Eisner

From today's Buffalo News:
We missed director Andrew D. Cooke's 2007 documentary, "Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist," when it screened last year at the Buffalo International Film Festival, but now we have another chance, thanks to the Buffalo Jewish International Film Festival. The tribute to the pioneering comic book artist -- he created "The Spirit" and was inspiration to scores of graphic novelists -- shows at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center Benderson Building on North Forest Road in Getzville. Introducing the film is comic book retailer Emil J. Novak, proprietor of the Queen City Bookstore. It screens again next Tuesday.

Welcome to Nerdville

Welcome True Believers,
This week is you final lesson in nerd speak. We're looking at the synergy between comics, movies, and pop culture. To this end, take a peak at Will Eisner's web page and check out Reading with Pictures. While America slept the comic book nerds took over. You thought it started Dungeons and Dragons, then the pc, the gaming industry, but that was just the opening wedge.

Here is some food for thought.
Excelsior,
PGP





Scott McCloud Journal

Business / Media & Advertising
Disney Swoops Into Action, Buying Marvel for $4 Billion
By BROOKS BARNES and MICHAEL CIEPLY
Published: September 1, 2009
Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment will also add Spider-Man and Captain America to its array of businesses.

Movies
Jack Kirby’s Heroes in Waiting
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: April 13, 2010
The artist, known for Marvel comics, died in 1994, but some of his characters have yet to be introduced.

films about journalism

Film
The Fearless Press, and Other Legends
By A. O. SCOTT
Published: April 9, 2010
Film Forum’s series The Newspaper Picture looks back at Hollywood’s ink-stained wretches, from “The Front Page” to “All the President’s Men.”

Nixon!!!

Checker's Speech Part I


Checker's Speech Part II


Kennedy/Nixon Debate


Nixon's "I'm not a crook" speech


Nixon/Front Interview


Bob Dole's Eulogy

Do not adjust your television...

Twilight Zone intro


This week we're moving into the 50s (and touching on the 60s). The Belton reading introduces the television and its impact on Hollywood.

Howdy Doody


Duck and Cover


Let's All Go the Lobby


Drive Inn Movie Ads

Alice, We're not in Wonderland Anymore.

Ok, my parady is a misquote.

This is cool.

Op-Ed Contributor
Algebra in Wonderland
By MELANIE BAYLEY
Published: March 7, 2010
The other-worldly events in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” can be interpreted as satire on 19th-century advances in mathematics.

The Fountainhead

This week we're concluding our section of sci fi and moving on to the movie, The Fountainhead, written by Ayn Rand and directed by our old friend King Vidor. Here are some clips to help with class discussion.

Here is Mike Wallace being interviewed by Mike Wallace (1959).
Part I


Part II


Part III



Hayek's The Road the Serfdom was turned into a comic book. This a major work in libertarian, market-driven, economic theory. Here it has been converted into a short video (I can't vouch for the music).

The Story of a Boy, A Girl, and a Universe

This week we're taking the wagon train to the stars. We're looking at Genre films, specifically sci fi and westerns.

Belton has a signficant discussion of the Turner Thesis. Here is a link to an essay on Frederick Jackson Turner from PBS and here is a link to his essay, The Significance of the Frontier in American History. This is the preface to his book that is based on the paper he read in Chicago. You can get to the entire book from this link.

These are some supplemental clips for the class.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (1902)



Disney's Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (Paris)


Star Wars


Star Trek (2009)


James Cameron was interviewed on Fresh Air. Follow the link and listen to the story, it's interesting.

We're going to try to stay away from TV for this class, but it clearly has an impact on this topic. Here are some links.
Star Trek: Space Seed (This is a link to the entire episode. You should, and want, to watch the whole thing but you don't have to watch it.)
Back in the 1990....

Firefly (the one season wonder)

The Comedy of the Depression or Depressing Comedy?

Here is some material for class this Wednesday. Here is a biography of Preston
Sturges to give you a little background for Sullivan's Travels. Although we're still in the Great Depression, we're switiching gears to comedy.



We're also moving into the World War II era. Here is some viewing to prepare for that.

With Triumph of the Will you don't have to watch the entire film, but check out at least the first 10 to 15 minutes. It is also worth while to move check out the end with the scenes from the Nuremburg rallies.

Triumph of the Will


This is the second film in Capra's Why we Fight series.
Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike (the first 10 minutes)


the Fight for the Sky (1945)


Do you recognize the narrator?

The Great Depression

Hey folks,
This week we're looking at the interwar period and the Great Depression. The film is Our Daily Bread. Here are some suplemental videos and reading for this week.

Documentary on 1929 Stock Market Crash


This a documentary made for the New Deal.

The Plow that Broke the Plains


1934 EPIC campaign

part 1


Part 2


Here is a non-traditional view of the Frank Capra classic.

Movies
Wonderful? Sorry, George, It’s a Pitiful, Dreadful Life
By WENDELL JAMIESON
Published: December 19, 2008
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams. Was this what adulthood promised?

The King

Ok, so we don't mean Elvis, but rather King Vidor.

Check out this short bio of King Vidor to help you with thinking and writing about Our Daily Bread.

The Elephant in the Room

Yes, Edison electrocuted an elephant. It's hard to make out, but here is the clip from youtube.



For those of you who haven't seen birth of a nation, here is the trailer.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

This week we are, among other things, discussing the Wizard of Oz.

Here are some links to a couple of readings.

The Wizard of Oz: Parable of Populism / Henry M. Littlefield [originally in American Quarterly 16 (1964) 47-58]

and

The Rise & Fall of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a “Parable of Populism” / David B. Parker [originally in Journal of the Georgia Assoc. of Historians 15 (1994) 49-63]

Don't forget to get your Belton questions on Moodle.

Technology and Culture

Here is a story about emerging technology with pop culture and movie references.

What's The Allure Of Tablet Computers?
by Laura Sydell

Allegorization

This week we're talking, for the only time, about movie depictions of historical periods. We'll also be talking about narrative, how its done, why its done, and how it differs from media and discipline.

Here are a couple clips to watch before class.

There Will be Blood trailer


I drink your milkshake

the Movie was about what?

Movies
You Saw What in ‘Avatar’? Pass Those Glasses!
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: January 20, 2010
Record-breaking crowds have seen James Cameron’s epic, and the list of those who saw cause for protest is growing.

Upton Sinclair