Textbooks: Belton, John. American Cinema/American Culture, Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2012

Transcription

1 SYLLABUS FOR AMERICAN CINEMA Term: Fall 2012 (Sept. 4-Dec. 15) Course Number: MFA 373X Instructor: Walter Skiba Office: Room 524 Office Phone: , (Illinois) , ext Office Hours: MW 10 a.m.-4 p.m., TR 10 a.m.-3 p.m., F 10 a.m.-1 p.m., immediately before and after class Course Time: R 3:306:30 p.m. Instructor Background: Education: Bachelor of Arts in speech and theater, St. Joseph s College Calumet Campus; Master of Arts in Theater, University of Connecticut; Master of Music, Roosevelt University. Positions at CCSJ: Associate Professor of Media and Fine Arts; chairperson, Department of Liberal Arts. Length of service: 1971-present. Community activities: Regular contributor to the NWI Times feature articles on music, theater and art events, books, people, travel. Cantor and lector at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Course Description: This class presents an overview of the history of American cinema and some representative genres. Topics covered include the Hollywood style, film techniques, the studio system, the star system, the viewing of films and their relationship to society as a medium. Textbooks: Belton, John. American Cinema/American Culture, Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2012 Sikov, Ed. American Cinema Study Guide, Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2012 Note: Both texts are incorporated into the custom edition for American Cinema I&II. Optional components: Ten one-hour and three half-hour video programs from PBS. Two sets are on reserve at the Specker library. Supplement: Blackboard is used as an online supplement. Go to and follow login procedures. Class Policy on Attendance: 2 absences are allowed for any personal reason with instructor notification. Additional absences may be allowed for required participation in college-sponsored

2 events, such as athletics, or jury duty (provide official notification). All other absences incur a deduction of 2 points each in the class participation component of one s final grade. Assignments must be made up. 1 point deduction for arriving late or leaving early. Class Policy for Assignments: Students taking American Cinema as their first course will be expected to --write 2-3 page reports/reviews of 10 films viewed in coordination with Study Guide units, plus one film seen at a theater (11 reports in all), addressing discussion questions in handout for each film studied in class. One additional film studied in class and one live play may be reviewed to make up missing reports (except the film seen at a theater) or to earn additional points. Reports are due the class immediately following the screening. --complete all 11 self-tests in the Study Guide including the essay questions, with the following exceptions. In place of the questions in Lessons 4-8, students are asked to describe genre characteristics and conventions such as themes, storylines, characters, settings, cinematography, editing and other film techniques. For Units 10 and 11, students are asked to write a half-page essay about a director listed in each unit. Essay responses should be written competently in complete sentences and paragraphs. Ideas should be stated clearly, developed in sufficient detail, and presented in a logical order. Responses should include information from the textbook as well as the study guide. Self-tests are due at the beginning of the class in which the unit is covered. --complete the take-home final. --follow the study plans given in the guide for each unit. Read the study guide, then read the textbook, and then watch the PBS video. Students who have completed MFA 496 American Cinema II as the first course will be expected to --write 10 reports/reviews of films studied in class, plus one seen at a theater (11 in all) --complete a 7-12 page paper on an instructor-approved topic or 4 additional 2-3 page reports on films chosen according to a theme or genre(s), with instructor approval --complete the take-home final Student Outcomes This course will enable students: 1. To acquire knowledge of major developments in American film history, from silent films to the present day, and explore their connections with the broader historical context.

3 2. To increase their appreciation of diverse styles, genres and periods. 3. To recognize and use basic technical and critical vocabulary of motion pictures. 4. To understand how film technology and art are connected. 5. To understand the economic structure of the film industry. 6. To understand the role of genre in American film history and to recognize how some of the most popular genres express social and cultural tensions. 7. To develop a more sophisticated conception of realism as it relates to motion pictures. 8. To question their own role as passive spectators and increase their ability to watch films actively and critically. 9. To think, speak and write about films viewed, making use of critical thinking skills such as interpretation, analysis, comparison and evaluation. Assessment: 100 points total For students taking MFA 373 American Cinema as their first cinema course: --11 self-tests 3 points each, 33 points total (4 points for submissions with very good, well-developed essays) Self-tests assess knowledge of unit content. Essay questions may also assess the ability to summarize and interpret content, draw conclusions, make connections and arguments film reports/reviews (including one seen at a theater) 4 points each, 44 points total (5 points for very good, well-developed submissions) In addressing discussion questions and guidelines, reports assess the ability to interpret, make connections, analyze and evaluate films. --Take-home final test 13 points The final assesses the ability to discuss a topic chosen from a list of questions related to Study Guile units and selected films in some depth. --Class participation 10 points

