San José State University, School of Music & Dance
MUSC 118, Global Soundtracks, 01, Fall 2014
Contact Information
Instructor:
Gordon Haramaki
Office Location:
Music 107
Telephone:
(408) 924-4634
Email:
gordon.haramaki@sjsu.edu
Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, and by
appointment
Class Days/Time:
Monday and Wednesday, 9:00-10:15 AM
Classroom:
Music 161
Prerequisites:
GE/SJSU Studies Category:
Completion of core GE, upper division standing (60 units),
passage of Writing Skills Test (WST), 100W as a prerequisite or
co-requisite.
V: Culture, Civilization & Global Understanding
Faculty Web Page and MYSJSU Messaging
Course materials such as syllabus, handouts, notes, assignment instructions, etc. can be
found on my faculty web page at http://www.sjsu.edu/people/gordon.haramaki. You are
responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through MySJSU (or other
communication system as indicated by the instructor) to learn any updates.
Course Description
Since its invention film has become one of the dominant commercial forms of global
artistic expression in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. While music has been
intertwined with film from its inception, the visual and narrative aspects of film have
often overshadowed the important role that music contributes to the cultural work of film
as a whole. To that end this course focuses on how music works as an important
communicative element in world film, surveying the development of music created in the
world’s commercial film systems through the study and critique of a number of important
film composers and their scores over the past century, from the “silents” (which were not
silent at all) to present-day cinema.
Covering the technologies, techniques, and mechanics of music composition for film, the
course will focus primarily on the aural cultural semiotics of narrative cinema music—
music that reflects, defines, undermines, and critiques the subjectivities, cultures, and
MUSC 118, Global Soundtracks, Fall 2014
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themes of their respective films—and will trace the evolution of the trans-global cultural
interchange of musical styles and artistic approaches in world film over the past century.
The prerequisites for this include completion of Core General Education, upper division
standing, passage of the Writing Skills Test (WST). 100W is required either as a
prerequisite or as a co-requisite.
Course Goals and Learning Objectives
GE Learning Outcomes (GELO) and Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)
Courses to meet Areas R, S, and V of SJSU Studies must be taken from three different
departments or distinct academic units.
Writing about film music and utilizes specialized and challenging set of skills
incorporating technical description, cultural contextualization, subjective reaction, and
certain stylistic conventions in a unique mix. This course is designed to give you
experience and guidance in developing these skills, especially a basic competence in the
use of technical musical and film terminology.
The 3,000 word writing requirement for this general education upper division category V
course are met by: online discussions; in-class writing and peer critique; a 500-word
prospectus for the creation of a soundtrack; two 750-word film reviews; and a draft and
final version of a 1,500-word research paper.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate and employ a basic knowledge of the history of world film and its
music, represented in this course by the U.S.A., Austria, the former Soviet
Union, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Japan,
Hindi-speaking India, Korea, Mali, Senegal, France, Italy, Iran, and Australia
[Area V GELO B.1] (exams, soundtrack reviews, research paper).
2.
Enjoy, express, and illustrate the cultural significance of music in world film as
an achievement of the global human intellect and imagination, while examining
and appraising the dynamic and interdependent relationship of U.S. and World
soundtracks [Area V GELO B.2 and B.3] (in-class writing, soundtrack reviews,
research paper).
3.
Identify, define, and assess historically important American and World films and
film composers, and the social, political, economic, and cultural environments in
which they developed [Area V GELO B.2 and B.3] (exams, soundtrack reviews,
research paper).
4.
Recognize, describe, and interpret the music and musical elements of important
film scores [Area V GELO B.1] (in-class writing, exams, create-a-soundtrack,
soundtrack reviews, research paper).
5.
Grasp the processes of composition and listening, and appraise film music from
the subject positions of both composer and audience [Area V GELO B.1]
(create-a-soundtrack, soundtrack reviews, research paper).
MUSC 118, Global Soundtracks, Fall 2014
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6.
Describe and explain the basic techniques and technologies of film scoring in
world’s many commercial film-producing systems (exams, create-a-soundtrack,
research paper).
7.
Effectively conceive, analyze, and develop their own ideas and assessments of
film music in response to lecture, discussions, readings, and film viewing, both
verbally and in writing (in-class writing, soundtrack reviews, research paper).
