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'Gender and James Bond' Course at the University of Oklahoma

Red_SnowRed_Snow Australia
in News Posts: 2,538
In the Spring Semester of 2019, the University of Oklahoma’s College of Arts and Sciences will offer a three-credit Women and Gender Studies course, 'Gender and James Bond' taught by Assistant Professor Lisa Funnell author of ' For His Eyes Only: The Women of James Bond'.

Course Description:

Explores the unprecedented longevity and popular cultural viability of the James Bond film franchise. First, the representation of heroism and villainy in the series will be considered, focusing on the performance and intersectionality of gender, race, class, nationality and sexual orientation. Second, the popular culture impact of the Bond franchise will be examined. Development of the "Bondian" film formula focusing on aspects of visual style, music, and the role of technology will be explored. They will also consider the marketing of the Bond films through the opening credit sequence, movie posters, and secondary market products such as James Bond videogames, comic books, and cartoons. Third, students will explore the problematic representation of women in the Bond film franchise. They will examine four key characters or character types: the Bad Girl, the Bond Girl, M, and Miss Moneypenny. Finally, students will consider how Casino Royale (2005) functions a prequel and effectively reboots the franchise in the new millennium. They will explore how key "Bondian" elements (such as heroic masculinity) have been reframed in the 2000s and consider why producers chose to reframe the film franchise. Ultimately, the goal of this course is to explore the ongoing commercial viability of the James Bond franchise and explore the popular cultural impact of its films.

Comments

  • MooreFunMooreFun
    Posts: 385
    Sounds as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,273
    Judas Priest!
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Uh... considering they got the year of CR wrong....
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    I follow Lisa Funnell on Twitter. She knows her Bond and is a general force for good. Would love to do this course!
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    MooreFun wrote: »
    Sounds as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.

    Hey, I resemble that remark!
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,259
    Agent_99 wrote: »
    I follow Lisa Funnell on Twitter. She knows her Bond and is a general force for good. Would love to do this course!

    Indeed, compulsory Bond watching seems not the worst thing in the world.

    The only thing I don't like is:
    Third, students will explore the problematic representation of women in the Bond film franchise.

    What problematic representation? I love the way they are represented!
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,209
    I suspect this would not be a class in which to pick up chicks . ;)
  • TripAcesTripAces Universal Exports
    Posts: 4,585
    CommanderRoss wrote: »
    Agent_99 wrote: »
    I follow Lisa Funnell on Twitter. She knows her Bond and is a general force for good. Would love to do this course!

    Indeed, compulsory Bond watching seems not the worst thing in the world.

    The only thing I don't like is:
    Third, students will explore the problematic representation of women in the Bond film franchise.

    What problematic representation? I love the way they are represented!

    Funnell does tremendous work. I think by “problematic” she means thorny. Funnell’s work has not been traditionally a Feminist take.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,797
    I expect Sir Roger Moore's reaction to such a class.

    "Sexual discrimination, I will definitely have to pay it a visit."
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    MooreFun wrote: »
    Sounds as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
    Pretty much. :))
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    My feeling is that if someone's going to point out the areas in which Bond is problematic - and I think even the most ardent fan would admit there are some - I'd rather it was someone who knows and loves the series than someone who's come in specifically to pick holes in it. (Having read a fair number of articles along the lines of "I watched my first Bond film and this is why it was terrible".)
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,209
    Is there, or will there be, a similar course dealing with “ Fifty Shades “?
    Men did not make this book and movie series the phenomenon it is.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    talos7 wrote: »
    Is there, or will there be, a similar course dealing with “ Fifty Shades “?
    Men did not make this book and movie series the phenomenon it is.

    Sounds like a double pack of standards, a double standard you might say.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,259
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    talos7 wrote: »
    Is there, or will there be, a similar course dealing with “ Fifty Shades “?
    Men did not make this book and movie series the phenomenon it is.

