CMM 441-541

                      APPRECIATION OF FILM, 1930-

                                         Spring, 2007

                                WEEKLY SYLLABUS

Course Description:             Development and Appreciation of film since 1930; 3 hrs.  Study of important directions in modern film, including style, genre, and the relationship to contemporary society.  A variety of films will be viewed for analysis. 

This course meets General Education Core #1 Communication: WAC.

                                                When finished with class you should:

                                                                                                1.             see an improvement in your writing skills and strategies.

                                                                                                2.             engage actively with the subject matter through various forms of writing, informal and formal.

                                                                                                3.             enhance their critical thinking skills through various forms of writing, informal and formal.

Course Objectives:              When finished with this class you should be able to:

                                1.             describe the hollywood narrative style of film making;

2.             describe various styles of filmmaking;

3.             identify film genre;

4.             argue that film is integral to the culture;

                5.             discuss the significance of film in American life;

1.             identify and evaluate foreign films from: Italy, France, England, Japan;

                                                                                                7.             recognize meaning, audience, and purpose within academic discourse by providing evidence of structured written assignments such as essays, reports,  research papers, and reviews.

Course Requirements:         Undergraduates: 6 screening reports; 1 movie review; 2 critical essays; 1 content examination.  All papers should be typewritten. All papers may be transmitted via e-mail to save a tree.

Graduates: 6 screening reports; 1 movie review, 1 critical essay, 1 theoretical essays/rhetorical analysis; 1 content examination. All papers should be typewritten All papers may be transmitted via e-mail to save a tree.

Text:                                       Required                Wexman,   A History of Film, 6^th  edition, 2006.

                The Wexman text is the content text for this course. Having a knowledge of the history behind film will help you begin to piece together a rather intriguing picture of this relatively modern form of entertainment.  To be able to recognize the social and economic pressures on the film industry will give insight into the whys and wherefores of this significant part of American culture.  As well, a knowledge of the history of the film industry sheds light on how and why the industry is where it is today. We will read selected chapters from the text from which a content test will be derived.  Materials from the class lectures will also be included in this examination.

                Required                Corrigan, Timothy, A Short Guide to Writing about Film, 6^th edition,  2007.

                The Corrigan text will be used primarily as a guide for your writing during the course.  The text provides a rather complete description of the written assignments you will be required to complete.  You should consult the Corrigan text for examples of good writing technique. In all cases, if you consult outside sources, please use proper documentation of such works and include a works cited section.  If you use outside sources–document, if you don’t document, then be prepared to receive a failing grade on the assignment. 

Evaluation and Assessment of Learner Outcomes:

The Movie Review should be fashioned after a typical movie review one would read in the local paper.  Corrigan says that, “(a)ccordingly, its function is to introduce unknown films and to recommend or not recommend them” [p.8]. However, you do not have to choose an unknown film.  You may choose any film you wish. The review should be at least 250 words but not more than 500 words in length. There are a number of ways in which a review may be constructed.  Please consult Corrigan. 

Screening reports will be based on topics from Chapter 3 Film Terms and Topics for Film Analysis and Writing.    Reaction papers should be about 500 words in length.  The purpose of a reaction paper is to see if you understand a concept, such as (1) Themes; (2) Film and the other arts (Narrative; Characters; Point of View; Comparative Essays); (3) Mise-en-Scène & Realism (Realism, Elements of Mise-en-Scène: sets and settings, acting style, costumes, lighting); (4) Composition and Image (the shot, the edited image); and (5) Sound.  Screening reports should use different concepts from the list in the previous sentence.  Do not use the same concept more than 3 times.    

The Critical Essays are far  more specific than the reaction papers.  The Critical Essay should be approximately 1000-1500 words in length. Critical essays should be based on Chapter 4, Six Approaches to Writing about Film.  Choose a different approach for each of your critical essays(Film History; National Cinemas; Genres; Auteurs; Formalism; Ideology). Critical essays must be properly researched and documented. The Critical Essay topic should be based on something we cover in class.  You should consult a minimum of 5 primary and secondary sources.   

The Theoretical Essay/Rhetorical Analysis papers (for graduate  students only) will be a more involved paper which analyzes the relationship between a particular film, genre, auteur or ideology and communication. The Theoretical/Rhetorical essay should be approximately 1500-2500 words in length, with appropriate bibliography.  You should consult a minimum of 5 primary and secondary sources.

Grading Policy:     Undergraduates

                                                                                Screening Reports                               30%

                                                                                Movie Review                                      10%

                                                                                Critical Essays                                      40%

                                                                                Final Examination                 20%

                                Graduates

                                                                                                Screening Reports                                               30%

                                                                                                Movie Review                                                      10%

                                                                                                Critical Essay                                                        20%

                                                                                                Theoretical Essay/Rhetorical Analysis            25%

                                                                                                Final Examination                                 15%

Attendance Policy:              Students will be expected to be in class for all class meetings.  One unexcused absence will be allowed.  If you will be away on University business, you have the responsibility to do the assigned work or view the assigned film prior to returning to class.  If you miss class it is your responsibility to view the film assigned for that class meeting, or another acceptable substitute.  If the university is under an inclement weather advisory we will follow the proper guidance.  The course syllabus will be adjusted appropriately.

Statement Concerning Learning Disabled Students:

                If you are a learning disabled student, please let me know immediately so that proper arrangements can be made for your disability.

Social Justice:

                In this class we treat all as individuals with the same rights as anyone else.  No discrimination will be made based on gender, race, ethnic origin, sexual preference, or religion.

Plagiarism Policy/Academic Honesty/Academic Integrity:

                You are expected to do your own work.  Document your work and cite the proper sources.  The major works of the class will be critical essays and theoretical/rhetorical essays.  If you are caught copying other’s work without citing the proper sources you will receive the grade of an “F” on that assignment.

Examinations:                                        You will be given 1 content examination.   This examination will cover the required reading chapters from the Wexman text and class discussions.

Policy statement on major projects, examinations, and other assignments (due dates)

                You are expected to complete the assignments as they are scheduled in the course syllabus.  Any deviation must be approved prior to the due date of the assignment.  If you are transmitting the assignment via e-mail, and I encourage you to do this, then the e-mail must be date/time stamped prior to the beginning of the class.  In other words send the assignment before you come to class.   All papers must be written in either WORD, Microsoft Works or WordPerfect and attached to your e-mail. Do not send essays as the text of the e-mail.   

Instructor:                             Robert Edmunds  (Dr. Bob)

Office:                                    SH 244

Phone:                                    696-2805

e-mail:                                                                     edmunds@marshall.edu;  rfedmunds@aol.com

Office Hours:                        9:30-11:00 DAILY;  Others by appointment

asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasd

                                                                     Weekly Instruction