Film 1010 Spring 2009 Syllabus

8/4/2019 Film 1010 Spring 2009 Syllabus

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Film 1010: Film Aesthetics and Analysis (Spring 2009, CRN: 17719)F 9:00am-11:30am, Classroom South 201

Instructor: Drew Ayers Office: 840B, One Park Place

Email: [email protected] Office Hours: T 3:00pm-4:00pm, W 2:45pm-Website: www.drewayers.net 4:30pm, and by appt.Mailbox: 6

thFloor, One Park Place

N.B.

1) The course website and uLearn will reflect updates to the course, changes in syllabus,assignments, etc. Be sure to check them regularly. The course syllabus provides a

general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.2) Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping

education at Georgia State University. Upon completing the course, please take the timeto fill out the online course evaluation.

Course Description

This course will examine the aesthetics (both visual and aural) of film and their relation to film

narrative and genre. This course will also explore the ways in which film aesthetics help toconvey meanings, tell stories, and perpetuate ideologies. Special attention will be paid to critical

writing about film, and this course will develop the critical thinking and writing skills needed foracademic film criticism. Students will be introduced to the specialized concepts and vocabulary

required for scholarly film criticism. This course is a prerequisite to the upper-level filmcourses.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to: Define terms/concepts fundamental to film studies Employ these terms/concepts in both academic writing and class discussion Write analytical/critical essays that show understanding of, engagement with, and

thoughtful use of film studies vocabulary Conduct research specific to film studies

The critical, argumentative, and written skills gained in this course are those required for upper-level film studies courses as well as in other critical engagements with the world.

Required Texts

1) Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White. The Film Experience: An Introduction. New York:Bedford, 2004. (Available at the GSU bookstores)2) Readings on uLearn

3) Course films (Available on library reserve)Screenings

Throughout the semester, you will be required to view the six films listed on the syllabus. Sincewe do not have a reserved screening time for the class, you will need to watch these films on

your own. The films (except forOrlando andDie Hard) are available through the library media


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center (2nd

Floor, Library South), and all of the films are available through Netflix or at localvideo stores (e.g., Movies Worth Seeing and Videodrome). The films are a fundamental part of

the course and will comprise a large part of our discussions. Thus, even if you have already seenthe films, you should plan to view them again before the class in which we are discussing them.

Attendance and ParticipationAttendance for this course is mandatory. My approach to this class will integrate lectures, classdiscussions, student presentations, and various exercises and activities in order to explore the

principles discussed in the readings and lectures you cant participate if youre not there.Attendance will be taken during the first fifteen minutes of each class by using a sign-in sheet.

Each student will have two personal days during the semester to cover absences from either

class or screenings. These days may be used for any reason you choose and should include timeout for illness, emergencies, religious holidays, and family obligations. For each absence after

the initial two, your overall attendance grade will be lowered by one letter grade. If you arriveto class after the first fifteen minutes, you will be counted as tardy. Each tardy counts as one-

half of an absence. If you have an ongoing situation that requires special consideration, pleasediscuss this with me at the beginning of the semester.

Group discussion of course material will comprise a large portion of our in-class activity. It is

essential that you have carefully read the assigned material prior to class in order to fulfill yourresponsibilities as a member of the learning community of this class. Further, you are expected

to actively participate in class discussion. Attendance/Participation comprises 10% of the finalgrade, and your participation grade will be based on both the level and quality of your

participation.

Late Assignment PolicyIf an assignment is turned in late, one full letter grade will be deducted for each day the

assignment is late. Additionally, please remember that an assignment is considered lateimmediately following the class period in which it is due. If you are unable to attend class on a

day that an assignment is due, you must contact me prior to the class and make alternativearrangements. All assignments must be submitted in hard-copy form. When assignments are

due, expect the unexpected. Assume that one (or perhaps all) of the following will happen toyou on exam dates and assignment due dates:

Your printer will not print or the line for the printer at the University is a mile long Your printer will run out of ink or paper Your disk will crash and all data will be lost Your car will not run, busses will skip your stop, and all or your friends will be out of

townPlease take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these events from affecting the timely

submission of assignments and exams.

