WORLD CINEMA
THE 404
SYLLABUS: Online Spring, Session A, 2016
1/11/2016 – 3/1/2016
SLN 20315/20384
INSTRUCTOR: PHILIP J. TAYLOR
Assistant Professor of Screenwriting, School of Theatre and Film
E-MAIL: Philip.Taylor@asu.edu
TEXTBOOK: none
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Obviously, the primary objective of this course
is to introduce you to the wealth of brilliant
films that have been made outside of the
English-speaking world. To be sure, the
United Kingdom is a foreign country, as are
Australia, New Zealand, and English-speaking
Canada, etc. It was George Bernard Shaw who
wryly observed that the USA and England are
“separated by a common language”. However, in today’s global economy, the film industry in
those countries is hard-wired to the United States. Many of our most sought-after directors,
writers, and actors are from those countries. Their history and traditions are inextricably linked
to our own. I would like to take you on a journey to nations which not only speak other
languages, but also have different cultures and traditions than our own; in many cases radically
different.
Every one of the films we will be viewing on this course has been profoundly influenced by the
cultural, social, historical and political forces in that particular country. I have selected films that
convey the culture, the ethos of each country, films that simply could not and would not have
been made anywhere else. Each film may not be necessarily the greatest film to emerge from
that nation, but after the screening you will hopefully have a deeper insight into that country, its
people, its filmmakers. For example: Tell No One (France, 2006) is a brilliant thriller, but I
would not consider it for this class. It could have been made anywhere and is, in fact, being
remade in Hollywood. Tell No One has a strong plot and interesting characters, but it conveys
little of the unique qualities of the French people, French history, or French Cinema. So where
do I begin to choose a film that will represent France? I could fill the entire semester with
French films alone. This is always a problem regarding courses with such a wide focus. What
countries should I leave out? Considering a country like France, which has made such incredible
contributions to World Cinema, what one or two films should I include?
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Ultimately, the films you will see in this class are my personal choices. Another professor would
probably choose a completely different set of films. Hopefully, by the end of this course, you
will have acquired an appreciation of foreign cinema and a deeper understanding of cultures
around the world. You will then be able to personally explore the work of foreign directors in
more depth.
As you embark on this course, you will
immediately notice something at the start of
almost every one of these films. Unlike the
majority of English-speaking films, there is
no major studio at the start of the credits.
Instead, you will see three, four, sometimes a
dozen different companies who contributed
to the budget. They did so because they
believed in the film and in the artist’s right to
bring his/her personal vision to the screen.
This “independent film” business model is the norm for the vast majority of foreign films. It
allows for an artistic freedom that is almost never seen in films produced by the major
Hollywood studios.
Don’t get me wrong, America produces some remarkable movies and there are true artists
working within the system. But… ask any major English-speaking director who influenced them
as they developed their craft and names like Bergman, De Sica, Godard, Kurosawa will
constantly be mentioned. When the opening weekend box office isn’t the overriding factor in
making a film, directors, actors, cinematographers, editors have the liberty to innovate and
experiment. Films can be made on a much more personal level with an artistic vision intact.
Woody Allen has been making films in Europe
for the past decade. He recently said, “When I
was growing up, I wanted nothing more than to
be a foreign filmmaker. Of course, I was from
Brooklyn, which was not a foreign country.
Through a happy accident I wound up being a
foreign filmmaker because I couldn’t raise
money any other way.”
The cinema has always been, in the words of
documentary film maker, Paul Rotha, “the great
unresolved equation between art and industry”. To be sure, there are countries in the world
which rival or surpass Hollywood in terms of the number of films produced – India (Bollywood)
and Nigeria (Nollywood) – and yet their films have a poorer success ratio, commercially and
artistically, than those of Hollywood. There are also a huge number of films produced around
the world which never travel beyond the borders of their countries. Why? Because they are not
very good.
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Keep in mind that foreign films have such a stellar reputation in this country because we only see
the very best. I mention this because you shouldn’t get the impression that foreign cinema is an
elitist or intimidating subject in any way. By the completion of this course, I just want you to be
aware that there are incredible cinematic rewards to be gained by simply not being afraid to read
subtitles!
COURSE SCHEDULE
The course will be divided into four modules. Each module will take a look at a number of
different countries grouped to provide as much geographic contrast as possible. We will explore
the cinema of a major film-producing country and then we will screen one its most outstanding
films, a film that faithfully conveys the culture and traditions of that country. In some cases we
will also screen clips of other films from that country to give you a better idea of the range and
depth of its cinematic achievements. At certain times, we will also screen clips from smaller
countries that deserve our attention, but do not have the extensive cinematic heritage of countries
like France, Italy or Japan. There is a question of time, of course. I do not want to overload you
with too many feature length films. As I said earlier, the choice was very difficult and I had to
leave out countries such as Denmark, Egypt, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Turkey which all
possess a very vibrant filmmaking culture. And at the 2013 Academy Awards, the film No
became the first film from Chile to receive a nomination for Best Foreign Film.
Here is how the schedule breaks down by module:
