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WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA©
RTF 345 (Unique # 09460) and WGS 324 (Unique #44474)
Lalitha Gopalan
SPRING 2024
Class: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:30PM DMC 4.212
Screening: Thursday 5:00-7:30PM CMA 3.116
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30PM and by appointment, CMA 5.114.
Email: lalitha.gopalan@austin.utexas.edu
Please communicate with me via the email portal on Canvas. During the week, I shall strive to
respond within 24 hours upon receiving your email. All emails received on Friday after 5PM
will receive a response on Monday.
In ongoing conversations with feminisms, this course frames world cinema through the
lens of women filmmakers to consider the distinctiveness of their practices that range from
avant-garde to studio films, national popular films to new wave cinemas, art house to B
films and so on. Often crafting and shaping films against and alongside masculine
paradigms, these filmmakers’ transformations of the medium remain groundbreaking and
demand our attentiveness in equally novel ways. Again and again, these works provoke us
to acknowledge silences and oversights in Cinema Studies curricula and demand continual
revisions of canons and standards. Our deliberations during the term acknowledge the gift
of these films to feminist theories of the moving image.
Required Books
1. Steven Ungar, Cléo de 5 à7 (London: BFI Modern Classics, 2008)
2. Geetha Ramanathan, Kathleen Collins: The Black Essai Film. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press, 2020.
3. Patricia White, Women’s cinema, world cinema: projecting contemporary feminisms.
Durham: Duke University Press, 2015.
4. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art.
A reading packet containing all the essays assigned on the syllabus is available for purchase
at Jenn’s Copy Services.
Attendance: You are expected to be on time for class sessions and screenings. If for some
unexpected reason you are absent for a class, you are expected to inform me via email.
Please note that two or more absences will result in a lower final grade: B to C and so on.
Class sessions: Please note that this course will be taught as a seminar class and not as a
series of lectures. You are expected to bring the relevant texts to class and come fully
prepared for class discussions. Please be prepared to respond to my questions on
particular aspects of the readings and films in class as well as initiating your own
formulations of the texts. Be warned that you will be marked absent if you fail to bring the
assigned reading texts to class.
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GRADES
Grades for this class will avail of the plus/minus grading system: A, A-, and so on.
Please be aware that your papers have to abide by the prevailing Honor Code of the
university.
Please note that this course has a substantial writing component and hence your final
grade will be based on the following written assignments:
1. 40%: Based on 8–10-page paper to be submitted in two parts, two 5-7page papers.
You are expected to choose one film not assigned on the syllabus as your primary
text for the entire semester. Please consult with me on your choice of films. Your
first paper submission on this film (not graded) should offer a detailed segmenting
of the entire film with a short bibliography.
Papers are due in my mailbox by 2pm on the date of submission
February 10: Segmenting Exercise and bibliography
March 20: First submission, 4-5 pages
May 9: Second submission, 7-10 pages.
2. 20%: Class presentation of a theoretical essay. After the first week of class, I expect
you to sign up for a class presentation of one of the assigned essays in your syllabus.
You will be allotted the entire class session to lead the discussion of an essay with
ample help from the class. A draft version of your reading of the essay and film
should be posted on Canvas for peer review the following week. Please note that the
draft should be posted no later than 6PM on Monday and Wednesday so that we can
properly review it for our Tuesday and Thursday class sessions. A revised and
printed version is due the following Monday in my mailbox.
3. 40%: Film Journals. After each screening you are expected to spend a few minutes
recording visual details from the films. You are strongly encouraged to expand on
these impressions well after the screening so as to include reactions to readings and
other films. Journals will be collected at the screening session
Journals are due on February 16, March 30, and May 2.
I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with facilities available at the
Writing Center.
Please be advised that readings and film screenings are subject to revision.
Please note that you are encouraged not to communicate with me via e-mail on
matters pertaining to class readings, assignments, and grades. I have designated
office hours to discuss such matters.
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Content warning
Our classroom provides an open space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas. Some
readings and other content in this course will include topics that some students may find
offensive and/or traumatizing. I’ll aim to forewarn students about potentially disturbing content
and I ask all students to help to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course,
that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity that students bring to this class can be
comfortably expressed and be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit to all students. Please come to
me at any time with any concerns.
