| UPDATED OCTOBER 9, 2007--writing prompts ONE is live! UPDATED NOVEMBER 7, 2007--writing prompts TWO is live! |
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Fall 2007
Naked Surrealisms
English 301: Psychology in Novels, Cinema, Art, Photography, & Film An SDSU General Education Course | Mondays & Wednesdays from 2 to 3:15 Professor William Nericcio nakedTASKS! new and improved course menu! 
To begin, imagine a crazy experimental General Education class designed to NOT waste your time and money. Let that one settle in. Next, picture if you will dear old Sigmund Freud on speed, Federico Fellini on opium, and Salvador Dali on LSD and you will begin to thrill to the vibe of this psychological novel seminar that will fuse the delights of comparative literature, film, photography, and art as they relate to the human psyche. One of our main obsessions this term will be Surrealism. The venerable Oxford English Dictionary has much to say about this famous 20th century arts movement, one that sought "to express the unconscious mind by any of a number of different techniques, including the irrational juxtaposition of realistic images [and] the creation of mysterious symbols."  But we will find as we move through the semester that there are many flavors and species of Surrealism, hence our deployment of the plural Surrealisms in the title of the class. What, then, are "Naked" Surrealisms? Surrealisms that are unclothed, revealed, unadorned and without cover? During the semester will use the concept of nakedness to explore the minds, bodies and art of women and men in some of the tastiest, most outrageous and eye-opening literature this side of the planet!  The various naked minds, bodies and psyches we encounter this
term will teach us to rethink what it is we think of when we imagine
the dimensions of the human mind--in the process we will learn again
just how instrumental surrealism, literature, film, and photography can
be in exposing the riches and excesses of these artistic minds. We will not limit ourselves to the written word in this seminar, as we will explore as well naked eyes/I in graphic narrative, photography, painting and cinema. If you are breathing, have an imagination and are not easily offended by adult issues, themes and images then you should seriously consider coming along for the ride.  Curious about naked surrealist artists and naked surrealist souls? Then hold on to your hats; with your dynamic participation, our adventure promises to be one hell of an experiment. This course is open to all undergraduates without regard to your selected major and assumes no expertise in literature, film or fine art! Writers and artists include Man Ray, Luis Buñuel, Thomas Pynchon, Remedios Varo, Frida Kahlo, Franz Kafka, and Daniel Aronofsky. More to be announced. |
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working list of required books: working list of required films, screened for free in class: HITCHCOCK -- SPELLBOUND LYNCH -- BLUE VELVET (maybe) SHAINBERG -- FUR EGOYAN -- EXOTICA (maybe) |
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| Cinematic
Surrealism begins, in a way, with UN CHIEN ANDALOU by Salvador Dali and
Luis Buñuel--disturbing but essential viewing: |
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| assignments... MOVED! |
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RULES OF THE GAME...
33% of your grade will be based on your final exam score 33% of your grade will be based on quizzes, in-class writing, attendance, and class discussion/participation 1% of your grade will be based on your drive, ganas, chutzpah etc. Reading, discussion
and class interaction make up a significant portion of the class; attendance
helps--you won't pass without it. Get this: I do not just expect attendance,
I expect prepared attendance--even, brace yourself, participation.
And please do think twice about setting foot in our classroom if you
have
not completed your assigned reading for the day. Also to be expected?
Various quizzes (especially if you come to class without having
finished the reading), in-class writing challenges,
and a final exam on the last day of class.
Professor William Nericcio WEDNESDAYS, noon to 1:50 and by appointment Arts and Letters 273 Please do drop by during the semester, as I hate working with a room full of strangers! Only if the idea of meeting a professor has you breaking out in hives, then email me at memo@sdsu.edu with your questions or comments. Call me at 594.1524 if you want to schedule a special appointment or just want to chat. Note: I do keep my office hours--if I am not there, send flowers, because I am either dead or have been abducted by aliens. Adam Meehan, MA candidate, GTA
 dormitory.
Rest before you come to class. Shut off all telecommunication devices
BEFORE entering 4176 AH.
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| emails to the class | an archive Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:24:49 -0700 (PDT) From: bnericci@mail.sdsu.edu To: "ENGL301-01-Fall2007": ;, bnericci@mail.sdsu.edu Subject: ENGL301-01-Fall2007: very cool event in la jolla | 1st class unofficial field trip/extra-credit junket! X-Junkmail-Whitelist: YES (by domain whitelist at razorgw2.sdsu.edu) greetings surrealists-loving e301 student, just a quick headsup about a cool event in la jolla that takes place four days before our first class!  here's the skinny: ALT.PICTURESHOWS ’07 THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 7 PM MCASD LA JOLLA FREE MCASD Members / $5 General Back by popular demand, MCASD and the Muse Chasers present the fifth annual alt.pictureshows ’07 where Sherwood Auditorium and portions of MCASD’s galleries are transformed into San Diego’s premier short-film showcase and the definitive experiment in “physical channel surfing.” As numerous short films screen on a loop throughout the Museum during the one-night festival, MCASD becomes a movie funhouse featuring a cross-section of innovative cinematic works by filmmakers from around the globe. The themes of this year’s alt.pictureshows ricochet from absurd comedy and dramas to Blaxploitation parodies and experimental music videos. Please note: Many of the program’s films have adult content and have not been rated. the web info is here: http://www.mcasd.org/events/lectures.asp#films go to the event wearing a xerox of your fave surrealist artist pinned to your shirt and receive the right to DROP your lowest quiz grade this term... i will be wearing the attached image.... over and out, bill nericcio professor and chair english and complit |
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| naked surrealisms ARTkiveGALLERIA   |
DISCLAIMER
This class deals with ADULT issues and activities. If you are squeamish
about insanity, human sexuality, erotic taboos or if graphic art, literature
and film leave you weak, angry, disgusted etc., PLEASE drop this class
BEFORE you get the urge to call on your parents and clergy to remove your
scandalous professor from his job! This is a university-level course exploring
usually hidden elements of the human psyche: you should EXPECT to be disturbed
and moved.