ENG 281-002

Introduction to Film: Representations of the Family in American Cinema

Fall 2005

 

MWF 12-12:50pm, CB 238

M. Todd Hendricks, Instructor

1218 Patterson Office Tower (mailbox is in room 1215)

Office Hours: TR 2-3:30pm

Office Phone: 257-6990

E-Mail: Michael.Hendricks@uky.edu

Class website: www.uky.edu/~mthend0/main.html

Revised 8/29/05

 

For syllabus addendum click here.

 

Syllabus note: This is an official statement of class rules and guidelines.  Please retain, read, and familiarize yourself with the contents of this syllabus.  Take all of the policies contained therein seriously, as you will be held accountable for them at all times during the course. 

 

Course Description:

This course is a basic introduction to the art form of the film, covering elements such as editing, directing, cinematography, music, acting, genre, and so on.  Though focusing primarily on film form, we will also pause occasionally to look back at film history, observing how films from different eras influence those that come after them and break from those that came before.  Each week we will focus on a specific film for viewing and discussion.  As a theme these films will deal with representations of the family in American cinema.  Grading will consist of three papers, midterm and final exams, group presentations, and viewing quizzes.

 

Text: Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White.  The Film Experience: An Introduction.  New York: Bedford St. Martin’s 2004.

 

A Word on Film Viewing and Offensive Content

In this course, you are required to watch films.  You must see these films outside of class and come prepared for discussion and a viewing quiz on the appropriate dates.  A weekly screening will be held in room 338 of Whitehall Classroom Bldg. every Wednesday at 2 pm and again at 6 pm.  Further personal screenings will be available at the Media Library, which is located in the basement of Young Library on campus.  Go up to the desk and ask to see the film assigned for that week, and they will set you up in a room for private viewing.  Films go on reserve one week before and go off one week after the scheduled class discussion time.  If at all possible, I suggest that you see these films at the Classroom Bldg., as they were made to be viewed on the big screen rather than on a television.

We will average about one viewing per week, so make time to see these on your own.   The films that we will be watching will sometimes, if not usually, contain offensive material, including violence, nudity, and language.  If you have a problem watching such films, or cannot make time to see them each week, please drop the class immediately.

 

Grading:

To pass this class, you must do excellent work in addition to meeting the basic requirements of the course (attendance, completed assignments, etc.).  I am concerned only with the work you do in this class and how it matches my standards as a grader.  Each assignment handout will explain what is required of you as a film student and a writer.  If you are confused about the requirements of an assignment or have questions, you must ask me before the due date.  Afterwards, I am always happy to explain your grade to you in detail, or listen to an appeal if I have made a technical error in grading. 

Most every week, class will consist of a lecture on a chapter in your textbook and/or an aspect of film history, a group presentation, and a discussion of a particular film that has been assigned for viewing that week.  On discussion day, you will be given a quiz that will cover the content of the film.  The quiz may also include relevant details about the makers of the film (director, actors, etc.), so research these as part of your discussion preparation. 

Three major papers will be required of you during the course of the semester.  Each of these requires a minimum length of four pages.  Paper topics will be assigned in advance.  Students taking the course for “W” credit will write three five page papers (minimum) and must turn in a rough draft that I will review in advance of each final draft deadline.  All papers are essays that should address the question(s) given in the assignment and should not consist of plot summary or be a film review.  These constitute major grades.  Failure to meet the minimum requirements of the assignment or address the question(s) asked by it can result in a grade of “E”.

Group presentations are scheduled periodically throughout the semester, focusing on the life and work of an important film director or actor.  I will organize you into groups during the first full week of class.  Groups will consist of three people.  You will have to present a biographical sketch (including origins, life, important works and themes explored in those works) and briefly examine two of the artist’s films in 30 minutes (10 for each member, no more or less).  One person in the group will present the bio, and each other member will have to watch one of the artist’s noted films and present that work to the class, using one key film clip to illustrate an important theme in the particular work.  These films must be selected from work not viewed as part of the class film list.  Each member of the group will be graded individually.  I will be looking for evidence of a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject/work, a coherently organized presentation of that knowledge, and in the case of the film discussions evidence of thoughtful analysis and a list of thought-provoking questions for the class. 