DISABILITY & ACCESS (D&A)
The university is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive learning environment consistent with
university policy and federal and state law. Please let me know if you experience any barriers to learning
so I can work with you to ensure you have equal opportunity to participate fully in this course. If you are a
student with a disability, or think you may have a disability, and need accommodations please contact
Disability & Access (D&A). Please refer to the D&A website for more information. If you are already
registered with D&A, please deliver your Accommodation Letter to me as early as possible in the semester
so we can discuss your approved accommodations and needs in this course.
Course Policies and Disclosures
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY EXPECTATIONS
Students who violate University rules on academic misconduct are subject to the student conduct process
and potential disciplinary action. A student found responsible for academic misconduct may be assigned
both a status sanction and a grade impact for the course. The grade impact could range from a zero on the
assignment in question up to a failing grade in the course. A status sanction can range from probation,
deferred suspension and/or dismissal from the University. To learn more about the academic integrity
standards, tips for avoiding a potential academic misconduct violation and the overall conduct process,
please visit the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity website. Anyone can report a violation using this
public incident report form.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF Class Recordings
Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are protected
under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form. Violation of this
restriction by a student could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.
Getting Help with technology
Students needing help with technology in this course should contact the ITS Service Desk, Moody College
Technology Services located on the 3rd floor of CMA or by phone at 512-471-1199.
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Sharing of Course Materials is Prohibited
[Anyone concerned about the unauthorized sharing of their course materials through online sites should
add the following statement to their syllabus. Including this statement regarding the posting and/or use of
your course content by students establishes a proactive directive to students that is helpful to the office of
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in administering the conduct process should the material be
posted in opposition to your written directive.]
No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments
(quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and
additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class without explicit, written
permission of the instructor. Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. The University is
aware of the sites used for sharing materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you,
or any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic
Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in initiation of the student conduct
process and include charge(s) for academic misconduct, potentially resulting in sanctions, including a
grade impact.
Religious Holy Days
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence as far in advance as possible of the date
of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a
project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed
work within a reasonable time after the absence.
Names and pronouns
Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name, unless they have added a
“chosen name” with the registrar’s office, which you can do so here. I will gladly honor your request to
address you by a name that is different from what appears on the official roster, and by the pronouns you
have asked to be used for you (she/he/they/ze, etc). Please advise me of any changes early in the semester
so that I may make appropriate updates to my records. For instructions on how to add your pronouns to
Canvas, visit this site. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to
individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation,
gender identity & expression, and nationalities. More resources available on the Gender and Sexuality
Center’s website.
Land acknowledgment
I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the Indigenous lands of Turtle Island, the
ancestral name for what now is called North America. Moreover, I would like to acknowledge
the Alabama-Coushatta, Caddo, Carrizo/Comecrudo, Coahuiltecan, Comanche, Kickapoo, Lipan
Apache, Tonkawa and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, and all the American Indian and Indigenous
Peoples and communities who have been or have become a part of these lands and territories in
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Texas.
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University Resources for Students
COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (CMHC)
We all benefit from support during times of struggle. Know you are not alone. If you are experiencing
signs of stress, anxiety, depression, academic concerns, loneliness, difficulty sleeping, or any other
concern impacting your well-being – you are strongly encouraged to connect with CMHC. The Counseling
and Mental Health Center is located on campus and provides a wide variety of mental health services to
UT students including crisis services, counseling services with immediate support and well-being
resources. Additionally, CARE Counselors are located within each of the academic schools and colleges.
These counselors are familiar with the concerns that are unique to their unit’s students. For more
information on CMHC, visit the website or call 512-471-3515. The CARE counselor for Moody College is
Abby Simpson (abigail.simpson@austin.utexas.edu).
UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (UHS)
Your physical health and well-being are a priority. University Health Services is the on-campus medical
facility providing high quality medical care and patient education to UT students. Services offered include
general medicine, specialty clinics including the gynecology clinic, sports medicine, nutrition services,
allergy, immunization and travel health and physical therapy, an urgent care, a 24/7 nurse advice line,
and a lab and radiology services. For additional information, visit the website or call 512-471-4955.