MODULE 1
MODULE 2
MODULE 3
MODULE 4
country.
Russia, Rumania, Argentina, China
Italy, Brazil, Spain, Africa Yes, I know Africa is not a country.
Germany, India, Sweden, South Korea
Mexico, Poland, Japan, Middle East, France Yes, I know the Middle East is not a
At the end of each module there will be a quiz consisting of 20 multiple choice and fill in the
blank questions based on the lectures and the films you have viewed in that module. You will
have to complete the quiz before you can continue to the next module. Each quiz has a time limit
of 25 minutes, and you will be penalized one point for every two full minutes you go over that
time limit. Overtime penalties are applied upon successful submission of your quiz, and any
points you lose will be displayed alongside your final score on your quiz receipt.
There is no on-screen timer during the quizzes, so you are responsible for tracking your time and
ensuring that you don’t exceed the time limit. All overtime penalties are based on the starting
and ending times of a quiz as determined by the Herberger Online servers, not the time displayed
on your computer screen, or any other timer you may use. Do not waste your time sending me, or
Tech Support, any screenshots of the time on your phone, computer, etc., in order to appeal an
overtime penalty. Please note that you will not be able to pass the quiz unless you have listened
to all the lectures and watched all the clips and films in that module. Keep in mind that
Herberger Online has a record of exactly how much time you spend on the course website. You
are advised to make extensive handwritten notes as you listen to the lectures and watch the films.
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You may use your handwritten notes during quizzes. A number of the questions in these quizzes
will focus on the final couple of reels of the films. Just in case you decide to opt out early from a
screening.
It should go without saying that the best way to avoid overtime penalties is to study the material
beforehand, and simply be prepared. If you attempt to open new tabs to Google for an answer, or
listen again to a lecture, not only will you risk an error upon submitting the quiz, but activity like
that only eats up more of your time. There’s plenty of time for any prepared student to answer all
the questions.
I will post updates on new foreign films and current affairs when I think they’re relevant.
Material in this section will not be included in the quizzes, but I’ve received a great deal of
positive feedback about this feature in previous classes. You will find these updates in Philip’s
Blog under the Discussions tab on the home page. There is also a General Discussion option
which will allow you to comment on the lectures and films you’ve been watching. The
Discussion Board is not graded. Please keep your comments polite and clean. Please don’t
include queries or comments about the quizzes here. According to the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), I cannot discuss a student's grades (points) in a public forum
such as this discussion board. Email me privately about such matters.
IMPORTANT: ACCESS TO THE FILMS
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is committed to making our online class
offerings as cost-effective and pedagogically sound as possible. However, we are required to
adhere to the TEACH Act (Section 110(2) of the U.S. copyright law) which specifies conditions
under which educators may perform or display copyrighted works in distance education or online
environments. Whenever possible, we obtain and pay for film licenses to make the films
available on our course websites. No license is available for some of the films covered in this
class. This means that you will need to use other means to view these films via Amazon, Hulu
Plus, Netflix, etc. Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus and Netflix all have free trial periods so, if you are
not already a member, you may be able to time your trial period effectively. Your total cost for
viewing these films will still be far less than most textbooks.
Here’s a breakdown of your options for these specific films. Also, don’t forget that there are
copies of most of these films available in the ASU library system and at your local public library;
Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc.
Ballad of a Soldier
Netflix DVD only
Amazon DVD only
Hulu Plus streaming
Google Play no
iTunes no
Vudu no
YouTube streaming sometimes available, not guaranteed.
The Secret In Their Eyes
Netflix DVD only
Amazon streaming $3.99
Hulu Plus no
Google Play streaming $2.99 iTunes streaming $3.99
Vudu streaming $2.99
YouTube streaming sometimes available, not guaranteed.
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Farewell My Concubine is available in the Screening Room
Bicycle Thieves is available in the Screening Room
City of God is available in the Screening Room
The Lives of Others
Netflix DVD only
Amazon streaming $3.99
Google Play no
iTunes streaming $12.99
YouTube sometimes available
Hulu Plus no
Vudu streaming $2.99
Water
Netflix DVD only
Amazon Prime streaming
Google Play streaming $2.99 iTunes streaming $2.99
YouTube streaming $2.99
Hulu Plus no
Vudu streaming $2.99
The Seventh Seal
Netflix DVD only
Amazon streaming $3.99
Google Play streaming $2.99 iTunes no
no
YouTube streaming $2.99
Hulu Plus streaming
Vudu streaming $2.99
Sin Nombre is available in the Screening Room
The Twilight Samurai is available in the Screening Room
Incendies
Netflix DVD only
Amazon streaming $3.99
Google Play streaming $2.99 iTunes $12.99
YouTube streaming sometimes available, not guaranteed
Hulu Plus no
Vudu streaming $2.99
A Very Long Engagement is available in the Screening Room
QUIZZES
Each of the four modules opens at the beginning of the session. Each of the quizzes and the
discussions close on another date later in the session. This will allow you to move through the
course at very high speed, should you choose to do so.
MODULE 1: Russia, Rumania, Argentina, China
Opens January 12. Quiz closes January 25, 11:59 PM
MODULE 2: Italy, Brazil, Africa, Spain
Opens January 12. Quiz closes February 8, 11:59 PM
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MODULE 3: Germany, India, South Korea, Sweden
Opens January 12. Quiz closes February 19, 11:59 PM
MODULE 4: Mexico, Poland, Japan, Middle East, France
Opens January 12. Quiz closes March 1, 11:59 PM
General Conditions for Taking an Online Quiz:

You need to have reliable access to the Internet on the assigned day of the quiz.

Starting a quiz during the last 10-15 minutes of the quiz window is unwise, especially if
you encounter technical problems; remember, technical support is only available MonFri, 8am to 5pm. There is no technical support on weekends.

Quizzes can only be taken online. Submission of quizzes via email or in printed form will
not be accepted.

The use of smart phones for taking a quiz is forbidden. Do not even attempt it.

Quizzes are not to be taken as a group effort or with any other form of collaboration.

No other Web pages can be open while taking a quiz. The system logs all browser
activity. Opening new browsers or new browser tabs can invalidate your quiz
session. All your browser activity is logged by the Web server. Accessing course
videos while you are taking a quiz will result in a failed quiz session.
Submitting Online Quizzes
Certain conditions apply for the submission of an online quiz. The important ones are:

Online quizzes that have been submitted CANNOT be reset (see below). Grades will
stand as posted.

If you experience computer or technical problems during an online quiz DO NOT
SUBMIT the quiz. For instance, if text or images fail to load, or the quiz itself seems
incomplete or unresponsive.

If you suspect a technical error, exit the browser immediately and address the problem by
trying to take the quiz again on a different computer, or by contacting technical support at
holsupport@asu.edu. Do not contact the instructor.

Remember: submitted quizzes cannot be retaken. No exceptions.
Resets for Online Quizzes
A reset for an online quiz is an action usually taken by a student prior to contacting technical
support. If you experience a glitch during an online quiz, click the course logout button and close
your browser. When you attempt to restart the online quiz, the system will ask you to confirm the
reset. Some important facts about resets:

Only one online reset is allowed per online quiz.
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
In total, only two online resets of online quizzes are allowed in any given semester.
In other words, you can only reset two of the four quizzes available in this online
course.
Missed Quizzes
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the dates and times for the online quizzes,
however, there are conditions that apply for missed online quizzes. The important ones are:

An online quiz can be taken if it was missed because of an excused absence (see below).
Permission from the instructor is necessary.

A missed online quiz for reasons other than an excused absence can be taken only with
permission from the instructor.

If you miss an online quiz, you must inform the instructor immediately or at least within
the subsequent 48 hours and provide an electronic copy (e.g., a PDF file) of the document
supporting your absence (e.g., doctor’s note, funeral announcement, letter from ASU’s
Athletic Department, etc.).

If you experience personal, medical or other unforeseen problems during a quiz, DO
NOT TAKE OR SUBMIT THE ONLINE QUIZ – instead, email the instructor
immediately to begin a discussion of your situation.

Depending on the situation, the instructor may ask for a different type of quiz as the
replacement for a missed online quiz.
Excused Absences
Excused absences apply for online quizzes. They include:

Personal illness (documented);

Religious holidays (conforming to the ASU list);

Unexpected personal emergencies such as death of an immediate family member
(documented);

Jury duty or other similar court obligation;

Military duty and/or assignment;

Direct participation in a sport event as an ASU athlete (documented).
Absences that will not be considered include:

A previously scheduled obligation such as a family reunion or trip;

Personal obligations prior to or after an official holiday;

Job obligations;

Attending a wedding (even your own);

Illness of a family member;
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
Workload in other courses;