8.
Engage in thoughtful and civil criticism and discourse (in-class writing,
soundtrack reviews, research paper).
9.
Develop, organize, and write using correct grammar, appropriate language,
constructing effective arguments, using pertinent supporting material, and
including, where appropriate, correct editorial mechanics and standards for citing
primary and secondary sources (in-class writing, soundtrack reviews, research
paper).
Required Texts/Readings
Textbooks
Mark Slobin, Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music, Middletown, CT: Wesleyan
University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0819568823
James Wierzbicki, Film Music: A History, New York: Routledge, 2009. ISBN: 978-0451-99199-5.
Other Readings
Copies of the course syllabus, PDFs of lectures, as well as other readings aside from
those in the required texts may be found on my faculty web page accessible through the
quick links/faculty web page links on the SJSU home page (address above).
Other material requirements
Internet access is required for both the discussion forum, and outside-class film viewing.
The films discussed in class may be obtained through various sources, such as rental
(through Netflix or Amazon Prime), or purchase through amazon.com or similar sources.
Students will have access to the School of Music & Dance’s Mac computer lab to create
their soundtrack project. Please check the lab’s hours and schedule your work
accordingly.
Please bring a loose-leaf notebook with removable 8.5 x 11 pages (not spiral-bound) for
in-class writing activities.
Library Liaison
Patricia Stroh
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The Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
(408) 808-2059
Email: patricia.stroh@sjsu.edu
Course Requirements and Assignments
SJSU classes are designed such that in order to be successful, it is expected that students
will spend a minimum of forty-five hours for each unit of credit (normally three hours per
unit per week), including preparing for class, participating in course activities,
completing assignments, and so on. More details about student workload can be found in
University Policy S12-3 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-3.pdf.
Note that University policy F69-24, “Students should attend all meetings of their classes,
not only because they are responsible for material discussed therein, but because active
participation is frequently essential to insure maximum benefit for all members of the
class. Attendance per se shall not be used as a criterion for grading.”
Assignments
Discussion, In-Class Writing, and Discussion Forum (10%)
Lively participation in general discussion will be noticed and appreciated, but so will the
ability to allow space for shyer or quieter members of the class to contribute their views.
We will be doing in-class writing designed to get you thinking—in writing—about what
you hear in conjunction with what you see, and offers a forum for you to engage
repeatedly with music and the visual. Students will also participate in in-class peer
critique, and your response to your classmates work should be seriousness, thoughtful,
and constructive.
Readings and film viewing will be assigned every week, and all students are expected to
participate in the online discussions of the readings and films each week with responses
of at least 150 words each week.
Four (4) Exams (10% each = 40%)
Each exam will cover the music and materials of the previous sessions, and will consist
of listening identification, multiple choice, and write-in-answer questions. While the
exams are not cumulative, the knowledge of basic course material will continue from
exam to exam.
Create-A-Soundtrack (10%)
Students will create their own soundtrack for a short 3-minute silent film scene in iMovie
using original and/or previously created musical material. Students will write a 500-word
explanation demonstrating their creative process, including their conception of the scene,
what guided their choice of music, a cue sheet, and how their musical choices fulfill their
interpretation of the creative intention of the film.
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Two (2) Soundtrack Reviews (10% each = 20%)
Students will view two (2) current films in a theater and write a 750-word analysis of the
style and technique of the film’s soundtrack, as well as the student’s general film-going
experience. At least one (1) film must be a non-American, non-English-language film.
Soundtrack Composer Research Paper (20%)
Students will write a 1,500-word research paper on the soundtrack composer of their
choice (but not covered in class) and will critically discuss and write on the aesthetic and
functional significance of music in world film, engaging in writing about the music itself
as well as the discourse surrounding it, utilizing both description and referencing the
philosophical, aesthetic, and political manifestos and agendas upon which the film
discourse is built.
The paper should include a short biography, a selected filmography, with the bulk of the
paper devoted to your critical discussion based on a clear thesis statement and supported
by independent library research. A bibliography is required (including broad reference
works to more specific materials, such as journal and newspaper articles, and recordings),
and citations should be according to the Chicago Manual of Style.