SANGER LEARNING CENTER
Did you know that more than one-third of UT undergraduate students use the Sanger Learning Center
each year to improve their academic performance? All students are welcome to take advantage of Sanger
Center’s classes and workshops, private learning specialist appointments, peer academic coaching, and
tutoring for more than 70 courses in 15 different subject areas. For more information, please visit the
website or call 512-471-3614 (JES A332).
MOODY WRITING SUPPORT PROGRAM
Even the best writers sometimes struggle when learning the unique language of communication
professionals. Whether you’re writing your first news story or advertising copy or you’re polishing a
screenplay, the Moody Writing Support Program can help boost your skill while providing
encouragement to succeed. You can schedule a one-on-one session with a qualified writing coach from
your department to brainstorm ideas, polish skills or work on problems.
STUDENT EMERGENCY SERVICES (SES)
Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students helps students and their families during
difficult or emergency situations. Assistance includes outreach, advocacy, intervention, support, and
referrals to relevant campus and community resources. If you need to be absent from class due to a family
emergency, medical or mental health concern, or academic difficulty due to crisis or an emergency
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situation, you can work with Student Emergency Services. SES will document your situation and notify
your professors. Additional information is available here or by calling 512-471-5017.
UT OUTPOST
The UT Outpost provides a food pantry to address food insecurity on campus, as well as a career
closet to make sure every Longhorn has access to professional clothing for job and internship
interviews.
Important Safety Information
If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of fellow students, TAs or professors, contact BCCAL
(the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line) here or by calling 512-232-5050. Confidentiality will
be maintained as much as possible, however the university may be required to release some information
to appropriate parties.
CARRYING OF HANDGUNS ON CAMPUS
Texas’ Open Carry law expressly prohibits a licensed to carry (LTC) holder from carrying a handgun
openly on the campus of an institution of higher education such as UT Austin. Students in this class
should be aware of the following university policies:
• Students in this class who hold a license to carry are asked to review the university policy
regarding campus carry.
• Individuals who hold a license to carry are eligible to carry a concealed handgun on campus,
including in most outdoor areas, buildings and spaces that are accessible to the public, and in
classrooms.
• It is the responsibility of concealed-carry license holders to carry their handguns on or about their
person at all times while on campus. Open carry is NOT permitted, meaning that a license holder
may not carry a partially or wholly visible handgun on campus premises or on any university
driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
• Per my right, I prohibit carrying of handguns in my personal office. Note that this information
will also be conveyed to all students verbally during the first week of class. This written notice is
intended to reinforce the verbal notification, and is not a “legally effective” means of notification
in its own right.
TITLE IX DISCLOSURE
[If this disclosure is included in the syllabus, the Title IX office has specificed the following wording.]
Beginning January 1, 2020, Texas Education Code, Section 51.252 (formerly known as Senate Bill 212)
requires all employees of Texas universities, including faculty, report any information to the Title IX
Office regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking that is disclosed to them.
Texas law requires that all employees who witness or receive any information of this type (including, but
not limited to, written forms, applications, one-on-one conversations, class assignments, class
discussions, or third-party reports) must report it to the Title IX Coordinator. Before talking with me, or
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with any faculty or staff member about a Title IX related incident, please remember that I will be
required to report this information.
Although graduate teaching and research assistants are not subject to Texas Education Code, Section
51.252, they are mandatory reporters under federal Title IX regulations and are required to report a wide
range of behaviors we refer to as sexual misconduct, including the types of misconduct covered under
Texas Education Code, Section 51.252. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil
rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex – including pregnancy and parental status – in
educational programs and activities. The Title IX Office has developed supportive ways and compiled
campus resources to support all impacted by a Title IX matter.
If you would like to speak with a Case Manager for Support and Resources, who can provide support,
resources or academic accommodations, in the Title IX Office, please email. A Case Manager can also
provide support, resources and accommodations for pregnant, nursing, and parenting students.
For more information about reporting options and resources, visit the website or contact the Title IX
Office via email or call 512-471-0419.
Campus Safety
The following are recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of Campus Safety,
512-471-5767,
• Students should sign up for Campus Emergency Text Alerts at the page linked above.
• Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus must evacuate buildings
when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling
outside.
• Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy.
Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
• Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first
week of class.
• In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not re-enter
a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of
Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.
• For more information, please visit the Office of Emergency Management.