Additional Sources of Academic SupportThe University offers a range of support services for students. Among the resources available

are:


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The Writing Studio (http://www.writingstudio.gsu.edu/) -- Provides advice and tutoringin composition

Student Support Services (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwsss/) -- Offers a variety ofservices, including tutoring, career counseling, and support groups

Special AccommodationsIf you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities that you believe may require

accommodations for this course, please meet with me after class or during my office hours todiscuss appropriate adaptations or modifications that might be helpful to you. The Office of

Disability Services (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwods/) can provide you with information andother assistance to manage any challenges that may affect your performance in coursework.

Assignments

There are five primary assignments for the semester. We will talk about each in more detail asthe due dates approach.

1) Short Essays: There are six short writing assignments spaced throughout the semester(see the final page of this syllabus). Each short essay is worth 5% of your overall grade,and the essays together comprise 30% of your overall grade.

2) Quizzes: At random times throughout the semester, I will distribute a total of five shortquizzes to the class. These quizzes are designed to test your comprehension of theassigned reading and/or film for the day. If you are absent on a day on which a quiz is

given, that quiz cannot be made up. The quizzes are worth 10% of your overall grade.3) Film Clip Presentation: Groups of two people will present and discuss the cinematic

aspects of a film clip of their choosing. The presentations should focus on the particularaspects of cinema we are studying (editing, cinematography, etc.) and should relate to the

topic of discussion for the day. Your presentation should (1) focus on a brief clip from afilm of your choice clips should beno more than two or three minutes; (2) provide a

reading of the clip focusing on the topic of the class discussion (editing, etc.); (3) drawconclusions as to how your clip is representative of the larger issues we are discussing;

and (4) provide further questions for class discussion. There will be one presentation atthe beginning of every class session, and you should think of your presentation as a lead-

in to the topic of discussion for the day. Your group should meet with me at least a weekprior to your presentation to discuss what you are going to present. The presentation is

worth 10% of your overall grade.4) Midterm Exam: You will be responsible for completing a take-home midterm exam.

The exam is designed to test you on the material we have covered in class up to themidpoint, and you will have one week in which to complete it. You will respond to twoquestions/prompts of your choice, selected from a list of several questions/prompts that I

will provide to you. Each response should be at least 750 words in length (roughly 3double-spaced pages), resulting in a total of approximately 6 pages for the entire

midterm. The midterm is due at the beginning of class on Friday, February 27th, and

it is worth 20% of your overall grade.

5) Final Paper: This assignment builds off of the last short essay assignment. The finalpaper will be 7-8 pages in length, and it is meant to showcase all you have learned this

semester. The paper should make use of all of our discussions about film criticism filmic elements, essay construction, analysis, research, etc. and it will require a research


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element. We will talk much more about the paper throughout the summer. The finalpaper is due on the last day of class (Friday, April 24

th), and it is worth 20% of your

overall grade.All materials must be submitted in hard-copy form and should be typed in 12-point Times New

Roman, 1-inch margins on all sides, and double-spaced. Each page should also include your last

name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. The upper left-hand corner of the firstpage should include your name, my name, the course name, and the date of submission. UseMLA format for your citations and works cited page. Please remember to staple your essays.

All work is due at the beginning of the class for which it is due.

GradingFive Short Essays (5% each): 30%

Quizzes: 10%Film Clip Presentation: 10%

Midterm Exam: 20%Final Paper: 20%

Attendance/Participation: 10%

Grading BreakdownA+ (100-97); A (96-94); A- (93-90); B+ (89-87); B (86-84); B- (83-80); C+ (79-77); C (76-74);

C- (73-70); D+ (69-67); D (66-64); D- (63-60); F (59-0)

Regarding Scholastic Dishonesty: I take this matter very seriously and will report any suspected

cases of academic dishonesty to the Office of Judicial Affairs. For details on the Universityspolicy on Academic Honesty, please consult the Offices website at

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/codeofconduct_conpol.html or the Policy on Academic Honesty

in the Faculty Handbook (section 409) at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/fhb.html. The policyprohibits plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, andmultiple submissions. Violation of the policy may result in failing the class as well as

disciplinary sanctions. The internet makes it easy to plagiarize, but also easy to track downplagiarism If you can google it, I can google it. Bottom line: Dont plagiarize its not worth

it. Cite all your sources, put all direct quotations in quotation marks, and clearly note when you

are paraphrasing other authors work.

