In February 2021, the University of Minnesota established the Race Power and Justice in the United States (RPJ) liberal education theme. This theme requires undergraduate students to take a class centering around social justice that helps them understand the complex history of racial injustice and systemic inequities in the United States.
Critical thinking and engagement with complexity are two things UHP greatly encourages in its students and it does so through the unique, specialized environments of Honors Seminars.
UHP currently has only one HSem that fulfills the RPJ theme. Read on to hear about the perfect HSem for anyone looking to fulfill one of their Honors Experiences as well as the RPJ theme, or who wants to engage more with the history of racial justice in the United States in a new way: through classic legal films.
HSEM 2802H: Cinematic Representations of American Law
Taught by: Chang Wang, attorney and Elected Member, American Law Institute (ALI)
Liberal Education Theme: Race, Power & Justice in the United States
Are you interested in legal studies but intimidated by the mountains of text in case studies and court decisions? Do you want to engage the subject beyond traditional legal education? HSem 2802H: Cinematic Representations of American Law may be the class for you.
As the title suggests, this Honors Seminar uses classic legal films for the study and discussion of the American legal system. Ten modules covering various topics from legal education to executive power spotlight two films each, from “Legally Blonde” to “All the President’s Men.”
“By engaging with cinematic interpretations of legal concepts through the analysis of masterpieces of cinematic productions, students actively participate in visually literate discussions that provide a broader context for the evolution of legal discourse,” Professor Chang Wang, Esq. said in a written Q&A. “Through the use of film clips and classic legal films, students are exposed to visually captivating representations that enhance their understanding of complex legal concepts and the intricate workings of the legal system.”
The interdisciplinary approach to legal studies in Cinematic Representations of American Law doesn’t stop at film viewings. Students in the course will also have the opportunity to visit the Supreme Court of Minnesota and the U.S. Court for the District of Minnesota where they will meet and interact with court justices and judges, as well as conduct in-class debates in the Oxford Style, the traditional courtroom debate format.
Wang said the course offers a “transformative learning experience” that “nurtures interdisciplinary intellectual growth, hones critical thinking skills, and fosters an appreciation for the complex relationship between law, society, and the arts.” That is to say, it’s the quintessential Honors Seminar.
Notably, Cinematic Representations of American Law is the only Honors Seminar so far that fulfills the “Race, Power, and Justice in the United States” Liberal Education theme.
“It has been argued that lawyers cannot fully understand the American legal landscape without studying the impact of race,” the syllabus stipulates. “Prejudice, mostly commonly based on race, gender, and class, is an unfortunate but enduring part of human existence, and has always been present in the U.S. justice system.”
Discussions of race and prejudice are fostered through reading case law and viewing films such as “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Selma.” The role of prejudice in the American legal and political systems are also discussed in specific modules of the course, including the Civil Rights and Criminal Law modules.
Whether or not you’re a law student, you can find something to love about this Honors Seminar. Wang said this course, “welcomes students from various academic backgrounds who are eager to critically analyze legal concepts, challenge assumptions, and explore the complex relationship between law and society.”
If you’re interested in law, film, the arts and humanities, and social justice, Wang said, then this seminar is for you.
This seminar will be offered again in Spring 2024. Check out the course listing for more information.