Elements of Film
Fall 2012 - PEL
Tom Hammond
This course
is an introduction to film analysis and criticism. Being able to identify and interpret the
various components of a film is vital to understanding the most important and
influential art form of the last century and this one as well. We will watch films and clips in class. You will be assigned feature-length films to
watch as homework as well as readings from the required text. There will be a class blog for you to
participate in and an individual project.
Class Blog: http://filmelements.blogspot.com. You will be invited to post on this website.
Instructors Contact Information
– phone: 813-900-4759, email: hammontm@eckerd.edu or thammond1946@yahoo.com
Face to face
meetings can be arranged before or after class.
Required Text:
Louis Giannetti,
“Understanding Movies”
Netflix – A
monthly subscription is a good idea for the semester. All assigned movies are “streamable” on
Netflix. It costs $8 per month and the
first month is usually free. You can
obtain all the films at the library, but availability might be a problem with
25 students and a limited number of copies on hand. You can rent or buy, but Netflix is easily
the most convenient and affordable method.
If you subscribe and for an extra $7, you can receive the films by mail
as well as streaming. Turnaround is 2-3
days.
Course Requirements and Grading:
·
Attendance & Participation 20% of grade
·
Contribution to Class Blog 40% of grade
·
Midterm & Final Exam 40% of grade
·
Extra Credit Project (+10% of grade)
Attendance & Participation –
Every class covers a component of film history, theory and criticism vital to
your overall understanding of the subject.
If you can’t avoid missing a class, let me know in advance. Any pattern of absence or chronic lateness
will be noted and will adversely impact your final grade. Speak up in class. If that is difficult for you, bring in
something that will inspire discussion.
The Class Blog – You will be
invited to author on the blog. You can
make comments on existing posts, post photos, videos or your own writing. You can add links and suggested readings and
viewings as well. The Blog is a
component of participation. Contributing
to it will generate interest in the class and good grades for you.
Mid-Term & Final Exams – You
are responsible for knowing the content of the assigned readings, and being
familiar with class and required outside viewings. The exams will be a combination of objective
and short answer questions.
Extra Credit – You can keep a
journal of films you view outside the requirements of class. You should choose from movies that are
mentioned or illustrated in the text book.
Write a paragraph or more for each entry explaining how this film
relates to the subjects we are studying in class along with a personal opinion. Turn in your work before the end of the
semester in organized and printed form.
Academic Integrity – If you use
an idea from another source, you can quote it or paraphrase it, but please CITE
IT. Failure to do so will be a
violation of the Honor Code.
The Eckerd
College Honor Code: “On my honor, as an Eckerd College student, I pledge not to
lie, cheat or steal, nor to tolerate these behaviors in others.”
To affirm
this, you will write, “Pledged” followed by your signature on all assignments,
papers and exams.
Assignment Schedule:
·
All readings are chapters in the required text,
“Understanding Movies” by Louis Gannetti.
·
Assigned Viewings are films you are required to
see outside of class (all “streamable” on Netflix).
·
In class we will watch feature films, scenes and
clips from various movies and documentary material on filmmaking. Much of this will also be posted on the Blog
for your further study.
Week 1: Introduction
Introduction
of students and professor
Review of
syllabus
Lecture:
Film Language
In-class
viewing: “Citizen Kane”
Assigned
viewing: “Me and Orson Welles”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapter 1
Lecture:
Film Production & Cinematography
In-class
viewing: “Visions of Light”
Assigned
viewing: “Black Narcissus”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapters 2-3
Week 2: Editing & Sound
Lecture: Post
Production & Music
In-class
viewing: “The Cutting Edge”
Assigned viewing: “13 Assassins”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapters 4-5
Week 3: Drama & Acting
Lecture:
History of Drama & Acting Styles
In-class
viewing: “On the Waterfront”
Assigned
viewing: “Midnight Cowboy”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapters 6-7
Week 4:
Genres – MID-TERM EXAM
Lecture:
Genre Categories & Conventions
In-class
viewing: “Unforgiven”
Assigned
viewing: “Shane”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapters 8-9
Week 6: Story & Writing
Lecture:
Narrative Methods in Film
In-class
viewing: “8½”
Assigned
viewing: “Chinatown”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapters 10-11
Week 7: Ideology
Lecture:
Theme, Ideology & Propaganda
In-class
viewing: “V for Vendetta”
Assigned
viewing: “Duck Soup”
Assigned
reading: Giannetti, Chapter 12
Week 8:
Synthesis – FINAL EXAM
Lecture: Film
Theory & Criticism
In-class viewing: “Citizen Kane
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In the event
of an emergency or campus shutdown, class work will continue online at:
You will be
invited to contribute as a blog correspondent at the beginning of the
semester. This is part of the
participation segment of your grade and the location for all information if
class can’t be held as scheduled.
Assignments will be posted there as well as suggested readings. Video lectures will be available if a
shutdown continues for more than one week.
Under those circumstances, you may also post any written assignments on
the blog or send them to my email at:
You can
contact me by phone at: 813-900-4759
Be sure to review the school handout on
procedure in the event of a hurricane.
ELEMENTS OF FILM –
REQUIRED VIEWINGS
“Duck Soup” - 1933
“Citizen Kane” – 1941
“Black
Narcissus” – 1947
“Shane” –
1953
“On the
Waterfront” – 1954
“8 ½” – 1963
“Midnight
Cowboy” – 1969
“Chinatown”
– 1974
“Unforgiven” – 1992
“Visions of Light” – 1992
“The Cutting
Edge” – 2004
“V for Vendetta” – 2006
“Me and
Orson Welles” – 2008
“13
Assassins” - 2010
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