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John Hughes, The 80’s Comedy Auteur

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What’s it all about?

Film-maker John Hughes wrote, directed and produced some of the most iconic comedies of the 80s, which have since stood the test of time. You might not know it, but he was the driving force behind Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Home Alone, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck and the (National Lampoon’s) Vacation series. This class will take a light hearted look at the narratives, characters and comedic devices of Hughes to see what made these films great. Save Ferris!

What will we cover?

You can watch the films themselves on YouTube or good ol’ VHS, but to really gain an appreciation for the John Hughes oeuvre you need to look at the setting, plot, characters, narrative and comedic style in detail. Using numerous choice clips and class discussion, we will go back to the 80s to experience High School in Chicago and holiday vacations with the likes of Ferris Bueller, John Bender, Clark Griswold, The Geek, Del Griffith and Chet Ripley. No prior viewing is required, but dust off your Blockbuster Video card because after we’re done you’ll want to see them all!

Who will be teaching?

HughHugh Gundlach has lectured in business for The University of Melbourne and RMIT, and currently works in marketing. He is a regular public speaker at marketing events and also reviews comedy for The Pun. And if you haven’t already guessed, he’s a bit of a John Hughes buff.