INTRODUCTION TO FILM 2450

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ENG 2450, FLM/SPF 2010, Sec 002, T TH 9.35-11.35    Location: 226 Manoogian
Professor: Dr. Kirsten Moana Thompson k (313)577-3358 (office), (313) 577-2450 (Dept.)
Office Hours Wednesday 11-12 or other times by appointment, Room 1252, Ground Floor English Department 51 W. Warren E-mail: kirsten_thompson@wayne.edu, Web Page:
This course introduces you to major films from a broad-based spectrum of styles, genres, historical periods, and national cultures.  The primary methodology of the course is to break films down into their component features—i.e., narrative, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound; to analyze the operations of each of these constituent parts in detail; and then to return each of the parts to the whole.  The course seeks to train you  in the specific techniques and critical methods necessary to describe, analyze, and appreciate the artistic text.  You  must see each film featured in class (screening copies on VHS DVD or LD are also available at Ademany Undergraduate Library for  study purposes) and you are encouraged to watch additional films discussed in the Bordwell/Thompson textbook, many of which are also available at this library.
Classes will be structured through a weekly screening (Tuesday) and Lecture with clips (Thursday). NOTE: This course fulfills the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of the General Education Requirement in Humanities.
COURSEWORK: quiz 20%, close analysis 30%, mid-term exam 25%, Final Paper 25%
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REQUIRED TEXTS:
 1) Film Art; An Introduction, (Sixth Edition) David Bordwell & Kristin Thompson (McGraw Hill) 2001
2) A Short Guide to Writing About Film, Timothy Corrigan (Harper, NY) 4th Edition,  2000
3) American Cinema and Hollywood: Critical Approaches, Eds. John Hill & Pamela Church Gibson (Oxford University Press, 2000)
 Key in syllabus, BT= Bordwell/Thompson,, AC= American Cinema, TC= Timothy Corrigan
A Course Materials Fee of $15.00 was billed to your account when you registered for this class.  This fee contributes to the cost of film/video/laserdisc rentals and purchases for the course, as well as equipment maintenance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WEEK 1   INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FILM
Sept.  4 & 6   The shot
Class Overview & introduction to the study of film
    Screening: Dead Again (Kenneth Branagh, 1991) UK
    Reading: Chaps 1 , & pp. 400-402, BT;  Chap 2, TC; chap 3 AC

WEEK 2    MISE-EN-SCÈNE /VISUAL STYLE
Sept. 11 & 13    & COMPOSITION WITHIN THE FRAME
     Screening: Elizabeth (Shehkar Kapur) 1998
     Readings: chap. 6 & pp. 402-406 BT;  chap 3, pp. 34-45 TC; chap. 9 AC

WEEK 3   MISE-EN-SCÈNE  II
Sept. 18 & 20   CINEMATOGRAPHY (CAMERA WORK)
    clips: Elizabeth
     In class quiz
    Readings: chaps 7 & pp. 415-417, BT; chap  3, pp. 45-55 TC;  chap 5 AC

WEEK 4   EDITING  I/CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD CONTINUITY EDITING
Sept. 25 & 27  Screening: The Hunger (Tony Scott, 1983) 97 m., US    Readings: chap 8  pp. 249- 278 BT;   pp. 55-69 TC

WEEK 5  EDITING II/ ALTERNATIVES TO CONTINUITY EDITING
Oct. 2 & 4   Screenings: Requiem for a dream (Darren Aranofsky) 2000
    clips: Battleship Potemkin/Odessa Steps sequence (Sergei Eisenstein, 1925)  USSR
    Readings: chap. 8, pp. 278-288, 412-415 &  419-422, BT
    Close Analysis exercise/ 2 week take home

WEEK 6    SOUND/MUSIC
Oct. 9 & 11   What’s Opera Doc? (Chuck Jones, 1957)
    Screening: The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) 113 m.
  Reading: chap. 3 & 9 BT;  chap. 69-78 TC;  chap. 2 AC

WEEK 7    COLOR
Oct. 16 & 18   close analysis assignment on The Hunger due
     Screening: Raise The Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou, 1991) 125 m,        China/Taiwan/Hong Kong
  clips: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Jacques Demy, 1964) France
    “Pink Elephants” sequence from Dumbo (Walt Disney, 1941)
    Reading: chap 1 & 4 TC;  pp. 144-151 BT

WEEK 8   GENRE/ HORROR & AUDIENCE RECEPTION
Oct. 23 & 25   Screening: Candyman (Bernard Rose, 1992) 93 m, US
    Readings:  chap 4  & pp. 406-408 BT; chap. 8 AC

WEEK 9   FILM NOIR
Oct. 30 & Nov. 1 Screening: The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (Lewis Milestone, 1946)
    Readings: chap  2 & 11 BT

WEEK 10   AUTHORSHIP
 Nov. 6 & 8   Screening:  Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957) 108 m. Japan
    Readings:  chap 7 AC; pp. 327-332 BT

WEEK 11   SOCIAL REALISM
Nov. 13 & 15   Screening: Once Were Warriors (Lee Tamahori, 1994) New Zealand, 103 m
    Readings:  pp. 417-419 BT; chap. 5 TC

