Film Study: History and Criticism
Fall 2014
Course Description:
Inthisclass,studentswillstudythefollowing:thedevelopmentoffilmasanart
formandmethodofdocumentation;thelanguageoffilm;aselectionofinfluential
Americanandinternationalfilmsandfilmmakers;genresoffilmcriticism;methods
ofadaptingprosetofilm;andculturalinfluencesofpopularcinema.Studentscan
expecttobetestedontheirknowledgeoffilmhistoryandlanguage,toreadand
writecriticalreviews,toresearchanaspectoffilmproduction,tocompareprintand
filmtexts,andtodemonstrateunderstandingoffilmlanguagethroughacreative
project.Inadditiontotheregulardaytimeschedule,thecourseschedulingrequires
studentstobefreeonseveralTuesdayeveningsbetween6:00and9:00P.M.forfilm
screenings.
Ms. Nicole Trackman
Contact: ntrackman@imsa.edu
Office: A136A
Class Website: Edmodo (password required)
Office Hours: I am available to meet with you outside of class whenever I am not
teaching. Please stop by, send an email or leave a note. If I’m not in my office, I will
contact you as soon as I return- to set up a time to meet.
Meeting Days, Time and Room:
Section 1: Tuesday (8-9:55); Friday (8-8:55) in A117
Section 2: Monday (9-9:55); Thursday (8-9:55) in A117
Text(s) / Materials:
Gianetti,Louis.UnderstandingMovies
Barsam,Richard.LookingatMovies(TextandDVD)
Barsam,Richard.WritingaboutMovies
Geiger,Jeff&R.L.Rutsky.FilmAnalysis:ANortonReader
Essential Content:
"Thecinemaimpliesatotalinversionofvalues,acompleteupheavalofoptics,of
perspective,andlogic.Itismoreexcitingthanphosphorous,morecaptivatingthan
love."
‐‐AntoninArtaud1896‐1948,Frenchplaywright,actor,director
WhileArtaud'claimsmaybefar‐reaching,Idoexpectthatthisintroductory
courseonfilmwillchangethewayyousee,informingandstrengthening
connectionsbetweensight,sound,language,andthought.Thefirstquarterfocuses
onthegrammaroffilmlanguage,filmhistoryandtechnology.Thesecondquarter
focusesonfilmgenresandcriticism.
SSLs and Outcomes:
Identify the targeted SSL(s) and outcomes that will be addressed in this course. Specify
by subset. Again, see IMSA core Curriculum Template for models.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The course will help students Develop Tools of Thought as they learn to observe and read motion
picturesusingappropriatevocabulary.Theyhavespentyearswatchingmovies,butuntilthis
course,manywillnothavethelanguageneededtoidentify,describe,andthereforethink
aboutwhattheyareseeing.
StudentswillThinkaboutThinkingastheypondermoviesasanextensionofhumanspeech
andstory‐telling.
StudentswillExtendandIntegratethoughtbecausefilmstudiesismulti‐modal.
StudentswilldefinitelyDevelopanAestheticAwarenessastheycriticallydescribefilm,and
thereforeWritewithPower,Economy,andElegance.
Instructional Design and Approach:
Myapproach,asthisislikelythefirst,andforsome,perhaps,theonlyfilmcourse
youwilltake,isatypeofsmorgasbord.Iwillofferlotsofstimulationintheformof
images,information,andideas.Thedesignofmyassignmentsrequiresyoutofinda
pathofinterestthroughthecomplexitiesandtoshowoffyourinteresttome.
Student Expectations:
Attendance:
Beingpresentandkeepingyoureyesopenandyourmindactiveareobvious
requirementsinthiscourse.Donotcountonspacingoutornappingduring
screenings.Preparetotakenotes.DonotbesurprisedwhenIpausefilmsduring
screeningstomakeapointorinvitecomments.Sometimes,Iwillonlyshowyoua
clipofafilm.Treattheclipwithseriousness.