The paper should be the best expression of your critical thoughts in considered, polished,
and corrected prose. To support the writing process, students will submit a first draft for
in-class peer critique, and turn the critiqued draft into the instructor for further evaluation
and feedback. No final papers will be accepted without having gone through the first
draft process. Papers are due on the day of the Final.
Grading Policy
Grading is based on satisfactory participation and performance of the course
requirements. No extra credit will be given. Written assignments will be graded
according to:
1. Correctly following assignment questions, prompts, guidelines, and length
requirements.
2. Correct usage and spelling of names, dates, titles, technical terms, and concepts.
3. Quality, originality, and accuracy of content.
4. Appropriate academic style.
5. Legibility, completeness, and neatness.
6. Unstapled multi-pages Concert Responses will not be accepted.
Grade Scale and Percentage System
A+
A
A-
=
=
=
100-97%
96-93%
92-90%
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B+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
89-87%
86-83%
82-80%
79-77%
76-73%
72-70%
69-67%
66-63%
62-56%
55 % and below
Late Work
Assignments are collected at the beginning of class on the due date. Work turned in
during class after it is collected is considered late, and will be penalized a half a grade.
Assignments received after class on the date that it is due will be penalized a full grade.
Late work will be penalized a full grade for each day after that, and late work will be
accepted only until the next class meeting after its due date. No late work will be
accepted after the final meeting.
Due to their ongoing nature, which includes class discussion, in-class writings will not be
accepted after the class in which they are done.
Exams will be given at the start of class on their assigned dates. Makeup exams will only
be given in the case of documented emergencies.
A minimum aggregate GPA of 2.0 for SJSU Studies (R, S, & V) shall be required of all
students as a graduation requirement. To see full text, review University Policy S11-3 at
http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S11-3.pdf.
Classroom Protocol
Students are expected to arrive on time, bring their materials to class, ready for reasoned
discussion on the topics presented in class. During class laptops should only be used for
course-related activities. Please turn off cellphones, pagers, and other electronic
messaging devices during class. Students are responsible for all material and
assignments discussed in class, and absence does not grant exemption from material
covered in class.
University Policies
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop,
grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester’s Catalog Policies section at
http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the
current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at
http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is
available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware
of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.
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Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at
http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.
Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material
University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to
obtain instructor’s permission to record the course. Please email the instructor to obtain
permission in writing. In classes with guests, or active participation of students may be
on the recording, permission of those guests or students should be obtained as well.


“Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone
when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor’s permission to
make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the
recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are
the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to
reproduce or distribute the material.”
“Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the
instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not
publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam
questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent.”
Academic integrity
Your commitment as a student to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose
State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy S07-2 at
http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S07-2.pdf requires you to be honest in all your academic
course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of
Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical
Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism
(presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without
giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For
this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise
specified. If you would like to include your assignment or any material you have
submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic
Integrity Policy S07-2 requires approval of instructors.
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need
to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an
appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential
Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf
requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the
Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of
their disability.
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In 2013, the Disability Resource Center changed its name to be known as the Accessible
Education Center, to incorporate a philosophy of accessible education for students with
disabilities. The new name change reflects the broad scope of attention and support to
SJSU students with disabilities and the University’s continued advocacy and commitment
to increasing accessibility and inclusivity on campus.
Student Technology Resources
Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center at
http://www.sjsu.edu/at/asc/ located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall and in the Associated
Students Lab on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be
available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther
King Library.
A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media
Services located in IRC 112. These items include DV and HD digital camcorders; digital
still cameras; video, slide and overhead projectors; DVD, CD, and audiotape players;
sound systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors.
SJSU Peer Connections
Peer Connections, a campus-wide resource for mentoring and tutoring, strives to inspire
students to develop their potential as independent learners while they learn to
successfully navigate through their university experience. You are encouraged to take
advantage of their services which include course-content based tutoring, enhanced study
and time management skills, more effective critical thinking strategies, decision making
and problem-solving abilities, and campus resource referrals.
In addition to offering small group, individual, and drop-in tutoring for a number of
undergraduate courses, consultation with mentors is available on a drop-in or by
appointment basis. Workshops are offered on a wide variety of topics including
preparing for the Writing Skills Test (WST), improving your learning and memory,
alleviating procrastination, surviving your first semester at SJSU, and other related topics.
