CC 399-01 HISTORY OF WESTERN CINEMA
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Blackboard: http://plato.bridgew.edu/
This survey course explores the historical,
cultural, and artistic development of the American and European fiction film
industries through the study of topics such as film movements (Italian
Neorealism), industrial practices (the blockbuster), and screen giants (Howard
Hawks). The course combines weekly
full-length feature viewings with lectures, group discussions, and written
assignments.
| Philosophy Lectures
and presentations are necessary to insure common ground for discussion, but
this course will succeed based on your willingness to explore and share your
own experiences and the course materials in thoughtful and meaningful
ways.
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Attendance Attendance at all sessions is required. More than two (2) absences will drop your
final grade, as will habitual lateness, leaving early, and leaving during
class. While I appreciate the
information, merely noting your absence or intended absence does not constitute
an excused absence. You cannot learn if you are not here.
If you miss an exam without contacting
me, you will receive a zero (0) for that exam grade. For an excused absence (approved by me prior to the exam date), I
may substitute an additional essay or research paper rather than give a make-up
exam.
Much writing about film is available in books and
online. It is not wrong to consult
these works, but you need to document your sources. This means using proper citation if you use someone else’s ideas,
and proper citation and quotation marks if you use someone else’s exact
words. When in doubt, cite your
sources.
This course has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating and
plagiarism: you cheat and you get a zero: The first documented instance of
cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero (0) for the assignment and a
notification of the Vice President of Academic Affairs as outlined in the
Academic Integrity section of the College Catalog (pp. 48-49). This could
result in failure on the assignment, for the class, or in expulsion from
school.
| Technology: This is not a web class, but new-media technologies are an integral
part of contemporary learning. I expect
you to have basic word-processing, e-mail, and web-browsing skills. We will integrate Blackboard
(plato.bridgew.edu) into the class.
| Assistance: If you require additional or alternate assistance, please inform me as
soon as possible so we can make arrangements to aid your learning.
| Papers:
Any written assignment must be typed and double-spaced, with proper
margins. Use MLA style, the accepted
style for the BSC Communication Studies department, to document your work. Do not submit first drafts of papers: edit
your work for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and paragraph and sentence
structure. I grade papers for form and
content: the way you communicate affects what you communicate.
For late
papers, I will drop a grade per day after the due date.
Missed
presentations will be made up at my discretion.
Evaluation
You must complete ALL assignments to receive a
passing grade for the course.
Information
on individual assignments will be available in class and online.
I
adhere to the school’s grading system:
A
— Superior; B — Good; C — Satisfactory; D — Poor; F — Failure
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Percentage of final grade / Assignment 8% -
Journal 1 8% -
Journal 2 8% -
Journal 3 20% - Final Paper & Presentation 20% - Exam 1 20% - Exam 2 16% - Participation 100% total |
Grade Scale
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There is
no extra credit.
The
following is a schedule of topics we will cover in the class and the
corresponding reading assignments.
Additional materials will be supplied in-class or online. Films are
available either through the Media Services video system, or at local video
stores. We will discuss films on the
date they are listed – you must view before this date.
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DATE |
READING |
VIEWING/DISCUSSION |
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T
Jan 20 |
Introduction |
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R
Jan 22 |
Beginnings Ch. 1 |
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T
Jan 27 |
Griffith & Contemporaries Ch. 2 |
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R Jan 29 |
American 1920s Ch. 3 |
The General (1926) |
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T Feb 3 |
European 1920s Ch. 4 European 1930s Ch. 7 |
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R Feb 5 |
Hollywood Studio System Ch. 5 |
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) |
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T Feb 10 |
American 1930s Ch. 6 |
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R Feb 12 |
American 1940s Ch. 8 |
Maltese Falcon (1941) |
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T Feb 17 |
MONDAY SCHEDULE |
NO CLASS |
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R Feb 19 |
European 1940s Ch. 9 |
The Bicycle Thieves (1948) |
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T Feb 24 |
American 1950s Ch. 10 |
Sunset Boulevard (1950) |
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R Feb 26 |
International 1950s Ch. 11 |
JOURNAL 1
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T Mar 2 |
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Seventh Seal (1956) |
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R Mar 4 |
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EXAM 1 |
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Mar 6 – Mar. 21 |
SPRING BREAK |
NO CLASSES |
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T Mar 23 |
International 1960s Ch. 13 |
The 400 Blows (1959) |
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R Mar 25 |
International
1960s (cont.) |
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T Mar 30 |
American 1960s Ch. 12 |
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R Apr 1 |
American 1960s (cont.) |
Easy Rider (1969) |
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T Apr 6 |
American 1970s Ch. 14 |
JOURNAL 2 |
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R Apr 8 |
American 1970s (cont.) |
The Conversation (1974) |
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T Apr 13 |
International 1970s Ch. 15 |
Ali: Fear Eats The Soul (1974) |
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R Apr 15 |
American 1980s Ch. 16 |
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T Apr 20 |
International 1980s Ch. 17 |
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R Apr 22 |
American 1990s Ch. 18 |
Barcelona (1994) |
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T Apr 27 |
International 1990s Ch. 19 |
Dancer in the Dark (2000) JOURNAL 3 |
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R Apr 29 |
|
PRESENTATIONS FINAL PAPER |
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T May 4 |
|
PRESENTATIONS |
R May 6
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PRESENTATIONS |
R May 13
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2:00-4:00 PM |
SECOND EXAM |