FIL 1030  History of Film

 

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Course Syllabus

Course Description:

An introductory level course in the history of the narrative feature-length motion picture, with an emphasis on American and European films. 

This course is a requirement for the A.S. Degree in Film Production Technology

Text:

Mast, Gerald and Bruce F. Kawin. A Short History of the Movies. Tenth Abridged Edition. Longman Press, Pearson Education, Inc. 2009.  ISBN #: 0205665926

Course Objectives:  

To know and discuss the major films in history of the  medium

To know and discuss film movements in the U.S. and Europe

To critique films within their historical context.

Course Competencies:  

Competency 1:     
The student will be able to identify and discuss major films in the history of the medium by:
1. Watching those films in and outside of class
2. Participating in instructor-led discussions of those films
3. Listening to lectures in class and reading about those films  in textbook assignments

Competency 2:           
The student will be able to identify and discuss major film movements in the U.S. and Europe by:
1. Recognizing the visual, aural and contextual identifiers for each     stylistic film movement
2. Developing an awareness of the socio-political factors that shaped each stylistic film movement
3. Participating in instructor-led discussions of those film   movements
4. Watching examples of those film movements in and outside of class

Competency 3:      
The student will be able to critique films within their historical and cultural contexts by:
1. Developing an awareness of the technological advances of the medium throughout history
2. Watching various films from different countries and different eras
3. Writing a research paper comparing two films from different eras
 

Learning Methods:

Outcomes and competencies will be achieved through

viewing a variety of films, lectures, readings, quizzes on reading assignments and writing a paper comparing any

two films shown in class.

Course Requirements:

• Quizzes: There will be four quizzes based on reading assignments. These will be mostly matching and fill-in the blanks with one or two essay questions
   

• Final Exam. This will be a comprehensive test covering the complete course, with fill-in the blanks and one or two essay questions
   

• Paper comparing any two films viewed in class.  Here are some basic guidelines for the paper:
   

  • 5-8 pages long, double-spaced, any font at 12pt. size
  • Do not use any folders or presentation covers
  • Staple all pages at the top left-hand corner
  • Do not title your paper “Film X vs. Film Y”.  You should set up your premise in your title.  Example: “The Use Of The Spiral As A Visual Motif In Vertigo and Run, Lola, Run”
  • Do not give a plot synopsis.  I know the plot already.  Concentrate on your paper’s premise
  • Do not give a biography of the director or actors.  I know their bios already.  Concentrate on your paper’s premise
  • Place each of the films you are going to compare within their proper historical contexts
  • Discuss elements in common
  • Contrast differences in execution
  • Come to a conclusion that supports your premise

  WARNING: Your paper will be checked with Anti-Plagiarism software.  Any student caught plagiarizing will receive an “F” for the course and will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Grading/Evaluation:

• Quizzes  (4 at 100 points each)  400

• Paper      (1 at 200 points)            200

• Final Exam                                       300

• Attendance                                      100

      Total points accumulated throughout course:

• 900-1000  = A

• 800-899    = B

• 700-799    = C

• 600-699    = D

• Under 599 = F

Attendance Policy:
 
Attendance is crucial to the successful completion of this course; therefore, there are no excused absences.  Perfect attendance receives 100 points towards the final grade of 1,000 points.
 
During FALL and SPRING terms, the student is deducted 10 points from the final grade for each of the first four absences.  For the fifth and sixth absences, 100 points are deducted for each.  Seven absences result in an automatic F. 

During SUMMER terms, the student is deducted 10 points from the final grade for each of the first two absences.  For the third and fourth absences, 100 points are deducted for each.  Five absences result in an automatic F. 
 
Two late arrivals, after the roll is called, constitute one absence. Leaving before the class and/or film are over constitute one absence.

Make-Up Policy

Students may make-up any missed quizzes, without penalty, on the last day of class, after the Final Exam.

Extra Credit and Emails

Your professor regularly uses your mymdc.edu email address so send important class announcements, including opportunities to receive extra credit.  It is the students' responsibility to check their mymdc.edu email account regularly to keep themselves informed.

Withdrawal:

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the withdrawal process before the established deadline for the term.  Otherwise, an F will be issued at the end of the course.

Cell Phone and PDA Policy:

All cellular phones, PDAs, Blackberries or any other electronic communications devices (now in existence or yet to be developed) must be TURNED OFF and cannot be consulted during the duration of the class.  Failure to observe this rule will result in immediate expulsion from the class.

Disability Statement:

Students with documented special learning and/or physical needs should contact the Student Access Office on Campus and inform the instructor so that proper accommodations can be made.

Ethics Policy:

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated and violators will be subjected to the policies stated in the Student Handbook.

Class Meetings and Assignments

First Class Meeting

Introduction to the course. Syllabus presented

Lecture: Chapters 1  through 4

Films:  Cinema Pioneers from "Landmarks of Early Cinema"

             Babylon Sequences from D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance"

Reading Assignment: Chapters 1-4

Second Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapters 4 and 5

Film: Charles Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush”

Reading Assignment: Chapters 5 and 6

Fourth Class Meeting

Quiz #1 on Chapters 1-6

Lecture: Chapter 7

Film: Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”

Reading Assignment: Chapter 8

Fifth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 8

Film: Clips from Sergei Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” and Dziga Vertov's "Man With A Movie Camera"

Reading Assignment: Chapter 9

Sixth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 9

Film: Clips from "Don Juan," "The Jazz Singer," “Singing in the Rain”

Reading Assignment: Chapter 10

Seventh Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 10

Films: Dali & Bunuel's "Andalusian Dog" and Rouben Mamoulian’s “Applause”

Assignment: Study Chapters 7-10 for quiz

Reading Assignment: Chapter 11

Eighth Class Meeting

Quiz #2 on Chapters 7-10

Lecture: Chapter 11

Film: Preston Sturges’ “Sullivan’s Travels”

Reading Assignment: Chapter 12

Ninth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 12

Film: Elia Kazan’s “On The Waterfront”

Reading Assignment: Chapter 13

Tenth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 13 (Italian Neo-Realism)

Film: Vittorio De Sica’s “The Bicycle Thief”

Reading Assignment: Chapter 13 (French New Wave)

Eleventh Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 13 (French New Wave)

Film: Jean Luc Godard’s “Contempt”

Assignment: Study Chapters 11, 12 & 13 for quiz

Twelfth Class Meeting

Quiz #3 on Chapters 11-13

Lecture: Chapter 14

Film: Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona”

Reading Assignment: Chapters 15 and 16

Thirteenth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 15

Film: Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde”

Assignments: Work on your paper

                  Study for Quiz #4 on Chapters 14-16

Fourteenth Class Meeting

Lecture: Chapter 16

Film: Tom Tykwer’s “Run, Lola, Run”

Make-Up Day to take any quizzes missed

Assignments: Work on your paper

                  Study for Quiz #4 and Final Exam

First Additional Class Meeting

Note: This class/screening may not be held, since

the number of class meetings vary per campus and term.

Lecture: Federico Fellini

Film: “8 1/2”

Assignments: Work on your paper

                  Study for Final Exam

Second Additional Class Meeting

Note: This class/screening may not be held, since

the number of class meetings vary per campus and term.

Lecture: Alfred Hitchcock 

Film: “Vertigo”

Assignments: Work on your paper

                  Study for Final Exam

Final Class Meeting

Paper comparing two films due today

Quiz #4 on Chapters 14-16

Final Exam

End of Course

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