Film 1010 Spring 2010 Syllabus

8/4/2019 Film 1010 Spring 2010 Syllabus

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Film 1010: Film Aesthetics and Analysis (Spring 2010, CRN: 10604)MW 5:30pm-6:45pm, Classroom South 309

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

Email: [email protected] Office Hours: M 2:30pm-4:30pm; W 2:30pm-Website: www.drewayers.com 4:30pm, and by appt. (ALWAYSMailbox: 6th Floor, One Park Place email first)

N.B.1) The course website and uLearn will reflect updates to the course, changes in the syllabus,

assignments, etc. Be sure to check them regularly. The course syllabus provides ageneral plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.

2) Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shapingeducation 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 filmnarrative 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 criticalwriting 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 vocabularyrequired 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 academic writing, class discussion, and class

presentations 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 for other critical engagements with the world.

Required Texts

1)

Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White. The Film Experience: An Introduction. 2

nd

Ed.New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. (Available at the GSU bookstores)2) Readings on uLearn3) Course films (Available via streaming on Netflix)

ScreeningsThroughout the semester, you will be required to view the eight films listed on the syllabus.Since we do not have a reserved screening time for the class, you will need to watch these films


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on your own. All of the films are available via streaming on Netflix, and I suggest that yousubscribe to Netflix for the duration of the semester, either individually or in small groups(unlimited plans start at $8.99/month). Most of the films are also available through the librarymedia center reserves (2nd Floor, Library South). The films are a fundamental part of the courseand will comprise a large part of our discussions. Viewing these films is mandatory, and even if

you have already seen the films, you should plan to view them again before the class in whichwe 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 theprinciples 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 three personal days during the semester to cover absences from eitherclass or screenings. These days may be used for any reason you choose and should include time

out for illness, emergencies, religious holidays, and family obligations. For each absence afterthe initial three, 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 isessential 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 expectedto participate actively in class discussion. Attendance/Participation comprises 10% of the finalgrade, and your participation grade will be based on both the frequency and quality of yourparticipation. Everyoneis expected to participate in class discussions.

Late Assignment PolicyIf an assignment is turned in late, one full letter grade will be deducted for each day theassignment is late. Additionally, please remember that an assignment is considered lateimmediately following the class period for which it is due. If you are unable to attend class on aday 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 aredue, 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 timelysubmission of assignments and exams.


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

The Writing Studio (http://www.writingstudio.gsu.edu/) Provides advice and tutoring incomposition

Student Support Services (http://www.gsu.edu/oeo/sss.html) Offers a variety ofservices, including tutoring, career counseling, and support groupsSpecial AccommodationsIf you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities that you believe may requireaccommodations 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 ofDisability 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 four short writing assignments spaced throughout the semester.

Each short essay is worth 5% of your overall grade, and the essays together comprise20% of your overall grade. See page 9 of this syllabus for more detailed information.

2) Film Clip Presentation: Groups of two or three people will present and discuss thecinematic aspects of a film clip of their choosing. The presentations should focus on theparticular aspects of cinema we are studying (editing, cinematography, etc.), and yourpresentation should be 10-15 minutes in length. Your presentation should: a) Focus on abrief clip from a film of your choice clips should beno more than two or threeminutes; b) Provide an analysis of the clip focusing on the topic of the class discussion

(editing, etc.); c) Draw conclusions as to how your clip is representative of the largerissues we are discussing; and d) Provide further questions for class discussion. I expect apolished, rehearsed presentation with a clear argument or thesis about your clip. Yourgroup should meet with me at least a weekprior to your presentation to discuss whatyou are going to present. The presentation is worth 10% of your overall grade.

3) Midterm Exam: You will be responsible for completing a take-home midterm exam. Theexam is designed to test you on the material we have covered in class up to the midpoint,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 Iwill 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 Wednesday, March 3

rd

,and it is worth 20% of your overall grade.4) Final Paper Proposal: Each student must submit a proposal for his/her final paper. This

proposal should include the following information: a) The title of your final paper; b) Athesis statement and summary of your argument; c) An annotated bibliography ofat leastthreepeer-reviewed, academic sources; d) An outline of your final paper. For theannotated bibliography, you should summarize the argument and main points of thesource and state how you are going to use the source in your own paper. There is no


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required length for this proposal, but the more thorough and detailed you are, the betterfeedback I can provide. The final paper proposal is due on Monday, April 5th, and itis worth 10% of your overall grade. See page 10 of this syllabus for a template of theproposal.

