TA15 Film
Appreciation Syllabus
Instructor: James Callner
MA (off: 408-741-2456)
Office Hours Tues, Wed 6:15-6:50 .
10 - 11pm. M- Thurs Online via Angel 3-5pm. Office Phone 408-741-2456 Email:
jamescallner@sbcglobal.net
Required
Book:
American Cinema/American
Culture Third Edition
Author: Belton/ Publisher
McGraw Hill
Available at the West Valley
College bookstore or
Online www.amazon.com
CONTENT AND
PURPOSE:
This course explores Hollywood motion pictures as art form, as an industry, and
as a system of representation and communication. The course will explore how
these films work technically, artistically, and culturally to reinforce and
challenge America's national self-image. It also examines the language of film.
You will learn the art of filmmaking and its history, as well as the evolution
and transformation of the "Hollywood System," and the production of
popular genres. Most important, you will learn to become a more active and
critical film viewer.
Special Note: students are
responsible for dropping. Instructor will NOT drop you. If you choose to drop
this class within the drop date period you must do it yourself.
TESTING AND QUIZ DATES:
Please
refer Angel for Quiz dates. This will be fully explained in class. This will
tell you when you have Quizzes. There are FIVE multiple choice/true False
Quizzes though-out the semester in this course. All quizzes are 20 questions
and worth 20 points. All are open book and open notes.
The key to a great grade in this course is to keep up with the viewing of the
videos in class each week and reading assignments. Take plenty of notes on the
most pertinent information or themes especially in the reading material. Note, Questions in the tests are from the
book but the videoĠs correspond to the book chapter and will help you greatly
on the Quizzes. The films we watch in class are extremely important for
your final project.
READING ASSIGNMENTS: PLEASE CHECK
LESSON TAB ON ANGEL for Assigned Quiz Dates. Note: you will be taking the Quiz on Angel. To be explained in class.
Note: American Cinema videoĠs will be shown in class
or you can view them at: http://www.learner.org/resources/series67.html?pop=yes&pid=208
Quiz #1
Read Chapter 2 (Classic Hollywood Style: Narration) - Video Program 1
Read Chapter 4 (The Studio System) _ Video Program 2
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Quiz 2
Read
Chapter 5 (The Star System) - Video Program 3
Read
Chapter 11 (The Western) - Video Program 4
_____________________________________________________________
Quiz #3
Read
Chapter 8 (American Comedy) - Video Program 5
Read
Chapter 9 (War and Cinema) - Video Program 6
_____________________________________________________________
Quiz #4
Read
Chapter 10 (Film Noire: Somewhere in the Night) - Video Program 7
Read
Chapter 14 (Hollywood in the Age of Television) _ Video Program 8
_____________________________________________________________
Quiz #5
Read
Chapter 16 (The Film School Generation) - Video Program 9
Read
Chapter 17 (Into the Twenty –First Century) - Video Program 10
_____________________________________________________________
Review
Chapter 3 Classical Hollywood Cinema Style –for the final. Along with all notes on basic film terms.
Final: 30 points
You have two choices. Choose one with
Instructor approval.
1. Choose
three of the films we have seen in class and review them in a six-page paper
(double spaced 12 pt font. Word, PDF, Text formats expectable. Email to jamescallner@sbcgloabl.net OR you may do this
review in an arranged 15-20 minutes oral report for the class or on Youtube or
another site to submit to the Instructor.
Examples
of this special review will be explained in class and in a hand out.
2. Make a
film with these restrictions. Instructor must approve ideas and script. It must
be from one of the genre's studied in class. E.g. Hollywood
style (Narrative), Film Noire, etc or Documentary. It must be no shorter
than 10 minutes, no longer than 15 minutes. You must post on You-tube or
another site for Instructor viewing. On due date send link to Instructor for
evaluation. jamescallner@sbcglobal.net DVD will NOT be accepted. (If you really want to
learn this stuff IĠd recommend this choice. Start early!)
***Tests Grading:
This class
works ONLY on a points system Not percentages.
Total
points in the semester 150 Points
Test Scores are graded as follows:
Total Possible Points = 20
18 -20 = A
15 - 17 = B
12 -14 = C
9 - 11 = D
8 or less = F
Semester grades are calculated as follows:
Total Possible Points = 130
114 -130 = A
101 -113 = B
88 - 100 = C
75 - 87 = D
74 or less = F
Pass/no pass Option Available. Please let Instructor
know at end of course.
_____________________________________________________________
SLO_ Student Learning Outcome: Analyze cinema as a literary form and cinema as
entertainment by comparing film genres and cinematic techniques.
Assessment: Examinations.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Disability Statement
West
Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented
disabilities. Students should notify DESP (Disability & Educational
Support Program) located in the Learning Services building (408-741-5085) of
any special needs
Student Learning Outcomes based on
random calculation of test scores of 10 students. You do NOT have to do
anything. This does NOT affect your grade. It is a state requirement