    Sounds like a double pack of standards, a double standard you might say.

    I'd guess because Bond has a lot of positive sides as well.....
  • NS_writingsNS_writings Buenos Aires
    Posts: 544
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    MooreFun wrote: »
    Sounds as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
    Pretty much. :))

    AHHH STAMPERRR!!! Stop yelling (feminist things) at my ear, ja?!
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    Give her a part in Bond 25! She is hot! :-bd
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,184
    Overlooking some of the flaws of the Bond series such as how some of the female characters were treated doesn't make one less a fan. Tom Mankiewicz went onto say one of his biggest regrets was the treatment of Rosie Carver in LALD, and I agree with his sentiment on how that character was treated. I love Honey Ryder in the novel, but feel the qualities that made her fun were taken away by the film that she felt like a less rounded character as a result.

    Having listened to her on the James Bond & Friends podcast, she's very much a die hard fan of Bond like any of us.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,034
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    Overlooking some of the flaws of the Bond series such as how some of the female characters were treated doesn't make one less a fan. Tom Mankiewicz went onto say one of his biggest regrets was the treatment of Rosie Carver in LALD, and I agree with his sentiment on how that character was treated. I love Honey Ryder in the novel, but feel the qualities that made her fun were taken away by the film that she felt like a less rounded character as a result.

    Having listened to her on the James Bond & Friends podcast, she's very much a die hard fan of Bond like any of us.

    Wait...who is "she" in this case? Ursula Andress? Gloria Hendry?
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,184
    I was talking about the characters treatments, not the actresses.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,034
    Yes, but to whom did you listen on the podcast, so you can tell "she" is very much a die-hard fan? That's my issue, the rest is fine with me.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited November 2019 Posts: 17,756
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Yes, but to whom did you listen on the podcast, so you can tell "she" is very much a die-hard fan? That's my issue, the rest is fine with me.

    @MakeshiftPython meant Lisa Funnell. She's been on the podcast several times.

    Love it whenever she's on it.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,034
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Yes, but to whom did you listen on the podcast, so you can tell "she" is very much a die-hard fan? That's my issue, the rest is fine with me.

    @MakeshiftPython meant Lisa Funnell. She's been on the podcast several times.

    Love it whenever she's on it.

    OK, thanks.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,184
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Yes, but to whom did you listen on the podcast, so you can tell "she" is very much a die-hard fan? That's my issue, the rest is fine with me.

    @MakeshiftPython meant Lisa Funnell. She's been on the podcast several times.

    Love it whenever she's on it.

    Pretty much. I only just got into it recently and have loved all the discussions coming from many Bond fans from around the globe.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,209
    Let’s see , gender? There’s two male and female. I understand that some think there is a difference between gender and sex. That is more about semantics than biology.

    Bond? He is a heterosexual, white male British agent; he is licensed to kill, and one who the company of attractive females.

    This seems like a short course.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,184
    talos7 wrote: »
    This seems like a short course.

    Seems like you have little to bring to the topic.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,209
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    talos7 wrote: »
    This seems like a short course.

    Seems like you have little to bring to the topic.

    More than it deserves...
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,184
    I don't have any interest in football, so of course my opinion would have little bearing on any topic concerning that which is why I stay out of it.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,756
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Yes, but to whom did you listen on the podcast, so you can tell "she" is very much a die-hard fan? That's my issue, the rest is fine with me.

    @MakeshiftPython meant Lisa Funnell. She's been on the podcast several times.

    Love it whenever she's on it.

    Pretty much. I only just got into it recently and have loved all the discussions coming from many Bond fans from around the globe.

    It's certainly a podcast with a lot of interesting discussions. And with Funnell you get an often in-depth female fan perspective. Which is great.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    I would happily attend this course if I lived on the other side of the pond. Sadly I do not, so I will continue to enjoy listening to her contributions on the podcast which I look forward to listening too every week.
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