University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, ONLINE COURSE LIT 3301.521 Cultural Studies and the Popular Arts, Fall 2015 Professor: Phillip Sipiora Phone: (813) 494-8877 (cell) Internet: sipiora@usf.edu / psipiora@gmail.com TAs: Dana Rine <drine@mail.usf.edu> Timothy Curran <tcurran@mail.usf.edu> CANVAS help: (813) 974-1222 / (941) 359-4202 This course is designed to help improve writing and introduce you to the popular film as a major cultural art. The key to success in this course is to work diligently on all assignments and be sure to submit them on time. Please note that the evaluation of all assignments begins at zero and grades work their way up according to the strength of the submission. There should no assumption that a submission is automatically given the maximum number of points for the assignment. Grades of B-, B, and B+ are indicative of solid, good work. Grades of A-, A, and A+ are reserved for conspicuous excellence. All films in this course can be streamed through the USF/Swank Digital URL posted in MODULES in Canvas. If you are having problems accessing a film, please contact Canvas Assistance at 813.974.1222. TEXT. Barsam, Richard and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film, 4th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. COURSE WORK: 1) TEN CHAPTER FILM ANALYSES. Each chapter analysis is worth 20 points and they are worth 200 points total over the course. Each analysis must be a minimum of 200-300 words. You are required to select three issues or terms from the list of options for each chapter. 2) TEN RESPONSE NOTES. Each response note is worth 10 points and they are worth 100 points total for the course. Each primary RN must be at least 100 words. You are required to respond to at least two response notes from other students. There is no required length for your responses other posts. 3) THREE QUIZZES. Each quiz is worth 100 points and each quiz includes 25 multiple choice questions, which cover the terms for the respective chapters (see the list of quiz terms). Quiz 1 covers Chapters 1-3, Quiz 2 covers Chapters 4-7, and Quiz covers Chapters 8-11. You allowed to take the quiz only once and the time limit is 30 minutes. Once you have opened the quiz, you have only 30 minutes to complete it and you cannot return to it at a later time or on another day. However, you can go back and change answers within the 30-minute time frame. Each quiz will be open to you until the closing day and time of the quiz on the schedule, at which time the submission portal will close. 4) TERM ESSAY. You are required to submit write an essay of 1,500 words (worth 250 points). Your essay must use at least five interpretive terms that are on the approved list in Canvas. You must analyze a film that is on the SWANK list and is not part of the films in the course. These films are listed in italics in the COURSE RESERVES. 4) EXAM. You are required to write 1,800 words total (exam is worth 150 points total). Each answer must be at least 600 words. You are required to answer one question from each of three areas for a total of three essay answers for the exam (Parts A, B, and C)
GRADING. At the end of the term, all points in the course (1,000 points total) will be added up and grades will be distributed as follows, according to point totals. Grades are not determined by course averages. Grades are determined by point totals. Please note that the evaluation of all assignments begins at zero and scores work their way upwards, not the other way around (the stronger the submission, the higher the score). LATE WORK. Work that is submitted late will be penalized 20% for each day that it is late. A+ (960-1000), A (930-959), A- (900-929), B+ (860-899), B (830-859), B- (800-829), C+ (760-799), C (730-759), C- (700-729), D+ (660-699), D (630-659), D- (600-629), F (599 and below). All work must be completed by the due dates indicated in the schedule. FILM ANALYSES. Each unit requires you to write short answers analyzing terms and issues based on information in respective chapters. It is important that you learn the concepts and terms that are in each chapter. Be sure to show your understanding of these terms and concepts by 1) illustrating their role in shaping the meaning of the film that you have watched during the respective week; and 2) including discussion on the effect(s) of these techniques on you as viewer. Grading Rubric for Film Analyses: 0-13 points. Analysis does not meet the objectives of the assignment. 