5) Final Paper: The final paper must be 7-8 pages in length (NOT including the title pageand bibliography), and it requires a research element. The paper should make use of allof our discussions about film criticism filmic elements, essay construction, analysis,research, etc. and it is meant to showcase all you have learned this semester. The finalpaper is due on the last day of class (Monday, May 3

rd), and it is worth 30% of your

overall grade. See page 11 of this syllabus for more details.

All materials must be submitted in hard-copy form and should be typed in 12-point Times NewRoman, 1-inch margins on all sides, and double-spaced. Each page should also include your lastname 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. Youshould include a word count at the end of each essay. Use MLA format for your citations and

works cited page. Please remember to staple your essays. All work is due at the beginning ofthe class for which it is due.

GradingFour Short Essays (5% each): 20%Film Clip Presentation: 10%Midterm Exam: 20%Final Paper Proposal: 10%Final Paper: 30%Attendance/Participation/Quizzes: 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 suspectedcases of academic dishonesty to the Office of Judicial Affairs. For details on the Universityspolicy on Academic Honesty, please consult the Offices website athttp://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/judicial.html or the Policy on Academic Honesty in the FacultyHandbook (section 409) at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/fhb.html. The policy prohibitsplagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple

submissions. The process by which the university handles academic misconduct cases is alsovery specifically spelled out in the policy. Violation of the policy may result in failing the classas well as disciplinary sanctions. The internet makes it easy to plagiarize, but also easy to trackdown plagiarism If you can google it, I can google it. Bottom line: Dont plagiarize its notworth it. Cite all your sources, put all direct quotations in quotation marks, and clearly note

when you are paraphrasing other authors work.


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Georgia State University Policy on Academic Honesty

FROM THE GSU FACULTY HANDBOOK

As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The

university assumes as a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit onlythe products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis foracademic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic

work.

The university's policy on academic honesty is published in the Faculty Affairs Handbookand the On Campus: The Undergraduate Co-

Curricular Affairs Handbookand is available to all members of the university community. The policy represents a core value of the universityand all members of the university community are responsible for abiding by its tenets. Lack of knowledge of this policy is not an acceptabledefense to any charge of academic dishonesty. All members of the academic community -- students, faculty, and staff -- are expected to report

violations of these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate authorities. The procedures for such reporting are on file in the offices of thedeans of each college, the office of the dean of students, and the office of the provost.

In an effort to foster an environment of academic integrity and to prevent academic dishonesty, students are expected to discuss with faculty theexpectations regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. Students are encouraged to discuss freely with faculty, academic advisors,and other members of the university community any questions pertaining to the provisions of this policy. In addition, students are encouraged to

avail themselves of programs in establishing personal standards and ethics offered through the university's Counseling Center.

Definitions and Examples

The examples and definitions given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic honesty and academically honorable conduct

are to be judged. The list is merely illustrative of the kinds of infractions that may occur, and it is not intended to be exhaustive. Moreover, thedefinitions and examples suggest conditions under which unacceptable behavior of the indicated types normally occurs; however, there may beunusual cases that fall outside these conditions which also will be judged unacceptable by the academic community.

A. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting another person's work as one's own. Plagiarism includes any paraphrasing or summarizing of the works ofanother person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student's work as one's own. Plagiarism frequently involves afailure to acknowledge in the text, notes, or footnotes the quotation of the paragraphs, sentences, or even a few phrases written or spoken by

someone else. The submission of research or completed papers or projects by someone else is plagiarism, as is the unacknowledged use ofresearch sources gathered by someone else when that use is specifically forbidden by the faculty member. Failure to indicate the extent and natureof one's reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Any work, in whole or in part, taken from the Internet or other computer-based

resource without properly referencing the source (for example, the URL) is considered plagiarism. A complete reference is required in order thatall parties may locate and view the original source. Finally, there may be forms of plagiarism that are unique to an individual discipline or course,examples of which should be provided in advance by the faculty member. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of

sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating thisresponsibility.

