FILM3323 · Fine Arts
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
Portraits of women, salvific or satanic, appear throughout centuries of artistic interpretation, with symbolic representation that often over-simplifies or distorts the real-life complexity of her role. From Eve to the Virgin Mary, the creative muse or the conniving femme-fatale, filmmakers recreate the profound relationships and roles that society sometimes demands, sometimes condemns, and always finds intriguing. Portraits of Women in Film will explore a range of traditional and contemporary films, tragic and comedic, that present glimpses, though often incomplete of the challenges, inspirations, rewards, and punishments that define or attempt to define women through the ages. Films include Dangerous Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, Moonstruck, Miss Representation, Autumn Sonata, Volver, A League of Their Own, Double Indemnity, Belle, and The French Lieutenants Woman.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.5 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.4 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.7 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.5 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2025
1 sectionSpring 2024
1 section