Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
RELIGION AND FILM:
UNDERSTANDING THE PRISONER Tuesday and Thursday (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) JSC 374
Course Description: The Prisoner, a 17-episode British television series, first played in the United States as a summer replacement for the Jackie Gleason Show in 1968. Audiences were mesmerized. The show featured an isolated peninsular village of riotous colors, populated by imprisoned government agents and ruled by ruthless officials whose political allegiances were unknown. As the show's credit sequence indicated each week, the Village wanted ―information.‖ The show's protagonist, played by Patrick McGoohan, endured psychological and physical brutality each week as he sought to escape the Village and uncover the identity of its unknown leader. The Prisoner was initially a commercial failure but after airing again in the 1970s it gained an enthusiastic following. The first of many international fan clubs formed in 1977 and began publishing a quarterly journal. Since then numerous fan organizations have been formed, and commercial merchandising has gone hand in hand with the development of an ever-increasing international fan base. In addition to documentaries, magazines, books, car commercials, the occasional porn video, and music CDs (not to mention innumerable web site materials), many video and DVD collections are currently available. Fascination with the show has led to the offering of rival sets of The Prisoner videos by American, British, and Australian producers. Prisoner fan clubs currently flourish in Germany, France, and Japan as well. Today, fans annually gather at Portmeirion, Wales (the set site) for a weekend convention. The Prisoner crosses a number of genres (action-adventure, mystery, spy, science fiction), and a host of different audiences agree with Cult TV International that it is the ―ultimate cult TV show.‖ On the political right, the Rutherford Institute sees The Prisoner as a parable on original sin; Libertarians and Objectivists see it as an argument against big government; Leftists see it proclaiming the hypocrisy of the military industrial complex; science fiction buffs praise its prophetic powers; and everyone wants to know what The Prisoner ―means.‖ This search for meaning sets The Prisoner apart from other cult classics like Star Trek and the James Bond films. Unlike them, The Prisoner is an allegory, not a conventional narrative. Its dystopian world is not an object of yearning for fans. Nor does the series provide conventional audience pleasers such as love scenes or gratuitous violence. Instead The Prisoner offers an anguished hero longing for freedom, determined not to betray his secrets, and arrogant in his disdain for his captors. As the series progresses, the
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
episodes become increasingly surreal, so that both the Prisoner and the audience have difficulty knowing what is actual and what is imagined. The series asks real political questions, prompting viewers to consider the repressive nature of their own democratic governments. But ultimately, The Prisoner poses personal religious and existential questions: what does it mean to be an individual? What does it mean to exist in society? What capacities for good and evil exist within each person? Are arrogance and cruelty the necessary counterparts to a personality that resists compromise? Is ―the Village‖ a place or an existential condition? Is escape possible? Course Procedure: This course will be discussion oriented. It will be important for students to do a good deal of work outside of class in order to make efficient use of our class-time. Ordinarily there is allowance made for students who are unprepared for a course lecture or discussion but this will not be the case in this class. Students must do the readings and watch films (when appropriate) ahead of time so that we can have fruitful, rewarding and in-depth class discussions. Grading: Grading will be based upon three five-page papers, in-class performance, pop quizzes and a final exam. After the first class (which is an exception) the structure of the course w ill be as follows: Students will be expected to complete the required readings as indicated on the syllabus before the appropriate class. This will enable us to have meaningful discussions. In order to ‗incentivize‘ the reading process, pop quizzes will be given routinely at the beginning of classes in order to test familiarity with the required reading assignment for the day. These quizzes will make up 5% of the final grade. Class participation will account for 20% of the final grade. Doing a good job in class discussions does not mean talking constantly, or even necessarily in every class session (although that clearly helps!). It means coming to class prepared to discuss the readings and providing thoughtful comments on a consistent basis. We will let you know at midterm what your participation grade is up to that point but feel free to ask us at any point in the semester how we would rate your participation thus far. It is expected that contributions to class discussions will demonstrate a thorough familiarity with the required readings. After having done the readings and screened the episodes students will be expected to write reflection papers throughout the semester. The questions for reflection will be provided by the instructors. Each student will write three reflection papers over the course of the semester. The reflection papers will account for 56.25% of the final grade. The syllabus indicates deadlines for submitting papers. You may turn in your papers after the deadline, but late papers will be penalized 3 percentage points per day. The only exception is for those who have consulted us prior to the deadline and received an extension for a medical or other compelling reason.