14-15 points. There is some analysis but the discussion is not fully developed and it offers no discussion of the effects of the techniques being discussed. 16-17 points. There is some analysis in which the discussion is accurate and developed, yet it provides only minor reference to the effects of the techniques being discussed. 18-20 points. There is detailed analysis in which the discussion is accurate and developed and there is substantive reference to the effects of the techniques being discussed. A grade of 20 points signifies conspicuous excellence. RESPONSE NOTES. You are required to complete ten discussion response notes (at least 100 words in your primary post) related to a specific film on the schedule. Your primary response note addresses at least one issue that is raised in the prompts/questions listed for each film. You are also required to respond to two other posts submitted by other learners. There is no minimum length for your responses to others. Response notes will not receive credit if they are submitted late. TERM ESSAY. You are required to submit your term essay as a MS WORD document, submitted through the Turnitin link on Canvas, which records the day and time of your submission. No other form of submission is acceptable. The term essay must be at least 1,500 words and it is worth 250 points. Your writing project involves much more than plot summary. In fact, plot summaries should be kept to a minimum (brief plot summaries or references are acceptable in support of an interpretive point). However, the term essay is not a research projects and you are expected to contribute an original essay on a film of your choosing (approved films are listed in MODULES). You are discouraged from drawing upon professional reviews, either from the Internet or other sources. Films shown in class are not eligible as choices for your essay. You are required to use at least FIVE approved interpretive terms, which are posted on CANVAS in Modules.
Note: For your term essay you are required to select a film from the Course Reserves list that is not part of the course viewing schedule. Select one of these films for your essay from the Course Reserves list: A Clockwork Orange Bonnie and Clyde Bram Stoker's Dracula Brokeback Mountain Dead Man Walking Field of Dreams The Fountain The Hours Invictus Midnight Cowboy Million Dollar Baby The Natural The Silence of the Lambs Thelma and Louise Ulee's Gold EXAM. You are required to submit 1,800 words (150 points total). You are required to one question FROM EACH OF THREE AREAS on the exam (600 WORDS MINIMUM PER ANSWER FROM PARTS A, B, AND C) COURSE DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE, TOPICS, OUTCOMES, OBJECTIVES, and GOALS. All course information, including grades, will be posted on CANVAS: https://my.usf.edu/. Please note that all course materials, including submission portals for Chapter Analyses, Response Notes, Term Essay, and Exam are contained in the <HOME> link. This course will examine various films by significant filmmakers, especially those films that emphatically illustrate popular culture(s). We will consider different perspectives of popular culture according to shifts in cultural and intellectual assumptions over time that are represented in the cinematic tradition. You should pay particular attention to writing about ways of "reading" films in terms of the ways they reflect popular culture. Careful reading of the textbook is essential to success in the course. Objectives of the course include: (1) a better understanding of popular culture through the art of film, (2) an improved ability to think and write analytically and evaluatively, and (3) an acquired knowledge of film history and cinematic techniques, including cultural representations of individuals and groups. At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to write articulately and persuasively about your understanding of film as an important popular art, especially as film relates to the representation of cultural practices and experiences.
