Tuesday, June 26
read before class: excerpts on comedy by
Fowler
Aristotle
Plato
Olson

definitions from the class
the text triangle
humours
screening: Modern Times, Charles Chaplin (1936), 87 min.

Thursday, June 28
read before class: Mellen book on Modern Times, pp. 6-38
screening: Mack Sennett & Hal Roach comedies, Harold Lloyd, Harry Langdon

Monday, July 2
read before class: Mellen book on Modern Times, pp. 38-84.
topic: Chaplin's working methods
screening: Sherlock Jr., Buster Keaton (44 min.)

Tuesday, July 3
read: Gerald Mast, chapter 1: "Comic Structures," and
read: Introduction to Horton book on Sherlock Jr. (pp. 1-28)
screening: more Keaton; Chaplin & Keaton

Thursday, July 5
read: Gerald Mast, chapter 2: "Comic Thought," and
read: from Horton book on Sherlock Jr.: essays by Jenkins (pp. 29-64, but you can skip 37-40, 53-59, & 62-64) and Karlyn (pp. 89-118)
screening: Marx Brothers, Duck Soup, directed by Leo McCarey (1933), 68 min, & Three Stooges short

Monday, July 9
read: essay by Bakhtin; and
read: Gerald Mast, chapter 3: "Comic Films--Categories & Definitions";
read: Horton book on Sherlock Jr.: essay by Parshall (pp. 67-88, but you can skip 81-88)
screening: Trouble in Paradise, directed by Ernst Lubitsch (1932), 82 min.

Tuesday, July 10
read: essay by Frye; and
in class: notes on theories of comedy by Geoff King and T.G.A. Nelson
screening: W. C. Fields, The Bank Dick (1940), 72 min., & Laurel & Hardy short

Thursday, July 12
EXAM: theories of comedy
text of the exam
notes on Mast's chapters
notes on theorists
assignment for Chaplin-Keaton essay due Monday

Monday, July 16
Chaplin-Keaton essay due
notes on essays in Horton book
notes on Mellen book
in-class: intro to screwball comedy
screening: Bringing Up Baby, directed by Howard Hawks (1938), 102 min..

Tuesday, July 17
notes on screwball comedy
screening: Some Like It Hot, directed by Billy Wilder (1959), 122 min.

Thursday, July 19
read before class: essay by Armstrong: click for notes
screening: Dr. Strangelove, directed by Stanley Kubrick (1964), 90 min.

Monday, July 23
discuss satire, parody, caricature, humourous characters
review for exam

Tuesday, July 24
Exam
screening: The Palm Beach Story, directed by Preston Sturges (1942), 88 min.
read book by Pym on The Palm Beach Story

Thursday, July 26
Writing on The Palm Beach Story and Pym book
Thursday's class consists of writing on Preston Sturges' The Palm Beach Story in the context of the short critical book by John Pym. The assignment will include at least two medium-length essays, as well as some shorter answers (primarily reading questions on the book). One of the questions will be this:
- Speaking of Gerry, Pym says that "she is prepared to do anything to secure Tom his money, even destroy her own happiness." And yet Tom "refuses point-blank to let her help him" (p. 71). How does this dilemma relate to the dynamics of the screwball comedy in general and the "comedy of remarriage" in particular?
Also during Thursday's class: Re-test on theories of comedy. Notes on theories. Text of the original exam.
Retest is required for those making below C on the first test, optional for those making C or above. If taken, the re-test is averaged with the original theory exam.

Grading: average of exam on theories of comedy, end of course exam, Chaplin-Keaton essay, and in-class essay(s) on The Palm Beach Story.

Attendance: See policies.cua.edu for university policies on attendance:

"Good scholarship requires the presence of students at all class and laboratory meetings. The responsibility for prompt and regular class attendance rests upon the individual student. If, for any reason, a student is absent too frequently from class, it may become impossible for that student to receive a passing grade. Authority for excusing absences rests with the teacher who may request that the student obtain authentication of absences considered unavoidable."

In this short summer session, each class equals more than one week in a regular semester. You are expected to attend all class meetings, to arrive on time and to stay until the end of the class. More than one absence subjects you to a lower grade; three absences makes you subject to a failing grade. Significant lateness or leaving early equals absence for the class.

Excused absence requires a verifiable excuse. The Dean of Students does not write excuse letters except for extended absences. Calling or emailing to say you will miss class is appreciated but does not excuse an absence.

If anything is interfering with your ability to attend class or do the work, talk with me immediately. If I hear about a problem only at the end of the session, that is too late.

Film screenings are required. You may not skip a film by promising to watch it on your own or by claiming that you have already seen it. If you skip a film showing, you are considered absent for that entire class.

Watching the films is a serious part of the course. This means that appropriate behavior is expected. Quiet. No going in and out of the room during a showing. No cell phones. Anyone opening a cell phone or other electronic device during a film showing is marked absent for that entire class.

Academic dishonesty, includes plagiarism and cheating. We will follow policies.cua.edu, which states that the standard and expected grade for any act of academic honesty is a grade of F in the course.