Daily Schedule

Intro/Mise-en-Scene1/9 Topic: Syllabus; Elements of Mise-en-Scene; Sign up for Presentations

Reading: Smith, Its Just a MovieCourse syllabus (distributed in class, on uLearn, and class website)

1/16 Topic: Values and Traditions of Mise-en-Scene; Discussion ofBicycle

Thieves

Reading: pp. 41-72 (C&W)


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Bazin, The Ontology of the Photographic Image and The Mythof Total Cinema

Screening: Bicycle Thieves (De Sica, 1948)

Types of Film Writing

1/23 Topic: Film Reviews vs. Critical/Analytic EssaysReading: pp. 474-487 (C&W)Two film reviews of your choice (http://www.rottentomatoes.com

orhttp://www.metacritic.com are good starting points)Assignment: Short Essay #1 Due

Cinematography

1/30 Topic: Elements of Cinematography; Values and Traditions ofCinematography

Reading: pp. 75-103; 107 (C&W)Assignment: Short Essay #2 Due

2/6 Topic: Discussion ofM

Reading: pp. 104-106 (C&W)Screening: M(Lang, 1931)

Assignment: Short Essay #3

Writing Critical Essays

2/13 Topic: Critical Essay Structure; Writing Workshop

Reading: pp. 488-502 (C&W)Screening: Orlando (Potter, 1992)

Editing

2/20 Topic: Elements of Editing; Values and Traditions of Editing; Distributeand Discuss Midterm Exam

Reading: pp. 110-157 (C&W)

2/27 Topic: Discussion ofRequiem for a DreamScreening: Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)

Assignment: Midterm Exam Due

3/6 SPRING BREAK NO CLASS

Researching for a Film Paper

3/13 Topic: Researching Film Guest Presenter, Nedda Ahmed

Reading: pp. 502-513 (C&W)Assignment: Short Essay #4 Due

Sound

3/20 Topic: Elements of Sound; Values and Traditions of Sound

Reading: pp. 166-209 [skip The Conversation section] (C&W)


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3/27 Topic: Discussion ofThe ConversationReading: pp. 207-209 (C&W)

Screening: The Conversation (Coppola, 1974)Assignment: Short Essay #5 Due

Narrative and Ideology4/3 Topic: Elements of Film Narrative; Values and Traditions of FilmNarrative

Reading: pp. 214-251 (C&W)Bordwell, Chapter 3, Classical Narration (optional)

4/10 Topic: Intro to Ideology; Post-Classical Narration

Reading: Comolli and Narboni, Cinema/Ideology/CriticismElsaesser and Buckland, Classical/Post-Classical Narrative

Cahiersanalysis ofYoung Mr. Lincoln (optional)Screening: Die Hard(McTiernan, 1988)

Assignment: Short Essay #6 Due

Film Genre

4/17 Topic: Elements of Film Genre; Hollywood Genres

Reading: pp. 288-306 (C&W)Schatz, Chapter 1 & 2 (optional)

4/24 Topic: Hollywood Genres, cont.

Reading: 306-320; 252-254 (C&W)Assignment: Final Paper Due


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Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay #1 Write two paragraphs analyzing the mise-en-scene of one scene or shot fromBicycle Thieves (see pp. 70-71 from C&W for an example essay). Pay particular attention to the

ways in which the mise-en-scene helps to create meanings and tell the films story, specifically

within the context of our discussions concerning cinematic realism. Remember, you shouldfocus on the visualaspects of the film (what you see) rather than on a summary or explanation ofthe story/plot of the film. Use the terms that weve discussed in class to make your analysis

more precise. The first sentence or two of this short essay should consist of a clear thesisstatement and a concise summary of what points you are going to make in the essay.

