Film Studies 201 - Lecture 02

Introduction to Film Studies

Monday, 8:00 - 10:50 (lectures) PF 126

Friday, 11:00 - 12:50 (labs 07) PF 114

 

Instructor:	Deidre Martin
Office Location:	SS 209
Office Phone:	NA
E-Mail:	martinda@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	by appointment

 

Course Description

This course introduces students to the central issues, terms, concepts, and approaches involved in the study of film.  Topics for analysis and discussion will include: medium, narrative, photography, mise-en-scene, composition, movement, editing, sound, and acting.   Class lectures, screenings, and assignments will explore the significance of genre, authorship, technology and world cinema to contemporary debates in the field.

 

Objectives of the Course

The goal of this course is to educate, inspire, and empower students to think, speak, and write critically about film. Film 201 endeavors to prepare students for further work in the discipline.

 

Textbooks and Readings:

Required:

A Short Guide To Writing About Film.  6^th Edition. Timothy Corrigan, Longman Press, 2007.  Available for purchase in the Campus University Bookstore.

Recommended:

The Cinema Book. 3^rd Edition. Ed. Pam Cook, BFI, 2007.  Available for purchase at http://www.amazon.com/.

 

Assignments and Evaluation

Film Journal                            30 %    To be collected intermittently for evaluation                                                                          and feedback throughout the term.               

Film Critique                           35%     November 7, 2008.

Final Take-home Exam         35%     To be distributed in class on December 5, 2008. 

                                                            *Due in for evaluation on December 12, 2008.

*It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment. 
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Descriptions:

Film Journal

Throughout the term students will be asked to complete a series of short, written critical response exercises (typically 2 - 3 paragraphs each, handwriting is acceptable) in a film journal. These exercises will model the screening questions provided throughout Corrigan's book.  Each question will be focused around a specific film or set of films screened in class.  I will ask students to submit their film journals periodically throughout the term for evaluation and feedback.

Film Critique

Inspired by our class textbook, A Short Guide To Writing About Film, this assignment is designed to focus students' knowledge, interest and appreciation of film into the format of a film critique.  Essays should be 5 to 7 typed, double-spaced pages in length and must comply with the basic guidelines and objectives highlighted throughout class and in Timothy Corrigan's book.  Possible film choices and approaches to this essay assignment will be established in class.  Students must clear their selection with me prior to commencing the research and writing of their film critique.

Take-Home Final Exam

The final examination will consist of two components.  First, there will be a set of short essay-style questions designed to assess students' knowledge of basic Film Studies terms, topics, issues, themes and theories learned throughout the course.  In the second part of the exam, students will be asked to perform a focused written critical analysis in response to a key element of one of the films screened in class.  This component of the exam will evaluate students' ability to think and write critically about film.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:   No.

 

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

 

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented. If  you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System
The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

 Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment,  failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site:  HYPERLINK "http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics" http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site:  HYPERLINK "http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/" http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

To be distributed in class on December 5, 2008.