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Students will also be expected to complete a final exam for the course which is weighted for grading at the same level as the reflection papers (i.e. 3 reflection papers plus final exam equals seventy- five percent of final grade in class). The final exam will be comprehensive and test your knowledge and understanding of the class screenings, readings and discussions. Pop Quizzes – 5% Class Participation – 20% Five-Page Papers (3 @ 18.75% each) – 56.25 % Final Exam – 18.75% Absences: You are allowed 2 cuts. Each additional absence will result in the deduction of two points from your final average. Being tardy counts for half an absence. You're tardy if you arrive in class AFTER we shut the door to begin, but BEFORE 15 minutes have expired. Leaving before the end of class counts as half an absence as well. Absences during the last two weeks (when student groups are making presentations) count double. You can use your cuts for anything you wish, but you only get 2. If you have to be out of town for a varsity game, if you need to go home for your grandmother's birthday, if you are sick in bed, or just don't feel like getting out of it, it's all the same. Those of you who are involved in campus activities (sports, newspaper, theater, etc.) may need to use your cuts for commitments in those areas. DePauw University is committed to respecting students who seek to observe religious holidays during the academic year. If you need to miss class or reschedule an assignment for that reason, I will be happy to work with you. But give advance notice! Please consult the ―Holy Days 2007-2008‖ schedule issued by the Religious Life Center for more information on religious holidays that occur during the fall semester. Remember that absences due to religious observances count as cuts.
*
Required Books:
Robert Fairclough, The Prisoner: The Official Companion to the Classic TV Series. ISBN: 1842224344. Carlton, 2002 Robert Fairclough, The Prisoner: Original Scripts, Vol 1. ISBN: 1903111765. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd (2005). Robert Fairclough, The Prisoner: Original Scripts, Vol 2. ISBN: 1903111811. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd (2006). Robert Solomon, editor, Existentialism. ISBN: 0075537117. McGraw Hill (1974).
*
Please note that all books are available at the Fine Print bookstore on Main Street
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, ISBN: 080701429X. Mass Market (2006). Ayn Rand, Anthem. ISBN: 0451191137. Penguin, Signet Centennial Edition. (1995). Everyman: And Other Miracle And Morality Plays. ISBN: 978-0486287263. Dover (1995). Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis. ISBN: 9780871401182. Liveright (1977). Also required: ―On the Trail of The Prisoner: Roger Goodman Talks to Patrick McGoohan.‖ This CD will be purchased through a special arrangement with REL 275 and PrizBiz. Your instructors will provide additional information. Recommended: The Prisoner – Complete Series Megaset (40th Anniversary Edition 1968) – DVD Course Schedule †‡
Week 1 Themes: Cold War Politics and the Rise of the Secret Service
Thursday (Aug 23):
Introductions and Danger Man: Yesterday's Enemies
Reading (post facto) - Wesley Britten, ―The Cold War and Existential Fables: Danger Man, Secret Agent, and The Prisoner,‖ Spy Televison. Westport and London: Prager, 2004: 93-110.
†
Note: ep isode order is a much-debated topic in Prisoner studies. We are circu mventing that discussion by grouping episodes thematically, an arrangement that fans of the series will find unorthodox and, we hope, thought-provoking. We also note that we are pairing Danger Man episodes with The Prisoner not because we are arguing that Nu mber 6 was John Drake, but because Danger Man depicted a vivid moral and political universe that Patrick McGoohan could assume viewers knew quite well and would bring with them to The Prisoner. Fans of Danger Man may remark that we are not showing Colony 3, the episode most often identified as a precursor to The Prisoner. We o mitted it only because we ran out of space and were mo re intrigued with how college students would compare the ―dreamy‖ A. B. and C. to The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove. If we had showed Colony 3, we would have paired it with Dance of the Dead.
‡
This course is lin ked to a Winter Term 2008 study trip to the UK. In January of 2008 the instructors will lead a group to England and Wales to follo w in the footsteps of the Prisoner. There we will v isit fil ming locations, the BBC Studios and ―The Village‖ in Port meirion, Wales. There‘s still time to sign up!
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Ziegler and Fuller Week 2
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Themes: Imprisonment and Dehumanization
Tuesday (Aug. 28): Arrival
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 7-24 and 36-41. ―Story Information,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 10-13. "Arrival," The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 14-69.
Thursday (Aug. 30): Discussion of Man’s Search for Meaning
Reading: Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, pp. 3-93. (Group 1 papers relating Frankl and Arrival due on Monday, September 3rd at noon.)
Week 3 Theme: Existential Freedom I
Tuesday (Sept. 4): Chimes of Big Ben
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.42-45. ―Chimes of Big Ben,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 70-131. ―Narrative‖ in Critical Terms for Literary Study pp. 66-79.
