Hauptseminar Depictions of U.S American Society in Michael Moore's Documentaries

Course Outline: Michael Moore is the enfant terrible of modern documentary films – people either love or hate him and his documentaries. His films have popularized a genre which was mainly considered as boring and overly educational – documentary film. What makes Michael Moore and his works so popular that he fills large movie theaters and is awarded with renowned prices? Is it the way Michael Moore places himself as a major driving force in his own documentaries? Is it the topics which are covered in them? These are only some of the questions this seminar aims at investigating. By having a closer look at a number of Moore’s documentaries - Roger & Me (1989), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), Sicko (2007) and Capitalism – A Love Story (2009) – we will discuss in how far his works can be considered as serious comments on urgent social matters. Short introductory lectures on the various topics covered in Moore’s documentaries and on documentaries in general will provide the cultural background for our discussion of depictions of U.S. American Society in Michael Moore’s documentaries. Course Readings : A reader will be available at the beginning of the semester at the copyshop Reckhammer Weg. Anglistik Universität Duisburg-Essen WS 2012/13 Bachelor, Bachelor Engel Wiebke