You will also be given a mid-term and final examination; tests will be taken from the assigned chapters in your book and may also include material from my lectures.  There will be no review or study sheets issued for the exams.  All tests will consist of short answers and/or essay questions.  Please bring a blue book to class on exam days. 

           

Grade breakdown:

Weekly Quizzes (10% of your semester grade)

Group Presentation (10% of your semester grade)

Midterm and Final Exams (20% each of your semester grade)

First Major Paper (10% of your semester grade)

Second and Third Major Papers (15% each of your semester grade)

 

My personal grading scale, per major assignment (excluding tests), is as follows:

 

A = 97

A-/B+ = 90

B = 87

B-/C+ = 80

C = 77

C-= 70

D = 60

E = 0

 

Tests and quizzes will receive specific numeric grades based on points accumulated.

 

Attendance/Late Arrival Policy

            Attendance is crucial for your own education and the communal edification of the class.  Unexcused absences in excess of two will carry a penalty of one half of one semester letter grade per absence.  It is possible to fail the class if you break this rule, so please take it seriously.  While I understand that everyone runs a little late now and then, chronic or extreme tardiness is a problem and will be punished.  If you are more than 5 minutes late to any class, or leave early, you will be counted as absent for that day.  Do not bother attending if you cannot make it on time.  I take attendance at the beginning of each class.  If you arrive late but before 5 minutes have passed, it is your responsibility to notify me of your arrival after class, so you may be counted as present.

             

Late/Missed Work:

            All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.  Late assignments will be taken down one letter grade for each day they are late (including the day they are first due).  Group presentations, exams, and viewing quizzes cannot be made up in the event of an unexcused absence.  I do not accept assignments via e-mail.  It is your responsibility to have them in on time, in the correct format, on paper.  Computer problems are also your responsibility.  I understand that usually these problems are unexpected and frustrating, but there are ways to defend against them.  Make sure that all work that you do is saved on a memory stick, particularly if you do most of your work in the computer labs on campus.  Save your work repeatedly, even if nothing is going wrong.  This way, in the event of a crash, you at least have most of your progress saved and don’t have to start all over.  Also, make sure you have enough of a “time cushion” between when your work is due and when you plan to print out a final draft.  If something goes wrong, you will at least have time to deal with it.

            If you know that you will be gone on a particular day, particularly if something is due on that day, it is your responsibility to contact me so that we can arrange for you to turn in/make up the work on time.  You are always welcome to turn things in early. 

 

A note for students taking this course for W (writing intensive) credit

            Students wishing to receive W credit for this course (a) must be enrolled in the W section, (b) must submit all formal writing assignments, and (c) must receive a grade of a C or higher on each assignment.  The final major assignment is not subject to revision.  Questions about the W option should be referred to the Director of the UK Writing Initiative, Prof. Janet Eldred, eldred@uky.edu, 257-4831, 152 Bowman Hall. 

 

Academic Dishonesty

            Plagiarism is the worst academic crime one can commit, and the minimum penalty for those that plagiarize is an “E” in the course.  You are responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism as per your student handbook/guidelines.

 

Classroom Etiquette

            A successful college course is one that prompts compelling discussions in which a diversity of views, convictions, and beliefs are shared.  All such beliefs need to be respected for the discussion to be compelling and fruitful.  Please show respect for your peers and your instructor by conducting discussions and arguments in a professional manner. 

            Do not bring newspapers to class.  Reading the paper during class is a high act of disrespect, and will not be tolerated.  Cell phones may be brought to class, but may be turned on only in the event of a potential emergency.  If you have a call, you are expected to leave the classroom immediately and may return only when the call is complete, as a courtesy to everyone.  Do not make this a common occurrence.