Thursday (Sept. 6): Discussion of Sartre‘s writings on ―Freedom‖
Readings: Selections from Sartre (Existentialism is a Humanism, Nausea, and Being and Nothingness) in Solomon, Existentialism, pp. 206-246 (Group 2 papers relating Sartre to Chimes due on Monday, September 10th at noon.)
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Ziegler and Fuller Week 4
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Theme: Existential Freedom II
Tuesday (Sept. 11): Free for All
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.50-53. ―Free for All,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 182-235 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Thursday (Sept. 13): Discussion of ―Freedom‖ according to Gabriel Marcel and
Merleau-Ponty Readings: Selections from Marcel (Man Against Mass Society) and Merleau-Ponty (The Phenomenology of Perception) in Solomon, Existentialism, pp. 174-182 and pp. 277-290. (Group 3 papers relating Marcel/Merleau-Ponty and Free for All due on Monday, September 17th at noon.)
Week 5 Theme: The Meaning of Dreams
Tuesday (Sept. 18): A, B and C
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.46-49. "A. B. and C," The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 132-181.
Thursday (Sept. 20): Danger Man: The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove
Reading: Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, pp. 101-153 and 167 – 208. (Group 4 papers relating Freud to A, B and C and The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove due on Monday, September 24th at noon.)
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Ziegler and Fuller Week 6
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Themes: Mortality, Guilt and Punishment
Tuesday (Sept. 25): Dance of the Dead
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.66-69. ―Dance of the Dead,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 384-431
Thursday (Sept. 27): Discussion of Everyman play with class visit from Professor
Long Readings: Everyman Play (All) Patrick McGoohan, ―Foreword,‖ in Jon E. Lewis and Penny Stempel, Cult TV: The Essential Critical Guide (London: Pavilion Books, 1993), p. 6. *NOTE: Everyman play runs Sept. 21, 22, 23 and 28, 29. (Group 1 papers relating Everyman to Dance of the Dead due on Monday, October 1st at noon.)
Week 7 Themes: Technological Evolution and Anthropological Stasis/Devolution
Tuesday (Oct. 2): The General
The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.58-61. "The General," The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. I, pp. 288-387 Reading: Ayn Rand, Anthem (Penguin/Signet, 1995), ―Foreword,‖ pp. xiv- xvi, and text, pp. 17-105.
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Thursday (Oct. 4): The Girl Who Was Death
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.94-97.. "The Girl Who Was Death," The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 328-367 ―Who, What, Why, and Where on…‖ [from the original ITC promotional handout], online under ―Episode Guide‖ at http://www.retroweb.com/prisoner.html. ―Science and Technology Menu‖ and ―Culture Menu,‖ at ―Sad Geezers Guide to Cult Science Fiction‖ (click http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/Sections+index-req-viewarticleartid-120-page-1.html and http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/Sections+index-reqviewarticle-artid-122-page-1.html Rick McGrath, ―The Prisoner,‖ online at http://www.culturecourt.com/Ajo/media/ThePrisoner.htm. (Group 2 papers relating Anthem and the articles to The General and Dance of the Dead due on Monday, October 8th at noon.)
Week 8 Themes: Self-Consciousness, Conformity and the Divided Self
Tuesday (Oct. 9): The Schizoid Man
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.54-57. "The Schizoid Man,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts Vol. I, pp. 236-287 Selection from R.D. Laing (The Divided Self) - Handout
Thursday (Oct. 11): Checkmate
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 70-73. ―Checkmate,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 12-67. Selections from Nietzsche (The Joyful Wisdom, Thus Spake Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, etc.) in Solomon, Existentialism, pp. 65-101. (Group 3 papers relating Laing and Nietzsche to The Schizoid Man and Checkmate due on Monday, October 22nd at noon.)
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Week 9
Tuesday (Oct. 16): No Class Thursday (Oct. 18): No Class
Week 10 Themes: The Divided Self (redux)
Tuesday (Oct. 23): Many Happy Returns
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 62-65. "Many Happy Returns,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol I, pp. 338-383. ―Hymn of the Pearl,‖ http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/library/hymnpearl.htm. Bart D. Ehrman, ―The Gnostic Religions,‖ in Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst, eds. The Gospel of Judas (National Geographic, 2006), pp. 82-89. Valarie Ziegler, ―Gnostic Sayings‖
Thursday (Oct. 25): Living in Harmony (View West World before this class.)
