WandaVision Analysis: Marvel Camp

All assignments will be turned into google docs in order to easily provide feedback.

Class 1: First class will include introductions. Clips from previous MCU films will be shown to learn film and pop culture analysis as they relate to Wanda and Vision, and recap what they went through. Clips outside of MCU content will be shown as well to describe the evolution of sitcoms.
        Homework: Watch episodes 1+2

Class 2: This class will discuss intertextuality and genre mixing. MCU is usually more serious, and WandaVision has a much different tone. We will discuss as a class the early stages of film and television sitcoms. How are episodes 1 and 2 related to 50s-60s sitcoms? Clips from the Dick Van Dyke show, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and I Love Lucy will be shown as well as clips from WandaVision.
        Homework: Watch episodes 3+4 and write a paragraph on intertextuality in WandaVision

Class 3: Clips from The Brady Bunch and Mork and Mindy will be shown to discuss 70s sitcoms and how WandaVision is influenced by these sitcoms. Students will learn about nostalgia and immersion as it relates to movies/TV shows. What do these achieve in certain texts? To discuss episode 4, as we shift more into the MCU outside of the solely sitcom episodes. We will touch on the comic book references as we are introduced to Monica Rambeau and are given subtle hints about what her future in the MCU will include (clip from Captain Marvel will be shown when discussing Monica). This episode shows the effects of the snap from the Hulk in Avengers: Endgame which explains when the show takes place and shows how chaotic things were when people snapped back.
          Homework: Watch episodes 5+6 

Class 4: Clips from X-Men: Apocalypse, Full House, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Malcolm in the Middle, and Roseanne will be shown as they are the influences for episodes 5+6. The MCU and the sitcom spot created by Wanda continuously overlap, and the identity of the villain in the show is still unknown; Wanda's being painted as the possible villain, but it is unclear if it is her or someone else. Students will learn popular culture terminology about Big Bads and Little Bads, along with the concept of Easter eggs.
          Homework: Watch episode 7 and write a paragraph about the possible big bad, and another paragraph on nostalgia and immersion. There are subtle hints, and also more obvious hints to the comic books in these episodes, for example. 

Class 5: Clips from Modern Family, Parks & Recreation and The Office will be shown. Students will learn about the mockumentary style apparent in more modern sitcoms, as well as the concept of the fourth wall (slides will include comic book pages including Deadpool, since he is the most popular fourth wall breaking character). We will discuss the differences between the first episode to this one and how the style of sitcoms have changed. We will also discuss antagonist vs. protagonist and the big reveal at the end of episode 7.
          Homework: Watch episode 8 and 9 and prepare 2 talking points for discussion

Class 6: This class will unpack what we learned about Wanda that we never got to see before in the MCU. How does this relate to the comics and does that influence immersion in the audience? What might relate to the degree of immersion in the show? How do cameos affect immersion among fans from other relevant texts (like Pietro being played by the actor from the X-Men movies instead of the MCU actor). What else might increase or decrease immersion?
          Homework: Write 1-2 paragraphs about the character development of Wanda. Are her powers dangerous to have as Agatha suggests? Do you think this will impact Wanda's character development in the future of the MCU?