Course Philosophy: Fine Arts - Film
Film is an art form along with such other art forms as painting, sculpture, music, writing,
architecture, dance and theatre. The art of cinema/film is a continuing endeavor by
creative people to find ways to express themselves and to communicate their ideas.
The cinematic art form, film, has become integrated into our lives; it influences how we
think, what we wear, the language we use, what we do and even how we vote. It is the
single most influential art form in the world today. Study of cinema/film will benefit the
student in the following ways:
1. The most popular movies, are not always the "best." The student will become
aware of some techniques in viewing movies that will help determine whether
a movie is worthwhile or not.
2. Film shows us what it is like to be human. The study of cinema is a powerful
tool for developing an understanding of human culture.
3. Cinema is the art of the world that we can share easily with all other people.
The moving picture crosses cultural boundaries time and again and it can take
the student to places they will never see, and introduce them to people from
around the world. It can promote tolerance and understanding.
Learning Objectives:
The student will be able to recognize and define the basic cinema
techniques.
The student will be able to recognize and define the key elements of
cinematography.
The student will be able to define and describe the basic objectives and
components of film editing
The student will be able to identify the major movements and artists of
cinema from the early period to contemporary works.
The student will be able to identify the major performance artists of cinema
and to define their styles and contributions to the art form.
The student will be able to clearly articulate the development of the
performance artist from stage to screen.
The student will be able to discuss the role of the auteur in terms of social
commentary, artistic expression and the development of cinema as
an art form.
The student will use critical thinking skills to identify and evaluate films
from a variety of genres and from several different critical focuses.
Assignment Descriptions:
Essays:
Reaction Essays Point Value 100
1. The student will write a two (2) to three (3) page
typewritten essay (using standard margins and type
size) discussing their reaction (NOT MERELY A
PLOT SUMMARY) to the film.
2. Write a personal reaction to the film. Did you like it?
Did you dislike it?
3. Write an analysis of the film's major qualities. Describe
its strengths as well as its flaws. Be specific, use
examples to develop your ideas.
Grading Criteria for all written assignments: Points will be earned in the
following three categories:
Depth of Thought or Insight: Did the student show higher levels
of cognitive insight such as analysis and evaluation?
Development of Ideas: Did the student develop ideas by using
specific examples from the film, the class discussions, and other sources, by
using logical arguments, and by following a coherent consistent thought pattern.