B. Cheating on Examinations: Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination.Examples of unauthorized help include the use of notes, computer based resources, texts, or "crib sheets" during an examination (unlessspecifically approved by the faculty member), or sharing information with another student during an examination (unless specifically approved

by the faculty member). Other examples include intentionally allowing another student to view one's own examination and collaboration beforeor after an examination if such collaboration is specifically forbidden by the faculty member.

C. Unauthorized Collaboration: Submission for academic credit of a work product, or a part thereof, represented as its being one's own effort,which has been developed in substantial collaboration with another person or source, or computer-based resource, is a violation of academichonesty. It is also a violation of academic honesty knowingly to provide such assistance. Collaborative work specifically authorized by a faculty

member is allowed.

D. Falsification: It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or fabricate information in an academic exercise, assignment orproceeding (e.g., false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of the results of experiments or of computer data, false or misleading

information in an academic context in order to gain an unfair advantage).

E. Multiple Submissions: It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without

the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is a natural

development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however the student isresponsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.


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Editing

2/17 Topic: The Elements of EditingReading: pp. 135-166 (C&W)

2/22 Topic: The Significance of Film Editing

Reading: pp. 166-183 (C&W)

2/24 Topic: Discussion ofLa Jete; Distribute and Discuss Midterm ExamScreening: La Jete (Marker, 1961)Assignment: Short Essay #3 Due

Reading About Film

3/1 Topic: Classical Film TheoriesReading: pp. 457-485 (C&W)

3/3 Topic: Contemporary Film Theories

Reading: pp. 485-505 (C&W)Assignment: Midterm Exam Due

3/8 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK

3/10 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK

Researching for a Film Paper

3/15 Topic: Researching Film; Proper Citation FormatMeet with Nedda Ahmed: Library North, Classroom 1

Reading: pp. 527-543 (C&W)

Sound

3/17 Topic: The Elements of Film SoundReading: pp. 185-211 (C&W)

3/22 Topic: The Significance of Film SoundReading: pp. 211; 214-223 (C&W)

3/24 Topic: Discussion ofEraserheadScreening: Eraserhead(Lynch, 1977)Assignment: Short Essay #4 Due

3/29 Topic: PresentationsAssignment: Film Presentations from Group II

Narrative

3/31 Topic: The Elements of Narrative FilmReading: pp. 227-259 (C&W)


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4/5 Topic: The Significance of Film NarrativeReading: pp. 259; 262-269 (C&W); BST, Classical Narration (uLearn)Assignment: Final Paper Proposal Due

4/7 Topic: Discussion ofCleo from 5 to 7

Screening: Cleo from 5 to 7(Varda, 1962)Assignment: There is no formal written assignment due, but be prepared todiscuss the narrative strategies ofCleo from 5 to 7. Everyoneshould come up with a thesis statement about the narrative of thefilm and be prepared to share it with the class. I will be askingeveryone to present his or her thesis to the class.

Genre

4/12 Topic: The Elements of Film GenreReading: pp. 331-342 (C&W); Schatz, The Genius of the System (uLearn)

4/14 Topic: The Significance of Film Genre & Hollywood GenresReading: pp. 343-367 (C&W); Schatz, Film Genres and the Genre Film(uLearn)

4/19 Topic: Discussion ofFrom Dusk Till DawnReading: King, Genre Benders (uLearn)Screening: From Dusk Till Dawn (Rodriguez, 1996)

Ideological Analysis

4/21 Topic: Intro to Ideological AnalysisReading: pp. 288-297 (C&W); Stam, 1968 and the Leftist Turn (uLearn)

4/26 Topic: Discussion ofTaxi DriverReading: Cahiersanalysis ofYoung Mr. Lincoln (uLearn)Screening: Taxi Driver(Scorsese, 1976)

4/28 Topic: PresentationsAssignment: Film Presentations from Group III

5/3 Topic: Course Wrap-upAssignment: Final Paper Due

Remember to submit your course evaluations


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Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay #1 Write a 500 word paper (1.5-2 double-spaced pages) analyzing the mise-en-scene ofone scene or shot fromBoyz N the Hood. Pay particular attention to the ways in whichthe mise-en-scene helps to create meanings and tell the films story. 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. I expect a detailed analysis of the particulars of the mise-en-scene inthe scene or shot Use the terms that weve discussed in class to make your analysis moreprecise. 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. Include a word countat the end of your essay.

