introfall 2004.html

INTRODUCTION TO FILM 2450
T Th 9.35 -11.35 am, Location: 226 Manoogian
Professor: Dr. Kirsten Moana Thompson (313)577-3358 (office), (313) 577-2450 (Dept.)
Office Hours Tuesday 4.30-5.30 pm or other times by appointment, Rm. 5057 Woodward, 9th Floor, English Department E-mail: kirsten_thompson@wayne.edu,
Web Page: http://www.english.wayne.edu/fac_pages/thompsonk/index2.html
This course introduces students to 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 students in the specific critical methods necessary to describe, analyze, and appreciate the film text. Weekly screenings and Lectures. This course fulfills the Visual and Performing Arts requirement of the General Education Requirement in Humanities. 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 Giannetti textbook, many of which are also available at this library. 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.
COURSEWORK: quiz 20%, close analysis 30%, Midterm 25%, final exam 25%
Required Texts: The Film Experience; An Introduction, Timothy Corrigan and Patricia White (Bedford/St Martin’s: New York) 2004, 1st Edition

WEEK 1   INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FILM
Sept. 7 & 9   The shot
Class Overview & introduction to the study of film
    Screening: Dead Again (Kenneth Branagh, 1991) UK
    Reading: Introduction (5- 39)

WEEK 2    MISE-EN-SCÈNE /VISUAL STYLE
Sept. 14 & 16   & COMPOSITION WITHIN THE FRAME
     Screening: Elizabeth (Shehkar Kapur,1998,) Great Britain
Readings: Chap 1

WEEK 3   MISE-EN-SCÈNE II
Sept. 21 & 23   CINEMATOGRAPHY (CAMERA WORK)
    Screening: Sudden Fear (David Miller, 1952)
     In class quiz (20 % of grade)
    Readings: chap 3

WEEK 4 EDITING I/CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD CONTINUITY EDITING
Sept. 28 & 30 Screening: The Hunger (Tony Scott, 1983) 97 m., US Readings: chap 4, pp 110-136
Close Analysis exercise 2 week take home (30 % of grade)

WEEK 5 EDITING II/ ALTERNATIVES TO CONTINUITY EDITING
Oct. 5 & 7   Screenings: Requiem for a dream (Darren Aranofsky) 2000
    clips: Battleship Potemkin/Odessa Steps sequence (Sergei Eisenstein, 1925) USSR
    Readings: chap 4, pp 136- 165

WEEK 6 SOUND/MUSIC
Oct. 12 & 14 Elevator to the Gallows (Louis Malle ) 1958 France
Reading: chap 5, pp 166-213

WEEK 7    COLOR
Oct. 19 & 21   close analysis assignment due 24
     Screening: Raise The Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou, 1991) 125 m,       China/Taiwan/Hong Kong
    “Pink Elephants” sequence from Dumbo (Walt Disney, 1941)
    Reading: chap 6 Midterm Revision with clips

WEEK 8 GENRE I/ HORROR
Oct. 26 & 28 Screening: Shallow Grave (Danny Boyle) Scotland
Readings: chap 8

WEEK 9   GENRE II/WESTERN
Nov. 2 & 4   Screening: Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood, 1992)
    Reading: chap 9
MIDTERM

WEEK 10 NARRATIVE
Nov. 16 & 18 Screening: Run Lola Run (Tom Tywker) Germany 200?
Reading: chap 10

WEEK 12   EXPERIMENTAL FILM
Nov. 23   Screening: La Jetée Chris Marker (Recommended outside viewing 12 Monkeys)
    Reading: chap 7

November 25-28 Thanksgiving Recess. No class on Thursday Nov 25. Happy eating!

WEEK 13   ARTHOUSE
Nov 30 & Dec. 2   Screening: Before Night Falls (Julian Schnabel, 2000) USA
    Reading: chap 11

WEEK 14 POLITICAL & IDEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Dec. 7 & 9 Screening: The Manchurian Candidate (John Frankenheimer, 1962) 126 m, US Reading: chap. 12

WEEK 15 EXAM PREP
Dec. 14 Final Class Reading: chap. 7

FINAL EXAMS Week of Dec 17- Dec 31
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THE FINE PRINT
Note on Grading: All assignments MUST be submitted for successful completion of the course.

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.
The English Department attendance policy is as follows
Students enrolled in any English course must attend at least one of the first two class sessions of the term in order to maintain a place in the class. If a student does not show up he/she may be required to drop the class. The student is responsible for dropping the class.
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. College of Liberal Arts Policy on Plagiarism (Undergraduate Bulletin, page 272:The principle of honesty is recognized as fundamental to a scholarly
Students are expected to honor this principle and instructors are expected to take appropriate action when instances of academic dishonesty are discovered. An instructor, on discovering such an instance,
may give a failing grade on the assignment or for the course. The instructor has the responsibility of notifying the student of the alleged violation and the action being taken. Both the student and the instructor
are entitled to academic due process in all such cases. Acts of dishonesty may lead to suspension or exclusion.
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.