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Women, Film and Law
Prof. Kate Nace Day,
3 credits day; 3 credits evening. Students will be evaluated on the basis of class performance,
their independent project or research paper, and in-class presentations. Students who engage in
substantial research papers may satisfy the Writing Requirement.
This course offers an introduction to women's history through film study. We proceed by
reviewing and critiquing the representations of women lives in the Hollywood film, nonfiction
documentary, and video advocacy projects. Women's history is recorded in women's claims of
rights - to literacy, education and critical thought; to refuse to be demeaned; to advocate against
the injustices of confining women to the private sphere without rights while simultaneously
excluding them from the public sphere of full citizens, paid workers, and professionals; to
physical health and reproductive freedom; and, at the end of the century, to life without
sexualized violence. The question explored is how visual forms storytelling document and
advance the development of women's human rights. Like documentarians, lawyers tell other
people's stories and they are increasingly doing it through film. Clients and rights-claimants
themselves are now taking up video cameras in order to tell their own stories directly to the
public and law-s decision makers. This is especially true in the area of international human rights
of women and girl children. Students will be encouraged and supported in their efforts to engage
in visual storytelling themselves.
Enrollment is limited: 20
Elective Course
May Fulfill Legal Writing Requirement
Final Project or Paper Required