            Failure to abide by these rules will result in being asked to leave the class, and being counted absent for that day.

 

Course Schedule (subject to change/revision):

W 8/24 Introduction to the class, explanation of the syllabus

F 8/26 Lecture: Film History

            Read: Text, Chapter 9

M 8/29 Lecture: Film Movement

            Read: Text, p.78-79, 91-92

W 8/31 Discussion: A Girl and Her Trust (Griffith, 1912), A Trip to the Moon (Melies,

1902), The Great Train Robbery (Porter, 1903)

F 9/02 Lecture: Film Sound, Genre (Comedy, Musicals)

            Read: Text, Chapter 5, p. 288-300, p. 306-308

M 9/05 LABOR DAY – NO CLASS

W 9/07 Discussion: The Kid (Charlie Chaplin, 1921)

F 9/09 Group Presentation: Charlie Chaplin

M 9/12 Group Presentation: Vincente Minnelli/Judy Garland

W 9/14 Discussion: Meet Me in St. Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944)

F 9/16 Lecture: Film Writing

            Read: Text, Ch. 12

M 9/19 Lecture: Cinematography

            Read: Text, Chapter 3

W 9/21 Discussion: Rebel without a Cause (Nicholas Ray, 1955)

            W Students: Rough Draft, Paper #1 due

F 9/23 Lecture: Mise en Scene

            Read: Text, Chapter 2

M 9/26 Group Presentation: Steven Spielberg

W 9/28 Discussion: The Public Enemy (William A. Wellman, 1931)

F 9/30 Lecture: Genre (Horror)

            Read: Text, p.308-310            

M 10/03 Lecture: Genre (Gangster)

            Read: Text, p. 310-311

W 10/05 Discussion: The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)

All Students: Final Draft, Paper #1 due

F 10/07 FALL BREAK – NO CLASS

M 10/10 Lecture: Genre (Western, Melodrama)

            Read: Text, p. 300-306

W 10/12 Group Presentation: Martin Scorsese

F 10/14 Discussion: Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)

M 10/17 Mid-term Examination

W 10/19 Lecture: Reading Film Theory

            Read: Text, Ch. 11

F 10/21 Discussion: Catch Me if You Can (Steven Spielberg, 2002)

M 10/24 Group Presentation: Robert Redford

            W Students: Rough Draft, Paper #2 due

W 10/26 Discussion: Ordinary People (Robert Redford, 1981)

F 10/28 Lecture: Genre (Film Noir/Detective Movies)

            Read: Text, p. 312-315

M 10/31 Group Presentation: Fritz Lang

W 11/02 Discussion: The Big Heat (Fritz Lang, 1953)

F 11/04 Lecture: Film Editing

            Read: Text, Chapter 4

M 11/07 Group Presentation: Roman Polanski/Jack Nicholson

            All Students: Final Draft, Paper #2 due

W 11/09 Discussion: Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)

F 11/11 Extra Credit Game – Film Trivia

M 11/14 Group Presentation: Sean Penn/Christopher Walken

W 11/16 Discussion: At Close Range (James Foley, 1986)

F 11/18 Lecture: Genre (Science Fiction)

            Read: TBA

            W students: Rough Draft, Paper #3 due

M 11/21 Group Presentation: Marlon Brando

W 11/23 Discussion: Logan’s Run (Michael Anderson, 1976)

F 11/25 THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASS

M 11/28 Lecture: Film Narrative

            Read: Text, Ch. 6

W 11/30 Discussion: E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982)

F 12/02 Lecture: Genre (Action)

            Read: TBA

            All Students: Final Draft, Paper #3 due

M 12/05 Group Presentation: James Cameron

W 12/07 Discussion: Aliens (James Cameron, 1986)

F 12/09 Course wrap-up/practice mise en scene analysis

F 12/16 Final Examination, 1-3pm