A computer lab and study space are also available for student use in Room 600 of Student
Services Center (SSC).
Peer Connections is located in three locations: SSC, Room 600 (10th Street Garage on
the corner of 10th and San Fernando Street), at the 1st floor entrance of Clark Hall, and in
the Living Learning Center (LLC) in Campus Village Housing Building B. Visit Peer
Connections website at http://peerconnections.sjsu.edu for more information.
SJSU Writing Center
The SJSU Writing Center is located in Clark Hall, Suite 126. All Writing Specialists have
gone through a rigorous hiring process, and they are well trained to assist all students at
all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. In addition to one-on-one
tutoring services, the Writing Center also offers workshops every semester on a variety of
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writing topics. To make an appointment or to refer to the numerous online resources
offered through the Writing Center, visit the Writing Center website at
http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter. For additional resources and updated information,
follow the Writing Center on Twitter and become a fan of the SJSU Writing Center on
Facebook. (Note: You need to have a QR Reader to scan this code.)
SJSU Counseling Services
The SJSU Counseling Services is located on the corner of 7th Street and San Fernando
Street, in Room 201, Administration Building. Professional psychologists, social
workers, and counselors are available to provide consultations on issues of student mental
health, campus climate or psychological and academic issues on an individual, couple, or
group basis. To schedule an appointment or learn more information, visit Counseling
Services website at http://www.sjsu.edu/counseling.
MUSC 118, Global Soundtracks, Fall 2014
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MUSC 118, Global Soundtracks, Fall 2014,
Course Schedule
Course schedule is subject to change with fair notice: schedule and due-date changes
will be announced in class. Due assignments are indicated in boldface.
Course Schedule
Week
Date
Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines
1
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
The “What, How, and Why” of Film Music
Aural Representation: The Codes and Semiotics of Film Music
2
Sept. 1
Sept. 3
Labor Day Holiday
How Films are Scored
3
Sept. 8
The World of “Silent” Film
Metropolis (1927) Gottfried Huppertz
Austria in Los Angeles: The “Classic” Hollywood score
King Kong (1933) Max Steiner
Sept. 10
4
Sept. 15
Sept. 17
5
Sept. 22
Sept. 24
6
Sept. 29
Oct. 1
7
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
8
Oct. 13
Oct. 15
Exam 1
Soviet Union
Ivan the Terrible (1944) Sergei Prokofiev
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964) Miroslav Skorik
Mexico
Nosotros los Pobres (1948) Manuel Esperón
Los Olvidados (1950) Rodolfo Halffter, Gustavo Pittalunga
Create-A-Soundtrack due
Italy
La dolce vita (1960) Nino Rota
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966) Ennio Morricone
“Bollywood”
Pyassa (1957) S. D. Burman; Panther Panchali (1955) Ravi Shankar
Lagaan (2001) A. R. Rahman
Soundtrack Review 1 due
Hong Kong
A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) Romeo Díaz, James Wong, David Wu
Iron Monkey (1993/2001) Richard Yuen, Johnny Yeung, William
Hu, Chow Gam-Wing/James Venable Italy
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9
Oct. 20
Oct. 22
10
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
11
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
12
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
13
Nov. 17
Nov. 19
Exam 2
Japan
Rashomon (1950) Fumio Hayasaka
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Joe Hisaishi
China
Farewell My Concubine (1993) Zhao Jiping
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Tan Dun
Research Paper first draft due
In class peer critique
Korea
Hanyeo (1960) Han Sang-gi
France
Un homme et une femme (1966) Francis Lai
Diva (1981) Vladimir Cosma
Exam 3
Africa
La Noire de… (1966)
Yeelen (1987) Salif Keita, Michel Portal
14
Nov. 24
Nov. 26
Iran
The Cow (1969) Hormouz Farhat
Children of Heaven (1998) Keivan Jahanshahi
15
Dec. 1
Australia
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Gheorghe Zamfir, Bruce Smeaton
Strictly Ballroom (1992) David Hirschfelder
Dec. 3
16
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
Final
Exam
Soundtrack Review 2 due
Brazil
Orfeu Negro (1959) Luiz Bonfá, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João
Gilberto
U.S.A.
Star Wars (1977) John Williams
Exam 4
Research Paper due
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