WEEK 12
Nov. 20    Midterm Revision with clips
    Thanksgiving Recess Nov. 22-25.  No Thursday class- Happy eating!
WEEK 13
Nov. 27    MIDTERM
Nov. 29   POLITICAL & IDEOLOGICAL  ANALYSIS
 Screening: The Manchurian Candidate (John Frankenheimer, 1962) 126 m, US
    Reading:  chap. 8  AC; chap.6 TC

WEEK 14   CONTEMPORARY HOLLYWOOD
Dec. 4 & 6   Fight Club (David Fincher) 1999, 139 mins.
     (screened in 2 parts)
    Recommended readings: chaps. 10 & 12 AC; chap.7 TC (on writing papers)
    discussion of final paper
WEEK 15    FINAL PAPERS DUE in class  Dec. 11

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THE FINE PRINT
Note on Grading: All assignments MUST be submitted for successful completion of the course.
Failure to submit one or more assignments will result in a final grade of C or worse.
Attendance Policy:
Since regular attendance is important for the success of the class, students are expected to be able to arrange their schedules around class meeting times. (That includes work schedules, vacations, etc.).  In the event that a student’s final attendance record is very poor (say, more than two unexcused absences; or a pattern of arriving late and/or leaving early), points will be subtracted from the final grade.  The penalty for poor attendance can be severe, resulting in a final grade of C or worse.  In my view, a student with a poor attendance record has not really taken the course at all.
Late enrollment, withdrawal, and other special policies:
Withdrawals: The last day to drop the course is  Oct. 15.  You cannot drop the class because of poor assignment grades after this date.
Other Policies:
1.  There are no makeup screenings of films, so if you must miss a screening, try to rent the videotape or laser disc version. Ademany has most of the class titles.  Attendance at film screenings is a requirement of the course.
2.  In previous courses, I have received some complaints about talking and noise during film screenings, so please use common sense and be courteous to others during screenings.  Please don’t talk during the films (or during class discussion, for that matter).  I don’t object to food and drink in the screening room, as long as you eat quietly. PLEASE take all trash out with you when you leave the room.
Also, please keep in mind that the end of a film is just as important as the beginning.  Please do not walk out in the middle of films, and please do not start packing up to leave until the auditorium lights go up.
3.  All written assignments for the course are due in class.  Please do not leave papers for me at the English Department, unless you have first secured my permission.  (This is to prevent papers from getting lost; and please do not slide papers under my office door!)
4.  Please photocopy your papers prior to submitting them, or keep a backup copy on computer.  If your paper gets lost, I will ask you for the backup copy. Computers or printers  crashing  are not acceptable excuses
5. GRADING SCHEDULE: I will try to return assignments as soon as possible, but it will usually take me at least one week to grade a given paper or test.  It is important that students receive assignments back promptly, but it is also very important that I have the time to make detailed comments and suggestions.  I try to grade quickly, but also carefully—and that takes time.
6.  Handing in an assignment late will result in loss of points, unless a valid excuse is provided.  For every two days the assignment is late, the score drops by half a letter grade.  Except for dire emergencies, I will not accept papers that are more than 2 weeks late.
7 .  Makeups for missed tests or quizzes require a valid excuse, and under most circumstances I will ask for written documentation about the reason for absence (doctor’s receipt, auto repair bill, etc.).  If for some reason you miss a test, PLEASE notify me as soon as possible—generally within 1 or 2 days.
8.  If you cannot make it to a scheduled office meeting with me, please call to cancel as soon as possible.
9. PLAGIARISM.  Plagiarism (unacknowledged use of another person’s work) and cheating are both serious offenses.  Like most American universities, Wayne State Univ. has a fairly severe policy about penalties for both.  Evidence of plagiarism (or fabrication of sources) or cheating will result in a zero for the assignment and an F for the class.  Prior to submission of the final paper, students will be given the opportunity to discuss what constitutes plagiarism.
10. Students must put away ALL papers, notebooks, clipboards, and books during tests.  You will be given paper for the test.  I will circulate around the classroom during exams.  CHEATING WILL RESULT IN AN F FOR THE TEST AND CLASS
11. Writing Standards
Although I can provide some writing tips, this class is too large for extensive individual tutoring in basic writing techniques.  Students who  have difficulties with English grammar or spelling should contact the Writing Center for assistance: 313/577-2544; 337 State Hall.  Hours of operation vary from semester to semester.  You will be penalized if your writing standards are insufficient for university work
12. Personal Problems/  Physical or Mental Health
If you feel overwhelmed or stressed out, there is always help available at the WSU Counseling Services at 1001 Faculty Administration  Building --call (313)577-3398.  Alternatively there is the Detroit-Wayne Community Mental Health Emergency Telephone Service (313)224-7000 (24 hour service).  Don't drop your classes--talk to someone first!  If you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed or seriously stressed, TELL your professors in your classes so they can help you if you are having difficulties. If you have a physical or mental impairment that may interfere with your ability to complete successfully the requirements for this course, please contact EAS in Room 583 of the SCB to discuss appropriate accommodations on a confidential basis. Telephone: 577-1851.

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