4 Includes arriving on time, staying for the entire period, following classroom decorum expectations, listening, taking notes, engaging in viewing activities, asking questions, joining in small and large group discussions, completing in-class activities. Notes: 1 point deducted for arriving late or leaving early, 2 points deducted for each class missed beyond 2, 2 points deducted when asked to leave class for decorum violations (instructor makes final decision. For students who have taken MFA 496 American Cinema II as their first course: --11 reports/reviews 5 pts. each, 55 total (6 points for exceptional submissions) page paper on an instructor-approved topic or 4 additional film reviews built around a topic or theme 20 pts. --Take-home final 15 pts. --Class participation 10 pts. Notes: -- Additional film or play reviews will not replace the film-at-a-theater assignment or the take-home final. --Late assignments will be accepted with instructor approval up to one week past the due date. --Do not assignments unless okayed by instructor in advance. Grading scale: A: , A-: B+: 88 89, B: 82 87, B-: C+: 78 79, C: 72 77, C-: D+: 68 69, D: 62 67, D-: F: 59 and below Format for Written Assignments: Movie and play reports/reviews must be typed and doublespaced, 12 or 14 pt. font preferred. The following items should appear in the upper right-hand corner of the first page: --(for movie reports) student s name, title of film, Study Guide unit number, date

5 --(for play report) student s name, play title, performance venue, date --(for self-tests) student s name, Study Guide unit number, date An optional attention-getting title in the upper center of the page can add to reader interest. Class Meetings and Assignments Sept. 6 Introduction to course; Tape 111 Film Language: the Director s Choice, discussion; Film: Twentieth Century Legacy, discussion; in-class assignment (1-3 points) Sept. 13--The Hollywood Style SG Unit 1: Textbook (T) Chapters 1, 2 and 3 Tape 101; Doubt (2008) or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) Sept. 20--The Studio System SG Unit 2; T Chap. 4 Tape 102; Swing Time (1936), 42 nd Street (1933), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Casablanca (1942), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Band Wagon (1953) Sept. 27--The Star System SG Unit 3; T Chap. 5 Tape 103; The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Our Hospitality (1923), Safety Last (1923), Seven Chances (1925), The Navigator (1925), Sherlock Jr. (1926), The General (1927) Oct. 4 Sun Come Up, participation in national screening of Academy Award-nominated documentary organized by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change Oct. 11--The Western SG Unit 4; T Chap. 11 Tape 104; Under Western Stars (1938), Stagecoach (1939), Red River (1948), Wagon Master (1950), High Noon (1952), Shane (1953), River of No Return (1954), The Searchers (1956), Rio Bravo (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), True Grit (1969), Silverado (1984), Unforgiven (1992) Note: For essay questions on self-tests, Unite 4-8, describe characteristics and conventions of the genre covered, such as themes, storylines, characters, settings, cinematography, editing, special effects and other film techniques. Oct. 18 The Musical SG Unit 5; T Chap. 7

6 No PBS video; Singin in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Funny Face (1957), Viva Las Vegas (1964), Grease (1978), Hairspray (2007) Oct. 25--American Comedy SG Unit 6; T Chap. 8 Tape 105; It Happened One Night (1934), A Night at the Opera (1935), Bringing up Baby (1938), The Shop Around the Corner (1941), The Lady Eve (1941), Adam s Rib (1949), Some Like It Hot (1959 Nov. 1 Comp time for film seen at a theater Nov. 8 War and Cinema SG Unit 7; T Chap. 9 Tape 106; They Were Expendable (1945), Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), Paths of Glory (1957), Hearts and Minds (1974), Glory (1989), In the Valley of Elah (2007), The Hurt Locker (2008), Restrepo (2010), The Conspirator (2011), Red Tails (2012) Nov. 15--Film Noir SG Unit 8; T Chap. 10 Tape 107; The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Detour (1945), Out of the Past (1947), In a Lonely Place (1950), Strangers on a Train (1950), White Heat (1950), Kiss Me Deadly (1955) SG Supp. Unit 2; Tape 112 Report on film seen at a theater due Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day Nov. 29--Hollywood in the Age of Television SG Unit 9; T Chap Tape 108; Rebel Without a Cause (1955), On the Waterfront (1954), The Night of the Hunter (1955), Dial M for Murder (1954), The Trouble with Harry (1955), Written on the Wind (1956), 12 Angry Men (1957), Vertigo (1958), Imitation of Life (1959), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Charade (1963) Dec. 6--The Film School Generation SG Unit 10 T Chap. 16 Tape 109; The Last Picture Show (1971), American Graffiti (1973), Mean Streets (1973), Back to the Future (1985), Raging Bull 1981), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Field of Dreams (1989), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), The Great Debaters (2007), Hugo (2011), War Horse (2011) Dec. 13 Into the 21 st Century SG Unit 11; T Chap. 17 Tape 110 (Independent Films)

