Hi Stephen, I have found that first year students that I tutor like really basic texts, like Jill Nelmes An Introduction to Film Studies, or Stuart Hall's Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. Stuart Hall doesn't talk about film as much as ads, but he does introduce and define semiotic terms in a way that they can understand. I loved The Prime Time Closet by the way, I'm doing a Phd on lesbian fandom, thanks, Becky Walker Stephen Tropiano <[log in to unmask]> wrote: To those who can relate: I am making an effort to "retool" my undergraduate film theory course this semester. I am once again using Braudy & Cohen's FILM THEORY & CRITICISM (though I am planning to move on to another text in the fall because I have finally faced the fact that it is not an appropriate undergraduate text for my students). My question is this: I would like to devote a class to semiotics and structuralism prior to discussing genre and would appreciate your recommendations. Ideally, I would like to screen a film and have my students read semiotic/structuralist analysis of the text, but one that they will actually be able to understand. I have found examples for television--but few for film. I know this sounds like a very basic request, but I have decided to get back to the "basics" for my undergraduate theory class. I would also appreciate other films that you feel have worked in regards to genre, film narrative, ideology, and feminism. Yours in the struggle, Stephen Tropiano [log in to unmask] Stephen Tropiano Director, Ithaca College Los Angeles Program Editor, Journal of Film and Video James B. Pendleton Center 3800 Barham Blvd. Suite 305 Los Angeles, California 90068 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it. - George Bernard Shaw Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. -Albert Einstein You'll never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race. - George Bernard Shaw ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.ScreenSite.org --------------------------------- Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.ScreenSite.org