DISASTER FILMS
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
| CLASS NOTES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
BASIC INFORMATION
The course is structured to discuss several aspects of disasters and what they represent. First is the question of “why” – that is to say where blame is placed. In some instances it is seen as divine retribution, in others it is a part of a natural cycle.
Other aspects include the relationships between major social forces in societies faced by disasters – forces of order (the military, police), scientists, the media and the general population. In some instances there is conflict between them, with different films placing blame and heroism on specific segments of the society, while in others, the disaster films look at individual behavior (bravery, cowardice and so in) in theface of the disaster.
The disasters themselves often reflect social disintegration or threats to the social order and the fabric of civilization and the films special effects are foregrounded as a visual manifestation of the social upheavals. The films are selected to examine these different points.
READINGS
See Syllabus
EXAMINATIONS
See Syllabus
SCHEDULE OF FILMS
The films listed here are not necessarily those that will be shown, or even those from which a final selection will be made. There is a large body of work on the topic of disaster, and what follows is a “sample” but with a general layout relative to topics that will be covered. For a tentative schedule, see Syllabus or Films
Divine Forces
(Biblical) Sodom and Gomorrah
(Cyclical) Last Wave
(related to other disasters e.g. WWI) Noah’s Ark
Earthly Natural Disasters
Dante’s Peak
Earthquake
Hurricane
Krakatoa East of Java
Last Days of Pompeii
Night of the Twisters
Twister
Volcano
Extra-terrestrial Natural Disasters
Crack in the World
Deep Impact
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
When Worlds Collide
Alien Menace
Day of the Triffids
Independence Day
Mars Attacks!
The Thing
War of the Worlds
Flash Gordon
Biological Nightmares
28 Days Later
Outbreak
Panic in the Streets
Atomic Energy Runs Amok
Magnetic Monster
The Beginning of the End
Them!
Technological Disasters
Hindenburg
Night to Remember
Poseidon Adventure
Rains of Ranchipur
Towering Inferno
Warfare
Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
On the Beach
Things to Come
World the Flesh and the Devil
Miracle Mile
Post Apocalyptic
Mad Max
Terminator
Crossing Genres
Ghostbusters