INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES, ENGLISH 332, FALL 2007

Instructor: Dr. Rodney Allen

Office: 102

Office

Hours: MWF: 9:00-10:00; M: 2:00-3:00; TTR: 9:30-11:00; T, 2:00-3:00;

and by appointment. Guided Study, Wednesday night, room 206.

Texts: Film: An Introduction, William Phillips

3 Screenplays, Michael Tolkin

Course description

English 332 is an introduction to film studies that provides students with an overview of film history, theory, and techniques. Like courses in literature, it will involve "close readings" of films, both as screenplays and as visual, temporal works of art. Students will also have the chance to create, act in, film, and edit a short video.

Grading:

You will have 5 major grades: 1 essay of at least 1,000 words, 2 exams during the semester, a project involving creating a short video, and a final exam. I will announce exact due dates for exams and the essay at least 10 days in advance. You must turn in the essay, take the 3 exams, and turn in your film project in order to pass the course. I will count off for late papers. On any class day you may have a pop test on your reading assignment. You will have a film lab on Wednesday nights, during Guided Study, in room 208.

Approximate dates for exams and essays:

Exam 1—the last week of September

Essay 1--the first week of October

Exam 2--the first week of November

Film project--the first week of December

Final Exam—the middle of December

SYLLABUS

We will work through the major text, Film: and Introduction, at the rate of approximately one chapter per week. The film lab on Wednesday nights will set up Thursday class discussions of those films.

Films for the first half of the semester:

Nosferatu (1924)

Triumph of the Will ( 1936)

Stagecoach (1939)

Citizen Kane (1941)

I'm still deciding on films to show in the second half of the semester. They will progress chronologically to The Player (1992).

During the last two weeks of the semester you will work on your original video projects.

Motto: We'll laugh, we'll cry.