Film 201 - L01
Introduction to Film Studies
Winter 2008
Lecture: Wednesday 14:00 - 16:50

Tutorials: Friday 14:00 - 14:50; Friday 15:00 - 15:50

 

 

Instructor:	Bart Beaty
Office Location:	SS 330
Office Phone:	220 7246
E-Mail:	beaty@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	Wednesday 13:00 - 13:50

 

Course Description

The aim of this course is to introduce students to various ways of approaching cinema not only as a form of entertainment but also as a mode of expression which uses a wide range of strategies to create compelling stories and communicate intricate messages.

 

Objectives of the Course

 

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the essential means for studying and analyzing film. To achieve this, students become familiarized with the terminology and methods of film studies and with the tools that are critical to the appreciation of cinema as an integral component of our audio/visual culture.

 

Textbooks and Readings:

David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction, 8th edition

ISBN:  0073310271

 

David A Cook. A History of Narrative Film, 4th edition

ISBN:  0-393-97868-0

 

Assignments and Evaluation

Mid-term exams (3 x 15% each = 45%). This class will feature three mid-term exams, each of which will be held during the tutorial on February 8, March 21, and April 4. These exams will focus predominantly on the material covered in the course readings.

 

Tutorial Presentation (15%). Each week, except for weeks when mid-term exams are scheduled, a group of three or four students will makes a presentation (approximately 30 minutes in length) examining, in detail, the readings for that week. Students will be graded on creativity, originality, depth of comprehension, and quality of communication in these presentations. The mark for the presentation will apply to all group members equally.

 

Final Exam (40%). The final exam, scheduled by the registrar, will focus equally on material covered in the lectures and in the readings. It will be long form essay format.

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

As all assignments are class based and scheduled it is not possible to make them up, and missed exams and presentations will result in a grade of zero.

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

 

To be handed out in class