The World is Not Enough – Is England? Mobility, Space and Identity in the Post-Millennial James Bond Movies

WS 2020/21

HS 'Advanced Seminar'

Blockseminar

The World is Not Enough – Is England? Mobility, Space and Identity in the Post-Millennial James Bond Movies

 

Professor:

Prof. Dr. Karin Ikas


Description:

This seminar investigates the intersections of mobility, (cyber)space and identity construction in the James Bond movies of the New Millennium, starring Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent 007, with a particular focus on Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2016) and No Time to Die (2020). Applying an interdisciplinary and transcultural studies perspective, we look at the social, historical and political contexts of the Bond films and discuss Bond’s relevance as (Britain’s) favorite (fictive) spy in a challenging world with impending changes and a dawning Brexit. We consider Bond’s post-colonial travelogue aesthetic, the re-emergence of London and the return to his childhood home in Scotland. How does James Bond’s Britishness come into play? How does his prowess and importance compare to the non-European cultures and locations he visits. Are the cultures of the places he visits portrayed in a lesser or greater light than his own English culture? Is “foreignness” (here meaning “not western European”) an essential part of the identity of the villain in the film? How so?

Last but not least, to what extent is power, privilege, and social (in)justice linked to certain spaces, sexual and gender identities?

This course aims to find some thought-provoking answers to these questions. Participants are encouraged to add their voices to the ongoing debates and to contribute different media and text samples that are relevant to the topics being discussed and appropriate in light of academic and educational purposes.

 

Note:

Please note that the seminar will be taught online via Zoom and Moodle. All students must be registered for this class and also need to register with Moodle: https://moodle.studiumdigitale.uni-frankfurt.de/moodle/

All further communication will then be through Moodle.

 

Primary and secondary works:

Participants need to familiarize themselves with the movies Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2016) during the semester break.

A reader with relevant critical texts will be available at the local copy shop Script & Copy. Information about further study material and the class structure will be provided in the

Introductory Session on Sat, 31 Oct 2020 (ZOOM 10-13 o’clock + MOODLE activities).

 

The three other block sessions take place as follows:

Block Session I:        Saturday, 14 Nov 2020        (10-16 o’clock, ZOOM 10-13 o’clock)

Block Session II:       Saturday, 28 Nov 2020        (10-16 o’clock, ZOOM 10-13 o’clock)

Block Session III:      Saturday,   5 Dec  2020        (10-16 o’clock, ZOOM 10-13 o’clock)