Film Studies (FILM) 305.11 - Lecture 01
Topic in Genre
Film and the City: Urbanity in Canadian Cinema
Fall 2007
Lab: T 14:00-16:50; Lecture R 14:00-15:50

Instructor:	Prof. George Melnyk
Office Location:	SS218
Office Phone:	220-7562
E-Mail:	gmelnyk@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	R 13:00-13:50 or by appointment

Additional Information

This is a FILM course that consists of a film screening on Tuesdays (Lab) in SB 142 and a discussion of the film and its director on Thursdays (Lecture) in SB 142. The instructor will be at the lecture. There is no film screening (Lab) on Sept 11 or Nov. 13.

Course Description

This is a course that covers Canadian narrative (feature) films from 1986 to 2002. All of these films are situated in large urban Canadian centres. They enable an exploration of what constitutes urbanity in Canada. The course focuses on how the auteur director creates a representation of the urban environment and what this tells us about the diversity of urban life in Canada. The course also deals with the regional and national differences in urban culture, especially between Ontario and Quebec and between these  regions and the West. As a representation of contemporary society, urban films create an imagined place that varies from one director to another. The result is a contested view of each urban space, including differing male and female grammars concerning urban centres as places of liberation or oppression. Besides students of film, the course may appeal to students of urban studies.

Objectives of the Course

The course introduces students to the theme of urbanity in Canadian cinema. It explores how representations of urbanity are constructed using visual imagery, character, plot and dialogue. It seeks to understand the formative influences that result in a specific re-creation of an urban centre in the imagination of an auteur filmmaker. It helps students interpret their own urban experiences and challenge stereotypical images of diverse Canadian cities. The primary objective of the course is the development of a deeper understanding of the evolving genre of urban film and the role of the auteur imagination.

Textbooks and Readings:

The required textbook for the course is George Melnyk ed. GREAT CANADIAN FILM DIRECTORS (2007)

Assignments and Evaluation

The course has only two assignments. The first is a mid-term test held in class on November 15. The test is worth 50% of the student's final grade and will be 1.5 hours in length. The second is a research essay of 2000-3000 words in length due on November 29.  The essay is worth 50% of the student's final grade. The detailed course outline, which will be available for students at the first lecture on September 13, will provide a marking guide to the test and the essay.

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.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  NO

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

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. No assignment will be accepted after the last class on December 6. Assignments handed in after this date will receive a 0 grade.

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:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

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 U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

A detailed course outline with a schedule of film screenings, required readings, and marking guides to the test and the essay will be available for students at the first lecture on September 13.