Cheating/Academic Dishonesty: The University considers any form of plagiarism or cheating on exams, projects, or papers to be unacceptable behavior. Please be sure to review the university s policy in the catalog, USFSM Undergraduate Catalog http://www.sarasota.usf.edu/academics/catalogs/ and the USF Student Code of Conduct http://www.sa.usf.edu/srr/page.asp?id=88. Plagiarism is very serious offenses and will be dealt with accordingly. You are strongly encouraged to consult the USF policy on plagiarism. If you use the words and/or the ideas of others, we will pursue all possible remedies, including writing a letter of intention to assign a grade of F or FF, with a letter of notification sent to the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Anyone caught plagiarizing may fail the course and be may subject to further penalties. The University of South Florida has an account with an automated plagiarism detection service which allows student assignments be checked for plagiarism. I reserve the right to ask students to submit their assignments to Turnitin through CANVAS. Assignments are compared automatically with a database of journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report showing exactly how a student s paper was plagiarized. Pursuant to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students are requested to maintain confidentiality as a way to keep their personal contact information (i.e. name, address, telephone) from being disclosed to vendors or other outside agencies. By your submission, you are also agreeing to release your original work for review for academic purposes to Turnitin. Privacy. Pursuant to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), prior to submitting work to Turnitin, students are requested to delete any personal information (for example, name, address, telephone) from the work being submitted. This protects students from having personal information disclosed to vendors or other outside agencies. More information on instructors using Turnitin from the USF Tampa Campus website: http://www.usf.edu/atle/technology/turnitin.aspx Canvas Support is available through USFSM E-Learning staff from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday at 941-359-4295. The USF Tampa IT Helpdesk provides 24 hour support for CANVAS. Please call 813-974- 1222 or email: help@usf.edu if you need assistance outside of USFSM s E-Learning hours. USFSM Helpful Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Current Catalog Grad & Undergraduate CAS Website Information Commons http://sarasota.usf.edu/academics/ http://registrar.usf.edu/enroll/regist/calendt.ph http://usfsm.edu/catalog/ http://usfsm.edu/college-of-arts-sciences/ http://usfsm.edu/information-commons/ USFSM AND USF SYSTEM POLICIES A. Academic Dishonesty: The University considers any form of plagiarism or cheating on exams, projects, or papers to be unacceptable behavior. Please be sure to review the university s policy in the USFSM Catalog, the USF System Academic Integrity of Students, and the USF System Student Code of Conduct.
The University of South Florida has an account with an automated plagiarism detection service which allows student assignments be checked for plagiarism. I reserve the right to ask students to submit their assignments to Turnitin through Canvas. Assignments are compared automatically with a database of journal articles, web articles, and previously submitted papers. The instructor receives a report showing exactly how a student s paper was plagiarized. PLEASE REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER AND REPLACE IT WITH YOUR USF ID#. ALSO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM THE FILE NAME AND REPLACE IT WITH YOUR USF ID# (E.G., U12345678 ESSAY 1.DOCX ) BEFORE SUBMITTING TO TURNITIN. Pursuant to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students are requested to maintain confidentiality as a way to keep their personal contact information (i.e. name, address, telephone) from being disclosed to vendors or other outside agencies. By your submission, you are also agreeing to release your original work for review for academic purposes to Turnitin. B. Academic Disruption: The University does not tolerate behavior that disrupts the learning process. The policy for addressing academic disruption is included with Academic Dishonesty in the USFSM Catalog, USF System Academic Integrity of Students, and the USF System Student Code of Conduct. C. USF Contingency Plans: In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USFSM to suspend normal operations. During this time, USFSM may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Canvas, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It s the responsibility of the student to monitor Canvas site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USFSM and College websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information. The USF hotline at 1 (800) 992-4231 is updated with pre-recorded information during an emergency. See the Campus Police Website for further information. Also see the Safety Preparedness Website http://legacy.usfsm.edu/facilities/documents/eap_sept2013.pdf D. Disabilities Accommodation: Students are responsible for registering with the Office of Students with Disabilities Services (SDS) in order to receive academic accommodations. Reasonable notice must be given to the SDS office (typically 5 working days) for accommodations to be arranged. It is the responsibility of the student to provide each instructor with a copy of the official Memo of Accommodation. Contact Information: Disability Coordinator, 941-359-4714, disabilityservices@sar.usf.edu, http://usfsm.edu/disability-services/ E. Fire Alarm Instructions: At the beginning of each semester please note the emergency exit maps posted in each classroom. These signs are marked with the primary evacuation route (red) and secondary evacuation route (orange) in case the building needs to be evacuated. See Emergency Evacuation Procedures. F. Religious Observances: USFSM recognizes the right of students and faculty to observe major religious holidays. Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class for a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second week of classes. Instructors canceling class for a religious observance should have this stated in the syllabus with an appropriate alternative assignment. G. Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment Reporting: USFSM is committed to providing an environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence (USF System Policy 0-004). The Counseling and Wellness Center is a confidential resource where you can talk about incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. This confidential resource can help you without having to report your situation to either the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSSR) or the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity (DIEO), unless you request that they make a report.