Short Essay #2 Write a 500 wordpaper (1.5-2 double-spaced pages) analyzing thecinematography ofone scene or shot from Vertigo. Remember, you should focus on how thecinematography helps to tell the story rather than simply providing a summary or interpretationof the film. Also remember to utilize the cinematographic terms weve learned in class. Thefirst sentence or two of this short essay should consist of a clear thesis statement and a concise

summary of what points you are going to make in the essay. Include a word count at the end ofyour essay.

Short Essay #3 After watchingLa Jete, write a 750 word paper (2.5-3 double-spaced pages)in which you analyze the relationship between story and editing, using the editing terms wevelearned in class. This essay should have a short introduction that includes a clear thesisstatement and a concise summary of your argument. Also pay careful attention to the structureof your essay, making sure that your argument proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easyfor the reader to follow. This assignment is building towards the type of argument youll beexpected to make in the final paper, and as such, pay close attention to the way in which youpresent and defend your argument. Include a word count at the end of your essay.

Short Essay #4 Write a 750 word paper (2.5-3 double-spaced pages) in which you analyze theuse of sound inEraserhead, utilizing the sound terms weve discussed in class. This essayshould have a short introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a concise summary ofyour argument. Also pay careful attention to the structure of your essay, making sure that yourargument proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easy for the reader to follow. Include aword count at the end of your essay.


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Final Paper Proposal Template

1) Title of Final Paper2) Thesis and Summary of Main Argument3) Source #1

a.

Annotation4) Source #2a. Annotation

5) Source #3a. Annotation

6) Source #na. Annotation

7) Outline of the Complete Paper


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Final Paper Assignment

1) For this paper, you will develop an argument that engages with a topic and film(s) ofyour choosing. I will leave the exact topic up to you, but your paper should demonstratea clear understanding of the concepts weve discussed in class mise-en-scene,

cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, genre, and ideology and the paper shouldapply the concepts to a specific film or films. (You dont need to write about all of theconcepts listed above; you are free to write about whatever concepts you choose.)

2) This paper should expand on the work you did in your proposal, and you should expect todo significant rethinking/revising of your initial argument, incorporating any suggestionsI might have provided you. Failure to take my revision suggestions into account willnegatively affect your grade on this paper.

3) At least three peer-reviewed, scholarly sources are required, and these sources must becited within the text and in a works cited page remember, any time you use anotherauthors work (either paraphrased or directly quoted), you must cite that author.Plagiarism will result in an automatic zero for the assignment and possible academic

sanctions.4) The sources must be academic in nature, either from scholarly journals or books (noWikipedia 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 additional sources). Thegoal is to get you to put into practice the research techniques we discussed in class and toutilize the resources of the University library. Remember everything that Neddadiscussed with you Use the librarys research page to help begin your research:http://research.library.gsu.edu/film.

5) I expect you to engage thoughtfully with your sources. Dont merely pull quotationsfrom sources and assume that they speak for themselves. You should explain how youare interpreting an authors argument and how it relates to your own argument.

6) Dont wait until the last minute to do your research. It will show in the finished product.Your research should be an ongoing project throughout the semester.

7) Your paper must be 7-8 pages in length, and you should include a title page andbibliography (which should NOT be included in your page count). The title page shouldinclude your name, my name, the course name, the date of submission, and a title foryour paper.

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

9) 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

10)The paper is due on the last day of class Monday, May 3rd at the beginning of class.Late papers will be deducted one letter grade for each day they are late. The final paperis worth 30% of your overall grade.

Film 1010 Spring 2010 Syllabus

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