Readtheallassignedreadings,includingthegrayboxinserts.Iwillsupplement
thereadingswithsomehistory,filmcriticism,andfiction.Besuretotakenotesin
classduringthediscussions.
FilmscreeningswillbeonTuesdayevenings.Eveningscreeningswilltake
theplaceofthenormallyscheduledclassforthatday.Youmustattendallevening
filmscreenings.Accordingly,ifyouareabsent,youwillbemarkedabsentin
PowerSchool.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Plagiarism or cheating of any kind—even one time—will be punished. All work that you
turn in to me must be your own. When in doubt, cite your source. The academic honesty
standards for all IMSA students apply in this class. We will discuss plagiarism in more
detail during class, but plagiarism will result in an F for that particular assignment, and
disciplinary action may result as well. If a second academic dishonesty incident occurs,
you will fail the class.
Assessment Practices, Procedures, and Processes:
READtheallassignedreadings,includingthegrayboxinserts.Iwillsupplementthe
readingswithsomehistory,filmcriticism,andfiction.Besuretotakenotesinclass
duringthediscussions.
QUIZZES are always in-class and are usually open-book/note; however, I may not give
you warning that they are coming and the questions I ask are usually too complicated to
just “look up” without actually having read the text. Be sure to keep on top of the reading
load.
A PARTICIPATION grade will also be determined by me at the end of the quarter (100
points). Your participation in class discussions and group projects is essential for success
in this class. You will be able to give me written input on your participation grade each
quarter. Attendance at evening film screenings, and participation in discussions, is nonnegotiable and will be a part of your participation grade.
PAPERS…We will screen 4 films in the evening. I will facilitate a lecture/discussion
for each film. Take notes during screenings. I may ask to see your notes.
Write essays that are personal critiques and demonstrate application of material from
the textbook. Be sure to use specifics from the film or films. The first paper should
focus on elements of film language. The second response paper should focus on the
social, psychological, or historical/political aspect of the film. Use essay-writing skills
practiced in 10th and 11th grade.
In summary, these are essays that critique one or more of the films in an area of
interest to you and that show me you are using knowledge gleaned from the textbook,
other readings, and lectures. The specific paper assignments will be provided as we move
through the semester. Essays abundant with mechanical or grammatical errors will not
earn high grades.
Grading Policy:
Studentswhocompleteallassignmentswithreasonablecareand
thoughtfulnessandwhoparticipateinclassactivities,canexpecttoearnagradein
theBrange.Studentswhoneglecttocompleteallassignments,orturninlow
qualitywork,ordonotparticipateinclassactivities,canexpectaCorlower.
Studentswhocompleteallworkanddemonstratetalent,dedication,and
thoughtfulnessinthecourseworkcanexpecttoearnagradeintheArange.
Studentswhoplagiarizecanexpecttofail.
English Department Grading Guide:
A = Exceeds course requirements (90-100%)
B = Meets course requirements (80-89%)
C = Credit awarded but needs improvement (70-79%)
D = Does not meet course requirements: no Academy credit awarded
Sequence of Topics and Activities:
FilmScreenings:
Wewillviewseveralcompletefilmsthroughoutthesemester.Wewillviewsomein
classandsomeonTuesdayevenings.
TentativeEveningScreenings:
Sign –in at 6:20 P.M. in the Lecture Hall. Screenings begin promptly at 6:30.
9.16.14- Citizen Kane
10.14.14- Some like it Hot
11.11.14- Do the Right Thing
12.2.14- TBA
Tentative In- Class Film Clips and Screenings:
Koyaanisqatsi
The Director’s Dilemma: Mastering the Creative Process
Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat
A Trip to the Moon
Birth of a Nation
Battleship Potempkin
Metropolis
Modern Times
Manufactured Landscapes
Un Chien Andalou
Doctor Strange Love
The Graduate
Two Soldiers
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Major Assignments
-- Film innovation presentations
-- Ongoing quizzes over assigned readings
-- Two response papers to evening screenings
-- a critical essay on a contemporary film
-- a final project
-- class participation and activities/exercises