Campus Resources: Counseling Center and Wellness Center 941-487-4254 Victim Advocate (24/7) 941-504-8599 List of off-campus resources: Hope of Manatee: 941-755-6805 Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) Sarasota: 941-365-1976 First Call for Help- Manatee: 941-708-6488; Sarasota & North Port 941-366-5025 Manatee Glens: 941-782-4800 The Counseling and Wellness Center is a confidential resource where students can talk about incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. This confidential resource can help students without their having to report the situation to either the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSSR) or the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity (DIEO) unless they wish. Please be aware that professors, administrators, or other staff must report incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. If students disclose any of these situations in class, in papers, instructors are required to report it to OSSR or DIEO for investigation. The Deputy Coordinator for USFSM is Allison Dinsmore, Coordinator of Disability Services & Student Advocacy, #941-359-4714 or adinsmore1@sar.usf.edu. Protection of Students Against Discrimination and Harassment: 1. Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment Reporting: USFSM is committed to providing an environment free from sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence (USF System Policy 0-004). 2. Other Types of Discrimination and Harassment: USFSM also is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or veteran status (USF System Policy 0-007). Please be aware that in compliance with Title IX and under the USF System Policy, educators must report incidents of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, gender-based crimes, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence. If a student discloses any of these situations in class, in papers, or to a faculty member personally, he or she is required to report it to OSSR or DIEO for investigation. Students who are victims or who have knowledge of such Campus Resources: Counseling Center and Wellness Center 941-487-4254 Victim Advocate (24/7) 941-504-8599 Off-campus resources: HOPE Family Services: 941-755-6805 Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) Sarasota: 941-365-1976 First Call for Help- Manatee: 941-708-6488 Sarasota & North Port 941-366-5025 Manatee Glens: 941-782-4800; 24-hr Hotline 941-708-6059 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
ONLINE PARTICIPATION and LATE WORK. It is very important that all students participate regularly in this course. There are assignments that are due each week and late submissions will result in grade penalties. Any assignment submitted late will receive a 20% grade reduction for each day that it is late. In your FAs, RNs, and term essay, you are required to boldface the terms and concepts that you are discussing. Your essay must include a thesis statement or a purpose for your analysis of the film, which is a discussion of its characteristic components--yet more than a plot summary. Your subject matter can be wide ranging, including (but not limited to nor necessarily requiring) the following issues: Themes, cultural assumptions, and perspectives; Comparisons (brief) with/references to other films by the same director and/or actor; Examination of acting performances related to cultural perspectives; Analysis of technical elements, which may include lighting (and shadows), camera angles and foci, acting, dialogue, sound, special effects, and so forth; Remember not to use contractions in formal writing. The second part of your essay, the evaluative component, asks you to make an articulate judgment (or series of judgments about the film). In other words, you should indicate whether the film lives up to its potential (or fails to do so). You should have some clear criteria of evaluation in making your overall judgment (your descriptive criteria will provide you with supporting material here). One critical component in evaluation is effect. What effect(s) does the film have on you and how or why? Are these effects appropriate to the genre? Does the film introduce effects that are relatively innovative and new for you? (Your essay is NOT a research project.) How does this film compare with other films of the same genre with which you are familiar? Your term essay should express in clear language the fundamental elements of the film, followed by your concrete judgment as to whether it is a good film, a poor film, or something in between. Do not leave your reader in doubt as to your overall judgment about the success or failure of the film. Sample student essays will be posted on Canvas. Some helpful reminders for your essays: You must choose a film to write about from the approved list on CANVAS. Film titles are always italicized / Give your essay a title / Double-space your essays and use a 12 point font. Be sure to identify and discuss/apply at least five terms/concepts from Looking at Movies. Use only terms from the list of approved interpretive terms on Canvas for your film analysis essay.