7 Eight Men Out (1988), The Illusionist (2006), United 93 (2006), Sugar (2008), Freedom Writers (2007), American Violet (2008), An Education (2008), Disgrace (2009), The Ghost Writer (2010), Secretariat (2010), The King s Speech (2010), Win Win (2011), Midnight in Paris (2011), Take Shelter (2011), The Artist (2011), The Descendants (2011) Take-home final due. Film report from today due Monday, Dec. 17 The above schedule is subject to change. Reminders and adjustments will be announced in class and posted in Blackboard. Other films may be substituted for titles listed. Some movies studied in class will be on room-use reserve in the Specker Library. These and other films may be available through video rental stores, services, or public libraries. Call ahead or check online. Ticket stubs and programs (plays), ticket stubs (movies) must accompany reports of events students see on their own apart from a class outing. Note: It s very important that you keep up with assignments on a weekly basis. If you get behind, do the current assignments first and then the catch up. Study tips: Create a semester-long schedule with blocks of time set aside for reading, viewing and writing. Make weekly and daily adjustments for special events, obligations, priorities, etc. Take notes during class. Class Policy on Electronic Devices: Mobile phones and other electronic devices are to be put aside during class. Exceptions for parental, caregiver, work and other special needs must be cleared with instructor in advance. Headphones are not allowed. Classroom decorum policy applies. Classroom decorum: Classroom decorum is a necessary component of group dynamics, constructive participation and effective learning. Students should act toward one another in a cooperative, civil manner with respect for different viewpoints. Comments and questions are encouraged during film introductions and discussions, but only one person talks at a time. Students are expected to arrive in class on time, stay for the entire period, and actively engage in all activities. Leaving and re-entering the room during class is not allowed except in unusual circumstances. Sidebar conversations and sleeping are out of place. Food and beverages may be allowed with some restrictions. A minute break will be given midway through the class period. A second 5-minute break may be given as needed. The instructor will give a student who engages in any inappropriate or disruptive behavior a verbal warning. (Disruptive behavior interferes with the normal operation of the class.) If the offending behavior persists, the instructor will ask the student to leave the class and notify the Dean of Students, athletic coach or academic advisor. To be allowed back into class, the

8 student must first meet with the instructor, acknowledge the inappropriateness of the behavior, and agree not to engage in it again. If any kind of unacceptable behavior continues, the instructor will request that the student withdraw voluntarily or be withdrawn administratively from the class. The instructor determines what is considered unacceptable classroom behavior. Students who are unwilling to live with this policy should change their class schedule. Students are responsible for maintaining eligibility requirements for financial aid or athletics. The Student Success Center supports Calumet College of St. Joseph students through an interactive learning experience. Students work with tutors to develop course competencies and study skills such as time management, test preparation, and note taking. In addition, students are provided with tutoring support to help pass courses, to improve grade point average, and to promote continuing education and career advancement. Tutors have a specific charge: to help students learn how to master specific subject matter and to develop effective learning skills. The Student Success Center is open to all students at Calumet College of St. Joseph at no charge and is available to support academic courses at the introductory and advanced levels. For assistance, please contact the Student Success Center at or stop by room 413. The Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program is an academic support program designed to increase student performance and retention. The SI Program provides peer-assisted study sessions to aid students in academic courses that often prove challenging. Weekly study sessions are led by a supplemental instructor, a peer facilitator who helps students master course content and practice effective study skills. In SI sessions, students are provided with an opportunity to review lecture notes, clarify difficult concepts, discuss ideas, and study for tests in group settings. SI sessions are for students who need or want supplemental instruction in courses in which SI support is provided. Students may attend as many sessions as they deem helpful. For more information regarding the SI Program, contact the Academic Support Programs Office at If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty

9 is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. PLEASE NOTE: All papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic sources/databases. Calumet College of St. Joseph uses citation guidelines, generally MLA or APA format, to document sources quoted or paraphrased in student papers. Check the syllabus for each course to see what each instructor requires. The Library has reference copies of each manual; the Bookstore has copies for sale when required by the instructor. In addition, there are brief MLA and APA checklists in your spiral Student Handbook and Planner and on the Library website and literature rack. These texts show how to cite references from many sources, including electronic media, as well as how to space and indent the Works Cited and References pages respectively. EBSCO and ProQuest articles provide both formats for you to copy and paste. Proper documentation avoids plagiarism. After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. The Registrar must receive written request for withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule). NEW GRADE NOTICE: Failure to Withdraw = The student does not complete withdrawal paperwork with the Registrar s office nor does the student notify the instructor of their intent to withdraw due to an illness, accident, grievous personal loss, or other circumstances beyond the student s control. This grade is submitted by the instructor at the end of term.

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