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 90-93. ―Living in Harmony,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 278-327. Brian J. Woodman, ―Escaping Genre‘s Village: Fluidity and Genre Mixing in Television‘s The Prisoner.‖ The Journal of Popular Culture 38, 5. (2005) Pp. 939-956. (Group 4 papers relating articles and West World to Many Happy Returns and Living in Harmony due Monday, October 29th at noon.)
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Ziegler and Fuller Week 11
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Theme: ‗Brainwashing‘ and Cold War Politics
Tuesday (Oct. 30): It’s Your Funeral
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 78-81. ―It‘s Your Funeral,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 122-175 Megan Shaw Prelinber, ―How I Was Politically Educated by The Prisoner.‖ Bad Subjects 57 (October, 2001). Online at http://bad.eserver.org/issues/2001/57/megan.html Robert P. Snow and Beverly Ann Cuthbertson, ―Learning and Self-Counseling Through Television Entertainment,‖ Teaching Sociology 7,1 (October, 1979): 65-78. Jennie, ―The Prisoner—For a New Generation.‖ Online at http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/article14.htm.
Thursday (Nov. 1): A Change of Mind
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp.82-85. "A Change of Mind‖ in The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol II, pp. 176-223 Wikipedia article on ‗Brainwashing‘ at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing Philip G. Zimbardo, ―Mind Control: Psychological Reality or Mindless Rhetoric‖at http://www.csj.org/infoserv_articles/zimbardo_philip_mindcontrol.htm The Manchurian Candidate (Group 1 papers relating the Brainwashing readings and The Manchurian Candidate to It’s Your Funeral and A Change of Mind due on Monday, November 5th at noon.)
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Ziegler and Fuller Week 12
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Theme: The Faustian Bargain of Espionage
Tuesday (Nov. 6): Hammer into Anvil
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 74-77. "Hammer into Anvil,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 68-121 Christine Alice Corcos, ―‗I Am Not a Number! I Am a Free Man!‘ Physical and Psychological Imprisonment in Science Fiction.‖ Legal Studies Forum. 25, 3-4 (2001). Reprinted as an E-Text from the ―Law in Popular Culture Collection‖ of the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas at Austin. Online at http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/pop/etext/lsf/corcos25.htm.
Thursday (Nov. 8): Danger Man: Don’t Nail Him Yet
Readings: ―Who is John Drake?‖ http://www.geocities.com/doniacorp/johndrake.html. (Group 2 papers relating articles to Hammer into Anvil and Don’t Nail Him Yet due on Monday, November 12th at noon.)
Week 13 Theme: Through the Looking Glass
Tuesday (Nov. 13): Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 86-89. ―Do Not Forsake Me,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 224-277.
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
Thursday (Nov. 15): Once Upon a Time
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 98-101. ―Once Upon a Time,‖ The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 368-419. Freud, Introductory Lectures, pp. 17-47 and 536-576. Robert Fairclough, Prisoner Files, pp. 91-96 (Group 3 papers relating Freud to Once Upon a Time due on Monday, November 26th at noon.)
Week 14
Tuesday (Nov. 20): No Class (Professors off campus at AAR Conference) Thursday (Nov. 22): No Class (Thanksgiving)
Week 15 Themes: Id, Ego, Superego and Beyond!
Tuesday (Nov. 27): Fallout
Readings: The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 102-107. "Fall Out," The Prisoner: The Original Scripts, Vol. II, pp. 420-463. Robert Fairclough, Prisoner Files, pp. 97-102= Freud, Introductory Lectures, pp. 167-226 and 264-282.
Thursday (Nov. 29):
Readings:
The fallout from Fallout
The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 108-123. Roger Goodman CD: ―On the Trail of The Prisoner: Roger Goodman Talks to Patrick McGoohan.‖
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Ziegler and Fuller
REL 275 Syllabus
Fall 2007
―An Interview with Patrick McGoohan,‖ by Warner Troyer. Online at http://www.theprisoner-6.freeserve.co.uk/troyer.htm and http://www.the-prisoner6.freeserve.co.uk/troyer2.htm (Group 4 papers relating readings to Fallout due Monday, December 3rd at noon.)
Week 16 Theme: The Rise of a Cult Classic
Tuesday (Dec. 4):
Readings: Gregory, Be Seeing You… Decoding the Prisoner, pp. 179-198 The Prisoner: Official Companion, pp. 124-139. David Buxton, ―The Pop Series,‖ From The Avengers to Miami Vice: Form and Ideology in Television Series. Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1990: 7296.
Thursday (Dec. 6):
Final Reflections
Final Exam: Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m.
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