TERMS AND CONCEPTS Chapter 1 cinematic language editing cut close-up shot fade-in fade-out low-angle shot cutting on action protagonist implicit meaning explicit meaning formal analysis theme dolly in duration point of view jump cut Chapter 2 narrative content form cinematic language persistence of vision phi phenomenon apparent motion mediation freeze-frame realism antirealism verisimilitude Chapter 3 narrative movie documentary movie factual film instructional film persuasive film propaganda film direct cinema experimental movie stream of consciousness genre film noir gangster horror science fiction western musical generic transformation
Chapter 4 narration narrator first-person narrator voice-over narration direct-address narration third-person narrator omniscient narration restricted narration character round character flat character antihero antagonist rising action climax resolution diegetic elements nondiegetic elements plot story duration plot duration screen duration cinematic time repetition Chapter 5 Design Composition mise-en-scene décor soundstage chiaroscuro cameo costume frame reframing moving frame viewfinder offscreen space on-screen space open frame closed frame kinesis blocking Chapter 6 cinematography take gaffer best boy film stock
widescreen aspect ratio three-point system key light fill light lighting ratio backlight production values zoom lens aspect ratio long shot medium shot close-up extreme close-up blimp deep-space composition rule of thirds shooting angle pan shot dolly shot tracking shot zoom-in crane shot slow motion Chapter 7 booms method acting Stanislavsky system casting screen test stand-in bit player extra walk-on alienation effect improvisation ensemble acting Chapter 8 editing flashback flash-forward ellipsis montage continuity editing discontinuity editing master shot axis of action shot/reverse shot match cut crosscutting intercutting jump cut fade-in fade-out
dissolve wipe iris shot split screen Chapter 9 outtakes mixing fidelity diegetic sound nondiegetic sound internal sound external sound interior monologue dialogue ambient sound sound effects Foley sounds Chapter 10 Photography camera obscura zoopraxiscope revolver photographique fusil photographique kinetograph kinetoscope aesthetic approach technological approach economic approach social approach Chapter 11 analog digital shooting processing projecting exposure pixels resolution preproduction production postproduction producer director
SCHEDULE Unit 1 Read Chapter 1 and watch Casablanca (1942) Submit FA1 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 06 Submit RN1 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 06 Unit 2 Read Chapter 2 and watch In the Heat of the Night (1967) Submit FA2 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 13 Submit RN2 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 13 Unit 3 Read Chapter 3 and watch Easy Rider (1969) Submit FA3 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 20 Submit RN3 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 20 *QUIZ 1 You must complete Quiz on the terms from Chapters 1-3 no later than 11:59 pm on WED, Sep 23.The quiz can be taken only once and 30 minutes are allowed. Unit 4 Read Chapter 4 and watch The Last Picture Show (1971) Submit FA4 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 27 Submit RN4 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Sep 27 Unit 5 Read Chapter 5 and watch Goodfellas (1987) Submit FA5 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 4 Submit RN5 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 4 Unit 6 Read Chapter 6 and watch LA Confidential (1997) Submit FA6 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 11 Submit RN6 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 11 Unit 7 Read Chapter 7 and watch American Beauty (1999) Submit FA7 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 18 Submit RN7 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 18 *QUIZ 2 You must complete Quiz 2 on the terms from Chapters 4-7 no later than 11:59 pm on WED, Oct 21. The quiz can be taken only once and 30 minutes are allowed.
Unit 8 Read Chapter 8 and watch Match Point (2005) Submit FA8 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 25 Submit RN8 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Oct 25 OCT 31 Last day to drop with a W / no refund & no academic penalty Unit 9 Read Chapter 9 and watch Zero Dark Thirty (2012) Submit FA9 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Nov 01 Submit RN9 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Nov 01 Unit 10 Read Chapters 10-11 and watch The Great Gatsby (2013) Submit FA10-11 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Nov 08 Submit RN10-11 by 11:59 pm on SUN, Nov 08 *QUIZ 3 You must complete Quiz 3 on the terms from Chapters 8-11 no later than 11:59 pm on WED, Nov 11. The quiz can be taken only once and 30 minutes are allowed. ESSAY ESSAY MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 11:59 PM ON SUN, NOV 22 EXAM EXAM MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 11:59 PM ON SUN, DEC 06 NO WORK CAN BE SUBMITTED AFTER 11:59 PM ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015