The death of a pet.
Make-up Quizzes
If granted, the date for a make-up exam will be determined by the instructor in concert with
student needs. NOTE: Any act that violates the implicit code of academic integrity will be dealt
with in the appropriate manner. See Policy on Academic Integrity, below.
GENERAL WARNING and ONLINE POLICIES
Online courses are significantly different from ‘live’ courses. Consequently, students need to be aware
of protocol and conditions that govern such courses.
Computer Requirements: You must have a computer – your own or have access to a computer on
campus – that will allow you to interact with the online course. The computer must be capable of
consistently streaming Quicktime movie files. The use of smart phones (iPhone, Blackberry, etc.) is not
recommended. This course is known to work on all major browsers, including Safari, Firefox, Chrome,
and Internet Explorer, on both Macintosh computers and PCs. Note: the use of Safari or Firefox is
highly recommended.
Additionally, you must have computer skills that will allow you to surf the internet, access specific sites,
confer via email, download and upload files, and any other course-related activities.
Computer Support: The HerbergerOnline group (the distance learning team of the Herberger Institute
for Design and The Arts) provides the computer support for the course. This group handles all
computer-related issues and technical questions. Please note that your communication must be by email
only, at holsupport@asu.edu. Please do not communicate with the instructor for questions related to
computer support. Technical support is available Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm. There is no technical
support on weekends, so please keep this is mind if you choose to take exams on weekends.
Office Hours: There are no office hours for this online course. With the exception of questions about
computer support, technical issues, and online exams, which must be addressed with the computer
support group (above), please communicate directly with the instructor via email
(Philip.Taylor@asu.edu). Because of ASU policy you must use your ASU email address when
communicating with the instructor. Do not have your ASU email forwarded to another server such as
Gmail. It can be very unreliable and students have failed courses because they did not receive important
emails. Be warned.
Please be mindful that emails are not always effective in communicating the intent of your message.
Consequently, take the time to compose what you want to say. Remember: You are not texting a friend
who knows you well!
General Conditions: As stated above, access to a suitable computer and adequate computer skills are
critical for your success in this online course. Consequently, the instructor will not consider computerrelated excuses for the failure to meet course requirements (excuses such as: technical incompatibility,
sudden infection by computer viruses, inadequate access to the Internet or any other similar reasons).
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Neither will inadequate computer skills be considered as a valid excuse for not successfully completing
the course.
NOTE: You are strongly advised not to enroll in the online course if either computer access or
computer skills are an issue.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the ASU Disability
Resource Center. http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc (480) 965-1234
This is a very important step as accommodations may be difficult to make retroactively. If you
have a letter from the Disability Resource Center indicating that you have a disability which
requires academic accommodations, in order to assure that you receive your accommodations in
a timely manner, please present this documentation to the instructor no later than the end of the
first week of the semester so that your needs can be addressed effectively.
GENERAL WARNING
Films in this class may contain language that some consider to be obscene or profane. Also, there
may be scenes that are graphically explicit in portraying sexual or violent acts. And there may
be ideas or practices endorsed by a specific motion picture that are considered immoral or amoral
by some standards. ALL the films in this class will be in a foreign language with subtitles.
Some will be in glorious black-and-white with mono sound. Please consider the cautions
above carefully because this class might not be for you and the appropriate time to
withdraw is now. If you remain in this class, you will be responsible for ALL material,
regardless of content.
CLASS POLICIES
The Course Withdrawal Deadline: If you wish to withdraw from this course, it is your
responsibility to do so. Course registration changes are processed through My ASU:
http://my.asu.edu
There are no extra credit opportunities offered in this class. Therefore, you don’t have to be a
math wizard to figure out that one missed quiz can make a serious dent in your grade. Pay
attention to the quiz closing dates. You are strongly advised not to leave taking the quiz until the
very last minute.
Barrett College honors contracts are accepted, but please contact Prof. Taylor as early as
possible. No honors contracts are accepted after January 31, 2015.
GRADING
Each of the four quizzes will contain 20 questions with a value of 5 points per question.
Therefore, the quizzes will have a total point count of 400, the maximum number of points
available in this class. Your final point count will be converted to a letter grade as follows:
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97% ↔ 100% A+
94% ↔ 96.9% A
90% ↔ 93.9% A –
87% ↔ 89.9% B+
84% ↔ 86.9% B
80% ↔ 83.9% B –
76% ↔ 79.9% C+
70% ↔ 75.9% C
60% ↔ 69.9% D
Anything less than 60% is failing.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
If you are found cheating on the quizzes, you will fail this class.
The use of resources from the Internet, including but not limited to, class notes, former exams,
and recorded classes will also be considered a violation of the ASU Academic Integrity policy.
Your work will be checked by anti-plagiarism software, so please do not attempt it. One of the
possible consequences is failure in the class, with a designation of “Academic Dishonesty” as the
reason. You could also be expelled from the university.