Short Essay #2 Find two reviews of a film of your choice and write overviews of each,

focusing on the goals of the reviewers and the types of arguments that they make. How is thistype of writing different than the writing in a critical essay? This short essay should be two

pages in length.

Short Essay #3 Write two paragraphs analyzing the cinematography of one scene or shot fromM(see pp. 104-106 from C&W for an example essay). Remember, you should focus on how thecinematography helps to tell the story rather than simply providing a summary or interpretation

of the film. The first sentence or two of this short essay should consist of a clear thesis statementand a concise summary of what points you are going to make in the essay.

Short Essay #4 After watchingRequiem for a Dream, select two scenes from the film and

write a two-page paper in which you analyze the relationship between story and editing (see pp.140-143 and pp. 158-163 in C&W for example essays). This essay should have a short

introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of your argument.Also pay careful attention to the structure of your essay, making sure that your argument

proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easy for the reader to follow.

Short Essay #5 Write a two-page paper in which you analyze the use of sound in TheConversation (see pp. 207-209 in C&W for an example essay). This essay should have a short

introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of your argument.Also pay careful attention to the structure of your essay, making sure that your argument

proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easy for the reader to follow.

Short Essay #6 Write a three-page paper in which you compare/contrast two films of yourchoice (see pp. 252-254 in C&W for an example of a compare/contrast essay). You may choose

to compare/contrast any of the film topics that we have discussed this semester: mise-en-scene,

cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, ideology, or genre. Be sure to include a clearintroduction, including a thesis statement and summary of your argument. Also pay carefulattention to the structure of your essay, making sure that your argument proceeds in a clear and

logical order that is easy for the reader to follow. Beginning each paragraph with a clear topicsentence will help with your organization. Treat this essay as a starting point for your final paper

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Final Paper Assignment

1) This paper should expand on the work you did in the compare/contrast assignment forShort Essay #6. Specifically, you should flesh out your initial argument by incorporating

the ideas of other scholars into your work through outside research. At least three

outside academic sources are required, and these sources must be cited within the textand in a works cited page remember, any time you use another authors work (eitherparaphrased or directly quoted), you must cite that author. Plagiarism will result in an

automatic zero for the assignment and possible academic sanctions.2) The sources must be academic in nature, either from scholarly journals or books (no

Wikipedia or film reviews), and the readings we did in class will not count toward yoursource total (though you are welcome to use these readings as sources). The goal is to get

you to put into practice the research techniques we discussed in class and to utilize theresources of the University library.

3) You should use your sources to support and strengthen the initial argument you made inShort Essay #6. What have other scholars said about your films? About the genre of

which your films are a part? About the filmmakers? For example, if you arecomparing/contrasting the depiction of ghosts in Hollywood remakes of Japanese horror

films, you might research the various folk traditions of ghost stories in each culture andthe historical depiction of ghosts in the films of each culture. Or, if you are comparing

two contemporary gangster films, you might explore how each film compares to olderexamples in the genre.

4) Dont wait until the last minute to do your research. It will show in the finished product.5) Your paper must be 7-8 pages in length, including a title page (which should NOT be

included in your page count. The title page should include your name, my name, thecourse name, the date of submission, and a title for your paper.

6) Formatting: Use MLA format for this paper. The essay should be typed in 12-pointTimes New Roman, 1-inch margins on all sides, and double-spaced. Each page should

also include your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. Pleaseremember to staple your essay.

7) This essay is meant to showcase all you have learned about film aesthetics and analysisthis semester (mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, and ideology).

As such, you should submit a polished essay with a clear thesis and argument. Impressme J

8) The paper is due on Friday, April 24th, at the beginning of class. Late papers will bededucted one letter grade for each day they are late.

Film 1010 Spring 2009 Syllabus

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