TFM 160: INTRODUCTION TO CINEMA
SUMMER 2015
Instructor: Bob Jordan
e-mail: sdsufilmguy@yahoo.com
Office Hours: After class (there’s not enough room in my office)
An appreciative survey of cinema in its diverse forms. Historical and stylistic
influences on the aesthetic values and social implications of cinema.
Illustrated by screen examples.
REQUIRED TEXT: It is extremely important for you to purchase the book. It
is not advised to just share with a classmate or plan to borrow it from the
library.
The Way I See It by Robert Jordan, second edition. (There are worksheets in
the book which you will turn in. If you buy it used, be sure the worksheets
have not been removed.)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In general, the course sections will include
lecture and film material. Often times, we will be able to show a complete
feature film in class (split over two days due to the class schedule) – these are
not optional or just filler. They have been selected because they illustrate the
day’s topic. Four short quizzes will be given (Fridays, weeks 2,3,4,5). Each
exam is worth 20% of your course grade. The remaining 20% will be based
on homework worksheets. More on this in class.
COURSE GOALS: Our goal in this course is not to memorize the dates of the
films screened, or to be able to recite the entire cast of The Last Samurai. Film
is an entertainment and art form that has directly influenced the life of virtually
every person in this country, but rarely do we pay attention to that influence.
In this course we will study films rather than just watch them. We will look at
some artistic qualities, show how they are produced and consider how they
reflect the culture in which they were produced. Read and take notes with this
goal in mind. You are not going to be tested on dates and character names,
but will need to know general plot information. More important, consider how
the films we see together exemplify the various topics we study. After taking
this course you will most likely watch films differently for the rest of your life.
Technology in Class: Due to the subject matter of this course, it is absolutely
essential that no cell phones be turned on at any time during the class,
especially during the films. I reserve the right to remove you from the class if
this rule is not followed. Laptop computers are okay, but use them in the back
of the class and keep them off during all film screenings.
Improper Behavior: Cheating on exams, plagiarism and other forms of
academic dishonesty are completely unacceptable. The first incident will
cause the student to receive a zero on that assignment. It is possible in
summer session that a zero on one test will cause the student to receive a
failing grade for the course. The incident will then be referred to the Office of
Student Rights and Responsibilities. Disruptive behavior or violence will be
referred to the dean or campus security.
Learning Challenges: If you are dyslexic or have another type of learning
challenge, see instructor immediately to discuss how we can work together. If
you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations
for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services
at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as
possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that
accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have
presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Note: Some of the films screened in this class are rated R. If you have a
problem viewing this type of material, please see me.
On a more personal note, I had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Fortunately,
the surgery went well, functions such as speech and reasoning continue to work
well, other functions/skills have not returned to normal, so I will be teaching
some parts of the class from a chair.
I still intend for this class to be a good learning experience, however I want it to
be fun for all of us. Please be patient with me. Feel free to use the e-mail
address listed above to contact me, but it may be a day or so before I can reply.
Thank you again for your help!!
For your course schedule, look to the spread sheet on BB.