the Coen Brothers. In addition, students will look at classic noir films, Laura, Out of the Past, and Chinatown.
Course Objectives. Students will focus on the way Poe, Hammett and Chandler, per critics John G. Cawelti and Paul Schrader, among others, conceived of a genre as both formula entertainment and art. The course aims at an understanding of the genre in terms of social analysis, individual psychology, and artistic appreciation.
Textbooks and Supplies.
Textbooks will include Edgar Allan Poe’s stories (Murders in the Rue Morgue, Purloined Letter), Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon), Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye), Devil in a Blue Dress (Walter Mosley), Skinwalkers (Tony Hillerman), No Country for Old Men (Cormac McCarthy), and To Possess the Land (Frank Waters).
In addition to the movies adapted from the novels above, students will be assigned to watch Laura (Otto Preminger), Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur) Chinatown (Roman Polanski), L.A. Confidential (Curtis Hanson) Blood Simple and The Big Lebowski (Coen Brothers).
Course Requirements. Class participation and written responses of two to three pages will count for 80% of the grade. A final paper or summary, counting for 20% of the grade, will be assigned.
Grading. Grades will be accorded based on UNM policies.
Attendance is required unless excused by instructor. Regular and punctual attendance is required. If the student misses three classes, the student may be dropped.
Accommodation Statement: Accessibility Services (Mesa Vista hall 2021, 277-3506) provides academic support to students who have disabilities. If you think you need alternative accessible formats for undertaking and completing coursework, you should contact this service right away to assure your needs are met in a timely manner. If you need local assistance in contacting Accessibility Services, see the Bachelor and Graduate Programs office.
Cell Phones and Technology. Please turn off cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices prior to class. If monitoring an emergency, please notify class and instructor. No dining in class, thank you.
Warning: Unlike other courses, the novels are addictive and the films fast paced.You’ll be done before you know it!
Tentative Class Schedule
Week One (Jan. 14): Intro to Course. Discussion of theory and practice of formula and art (Cawelti & Schrader): Arabian Nights, Eugene Vidocq, Poe, Doyle, Christie, Sayers, et al. Instructor and hand-outs.
Week Two (Jan. 21) Holiday: No class
Week Three (Jan. 28) Hammett’s Novel, Maltese Falcon
Week Four (Feb. 4) Hammett’s Novel, Huston’s Film of Falcon
Week Five (Feb. 11) Chandler’s Big Sleep
Week Six (Feb. 18) Chandler’s Novel, Hawks’ film of Sleep
Week Seven (Feb. 25) Chandler’s Long Goodbye
Week Eight (March 4) Chandler’s novel, Altman’s film, Goodbye
Week Nine (March 11) Spring Break
Week Ten (March 18) Films: Laura/Out of the Past
Week Ten (March 25) Mosley’s novel, Franklin’s film, Devil in a Blue Dress
Week Eleven (April 1 ) Films: Hanson’s LA Confidential, Polanski’s Chinatown
Week Twelve (April 8 ) McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men
Week Thirteen (April 15) Coen Bros. Blood Simple, Big Lebowski
Week Fourteen (April 22) McCarthy’s and Coen Bros.’ No Country
Week Fifteen (April 29 ) Hillerman’s Skinwalkers, Eyre’s movie
Week Sixteen (May 6) Frank Waters’ To Possess the Land.
Week Seventeen (May 13) Wrap-up, Final Paper Due.