« We're Screwed: Fake New York Post Hits the Streets |
Main
| Conservative Politico: Playboy Turns Straight Men Gay »
09/21/2009
James Franco Enrolled in Queer Cinema Class at NYU
He should know a thing or two about it.
NYU Local reports: "James Franco is taking Queer Cinema, an undergraduate course in the Tisch Cinema Studies department. Franco was said to have set off a mild frenzy when he showed up at the department floor. His name is on the roster as James Edward Franco, though we’re told he already missed his first class. Franco – get it together."
Some syllabus highlights:
Week 1: “You Don’t Know Dick: The Courageous Hearts of Transsexual Men” (1997 documentary)
Week 2: “Mom’s Apple Pie: The Heart of the Lesbian Mothers’ Custody Movement” (2006 documentary)
Week 3: “Loads” (12 minute film from 1971)
Week 7: “Bottom Values: Anal Economics in History of Black Neighborhoods” and “When are Dirty Details and Scenes Compelling? Tucked in the Cuts of Interracial Anal Rape,” both readings pulled from Kathryn Stockton’s book, “Beautiful Bottoms, Beautiful Shame.
Week 2: “Mom’s Apple Pie: The Heart of the Lesbian Mothers’ Custody Movement” (2006 documentary)
Week 3: “Loads” (12 minute film from 1971)
Week 7: “Bottom Values: Anal Economics in History of Black Neighborhoods” and “When are Dirty Details and Scenes Compelling? Tucked in the Cuts of Interracial Anal Rape,” both readings pulled from Kathryn Stockton’s book, “Beautiful Bottoms, Beautiful Shame.
Wonder if Milk's on the agenda?
Posted 12:05 PM EST by Andy Towle in Film, James Franco, New York, News | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
So glad they're screening "Loads." It's one of Curt McDowell's masterpieces.
Franco is a babe and a half. And a hell of swell guy.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 21, 2009 12:16:18 PM
probably not, because Milk is not so critically relevant as a "queer" film; it's a Hollywood production with straight actors.
Posted by: Alex | Sep 21, 2009 12:17:39 PM
If you know anything about James, this shouldn't surprise you.
At all.
Posted by: Marcus | Sep 21, 2009 12:58:19 PM
I volunteer to give Mr. Franco private tutoring for the course "Blowjobs 101". Seriously, though, James Franco is a courageous actor. Would it be that there were more straight men like him.
Posted by: mike | Sep 21, 2009 1:22:57 PM
i took this class! tried to sleep with the professor and failed.
Posted by: jpastor717 | Sep 21, 2009 1:43:40 PM
clarification: failed at sleeping with the professor, did not fail the class
Posted by: jpastor717 | Sep 21, 2009 1:44:07 PM
Are some of these serious underground/experimental films? I was a film major in college, have studied gay movies for a couple decades, and I've never heard of them, except "Mom's Apple Pie." Defintely haven't heard of the Stockton book.
Nobody tell the right-wingers; this is the sort of thing that would give them a nervous breakdown.
Posted by: Dback | Sep 21, 2009 1:44:35 PM
@ALEX, I disagree. Having taken the class, mainstream Hollywood's take on homosexuality is central to how queer cinema reacts and develops. So it will most probably be on the agenda. We saw mainstream movies, even some not so obvious choices like Mullholand Drive.
Posted by: jpastor717 | Sep 21, 2009 1:48:23 PM
Hmm. Queer Cinema seems to be a grad course, not undergrad. Also, the only Loads I'm aware of (Curt McDowell) is not a 12-minute 1971 short, but rather a 19-minute 1980 short.
Posted by: Randy | Sep 21, 2009 2:47:08 PM
"probably not, because Milk is not so critically relevant as a 'queer' film; it's a Hollywood production with straight actors."
The last I heard, the writer and director of that film are gay.
Posted by: Rick | Sep 21, 2009 2:58:13 PM
I'm in this class--it is a graduate class, but undergrads can also take it.
I think James Franco dropped it anyway as he hasn't been to class yet. Although I doubt there was a "frenzy" when he walked on our floor.
FYI: We watched Milk and other more mainstream films out of class to compare to in-class screenings, which mainly focus on documentaries and their intersections with queer theory and/or LGBT politics. We are currently discussing and comparing Milk and The Times of Harvey Milk both of which offer valuable incites on cinema in general, queer cinema and theory, as well as the Gay Liberation Movement.
Posted by: Zeppo | Sep 21, 2009 4:11:43 PM
@ Zeppo
I didn't attend lots of my classes...don't mean you drop out. I bet he still gets to pass it cause he has an excuse-he's got a job as a movie star that takes him out of the country etc..
So until he's name is off the list..maybe he hasn't dropped out...
Posted by: Rowan | Sep 21, 2009 4:50:16 PM
@Zeppo,
i suppose there may be some "incites" that are valuable once in an era or two, but "insights" are much more valuable, don't you think? sorry, Zep, i couldn't resist. i'm sure that was an innocent oversight on your part. nevertheless, the fact that franco signed up for the course makes him hotter than ever. i envy you your seat in that class if he ever does show up.
Posted by: nic | Sep 21, 2009 5:50:51 PM
I would LOVE to be in his study group. I'd even take the class.
Posted by: sparks | Sep 21, 2009 7:01:09 PM
"probably not, because Milk is not so critically relevant as a "queer" film; it's a Hollywood production with straight actors."
Actually, there are several gay actors in "Milk," they're just not in the lead roles. And, as others have pointed out, queer director and queer writer. The way it's being included in the class sounds interesting to me--wish I could take it!
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 21, 2009 9:12:33 PM