TENTATIVE Syllabus for Young Scholars Program 2015 ENGL 245: Introduction to Film Form and Culture

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1 Instructor: Lauren Albright 2130 Tawes Hall July 13 th July 31 st MTuWThF 9:30am - 12:30pm TENTATIVE Syllabus for Young Scholars Program 2015 ENGL 245: Introduction to Film Form and Culture Course Description: This is a three week course in the introduction to the fundamentals of film analysis. It will cover the basics of film narrative ( story ) and film style ( form ) including principles of editing, mise-en-scène, cinematography, and sound. The course will explore issues in film studies such as the evolving social role of cinema as well as changes in media technology. The main focus of the class will be on narrative films of the classical Hollywood tradition, but will also address nonfiction and non-hollywood films. Goals: This course will teach you to analyze films with reference to specific film terminology and major scholarship in the field of film studies. You will learn to think critically about how films are constructed and interpreted, using your own viewing, research, and writing skills to formulate your own interpretations of these films, supporting them with clear evidence and argumentation. Please be advised that the workload for this class is proportional to that of any other 3-credit college course. Individual academic or informal conferences are welcome by appointment. Textbooks and Readings: (FA) Film Art: An Introduction 10 th Edition by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson Publisher: McGraw-Hill ISBN: All readings should be completed before the class meeting listed on the syllabus and you should bring your copy of the textbook with you to class and be prepared to discuss it. Assignments: Assignment Percent of Grade Short Assignments (quizzes, writing prompts, 50% in-class assignments, etc.) Paper 25% Final Exam 25% Class Policies 1. Attendance: Due to the condensed nature of this summer course, it is vitally important that you be present for each day of class in its entirety and arrive on time. If you must miss class, please

2 try to notify me 24 in advance, with the exception of unforeseen family and illness-related emergencies. Please provide proper documentation justifying your absence since this determines whether or not you are allowed to make up missed assignments. 2. Homework: You will be expected to come prepared with all reading and writing assignments. Late work will not be accepted. If you are turning in work after an absence please have it ready the first day you return to class. 3. Film Screenings: The films we view are the primary texts for this course and because there is not a separate screening time available during class time, you must view the films on your own outside of class via the course ELMS page. You can access the ELMS streaming service on the course page under Modules Online Video Reserves. Films should be screened by the date they are listed on the syllabus. If you encounter problems with the streaming service, please let me know ASAP. 4. Academic Dishonesty: The University s regulations regarding academic dishonesty will be followed. Please see the following website for more information concerning plagiarism, cheating on exams and other issues concerning academic integrity: ( 5. Special Needs: If you have a learning disability that requires accommodation, you must register with Disability Support Services in the Shoemaker Building ( or ). Once you have the appropriate paperwork, promptly provide it to me (by the first day if possible) so that I can make those arrangements to best facilitate your learning experience. 6. Technology: You are welcome to use your laptops to take notes, but you should still bring pen/pencil and paper with you to complete in-class assignments. I may also ask you to put your laptop away if you are viewing non-course content, disrupting class, or distracting other students. Cell phones should be silenced and put away. If you need to be reachable for a family emergency, please let me know in advance. Regularly check the course ELMS page and make sure your notification settings are effective. ELMS is where I will post grades, important course announcements, cancellation notifications, quizzes, readings, assignment links, video clips, syllabus changes, etc. You can use ELMS to communicate with me and your classmates and to continue class discussions. ***Please note that the syllabus is subject to change. Should an alteration to the schedule arise, I will inform you by , so please check your accounts regularly and read all s that I send to you. is the best way to reach me and I usually respond within 24 hours, depending on the nature of the message. Please include your name, an original subject line [no-subject s tend to go into my spam folder] and a concise message pertaining to course material. 2

3 CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1 Monday, July 13 th Introduction: Film Industry, History, Technology READ: Chapter 1: Film as Art: Creativity, Technology, and Business WATCH: The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie Chaplin 87 minutes Tuesday, July 14 th READ: Chapter 12: Historical Changes in Film: Conventions, Choices, Traditions and Trends WATCH: Frankenstein (1931) James Whale 70 minutes Wednesday, July 15 th READ: Chapter 2: The Significance of Film Form WATCH: The Wizard of Oz (1939) Victor Fleming 101 minutes Quiz Thursday, July 16 th READ: Chapter 3: Narrative Form WATCH: Bringing Up Baby (1938) Howard Hawks 102 minutes Friday, July 17 th READ: Chapter 7: Sound in Cinema ( ) WATCH: Singin in the Rain (1952) Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly 103 minutes Week 2 The Shot: Mise-en-Scene, Cinematography, Editing Monday, July 20 th READ: Chapter 6: The Relation of Shot to Shot: Editing WATCH: Casablanca (1942) Michael Curtiz 102 minutes Discussion Board Post 3

4 Tuesday, July 21 st READ: Chapter 4: The Shot: Mise-en-Scene WATCH: Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock 109 minutes Wednesday, July 22 nd READ: Chapter 5: The Shot: Cinematography WATCH: The Quiet Man (1952) John Ford 129 minutes In-class assignment Thursday, July 23 rd READ: Chapter 9: Film Genres (Film Noir ) WATCH: Sunset Boulevard (1950) Billy Wilder 110 minutes Quiz/Discussion Post (TBD) Friday, July 24 th (French New Wave) READ: Laura Mulvey, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (ELMS) + Additional reading TBA WATCH: Breathless (1960) Jean-Luc Godard 90 minutes Week 3 Monday, July 27 th Film in Context: Then and Now READ: Chapter 10: Documentary, Experimental, and Animated Films ( ) & Bill Nichols, How Do Documentaries Differ from Other Types of Film? (On ELMS) WATCH: Food, Inc. (2008) Robert Kenner 94 minutes Paper Due 4

5 Tuesday, July 28 th READ: Chapter 10: & Stan Brakhage, from Metaphors on Vision (ELMS) WATCH (in class): Un Chien Andalou (1929) Luis Buñuel/Salvador Dali 28 minutes, Destino (2003) Dominique Monfery 7 mins, Water Baby Window Moving (1959) Stan Brakhage 13 minutes, Ballet mécanique (1924) Fernand Léger/Dudley Murphy/George Antheil 11 minutes & Passage à l acte (1993) Martin Arnold 12 minutes Discussion Board Post Wednesday, July 29 th READ: Article: A Critical Redefinition: The Concept of High Concept Justin Wyatt WATCH: Jaws (1978) Stephen Spielberg Thursday, July 30 th READ: TBD WATCH: Wall-e (2008) Andrew Stanton 98 minutes Friday, July 31 st Final Exam 5