Film Studies (FILM) 321 - Lecture 20

History of Popular Cinema

Spring 2008

Screening TuTh 11:00 - 13:50
Lecture TuTh 14:00 - 15:50

 

Instructor:	Dr. Charles Tepperman
Office Location:	SS 238
Office Phone:	(403) 220-7303
E-Mail:	c.tepperman@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	TuTh 16:00 - 17:00

Additional Information

 

Attendance at both lectures and screenings, and informed participation are essential components of this course and will help determine your final grade. Students must come to class prepared to discuss the required reading. Some of the materials and topics presented in class may include explicit content (sex, violence or language). If these materials make you uncomfortable, you are encouraged to speak with the professor. You will not be exempt from any class assignments but we will work together to accommodate your concerns.

 

Course Description

An assessment of the various ways in which the history of film production can be approached, including the development of filmmaking technologies, evolutions in cinematic style and narrative traditions, particularly as they relate to popular cinema, and changing industrial practices.

Objectives of the Course

The objective of this course is to provide students with a foundational understanding of the history of film as a technology, commercial medium, and artistic form.

Textbooks and Readings:

Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell, Film History: An Introduction, Second Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003.

Assignments and Evaluation

Class Participation (ongoing)                                              15%

 

Film Journal                                                                      25%

(5 x 5%: Due May 16, 23, 30, June 6, 20)               

 

Weekly Quiz                                                                     25%

(5 x 5%: May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17)

 

Final Exam                                                                        35%

(Scheduled by Registrar)

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: YES

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.

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.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

The complete schedule of Lectures and Readings for this course will be posted on Blackboard.