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CC
223-01 INTRODUCTION
TO FILM AS COMMUNICATION BRIDGEWATER
STATE COLLEGE
SPRING
2002
MONDAY 12:00-2:40 HART
HALL C115 |
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Blackboard: http://plato.bridgew.edu/
Introduction
to Film as Communication is a survey of motion pictures as a mass medium of communication,
with an emphasis on the films and practices of the popular American
cinema. The course introduces students
to the formal techniques and strategies by which films are constructed (e.g.,
composition, editing, sound, movement, narrative, etc.) and the critical
methods and perspectives used to analyze, discuss, and write about film and
other visual media. An emphasis is
placed on the student’s ability to write about film from a critical
perspective.
| 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 one (1) absence 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
(http://www.bridgew.edu/Catalog/ugpol.htm). This could result 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.
Consult Corrigan’s “Manuscript
Form” (Chapter 7) for more detailed information about writing sound academic
papers.
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 10% - Paper 1 10% - Paper 2 10% - Paper 3 20% - Paper 4 & Presentation 15% - Exam 1 15% - Exam 2 10% - Quizzes 10% - Participation 100% total |
Grade Scale
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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. You must view the films prior to the date
listed below.
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DATE |
READING |
ACTIVITY |
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M
Jan 14 |
Introduction |
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M Jan 21 MLK Day |
NO CLASSES |
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Tuesday Jan 22 |
Photography ·
Giannetti CH 1 ·
Corrigan 1-40 |
High Fidelity (2000) |
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M Jan 28 |
Mise en Scene
·
Giannetti CH 2 ·
Giannetti 456-470 ·
Corrigan 55-66 ·
Corrigan 122-143 |
The Graduate (1967) |
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M Feb 4 |
Movement
·
Giannetti CH 3 ·
Giannetti 477-480 |
Rushmore (1998) FIRST PAPER |
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M Feb 11 |
Editing
·
Giannetti CH 4 ·
Giannetti 470-477 |
North by Northwest (1959) |
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M Feb 18 President’s Day |
NO CLASSES |
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Wednesday Feb 20 |
Sound
·
Giannetti CH 5 ·
Giannetti 480-487 ·
Corrigan 83-88 |
Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999) FIRST EXAM |
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M Feb 25 |
Acting
·
Giannetti CH 6 |
Fargo (1996) SECOND PAPER |
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M Mar 4 Spring Break |
NO CLASSES |
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M Mar 11 Spring Break |
NO CLASSES |
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M Mar 18 |
Drama
·
Giannetti CH 7 |
Silence of the Lambs (1991) |
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M Mar 25 |
Story
·
Giannetti CH 8 |
Chinatown (1974) THIRD PAPER |
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M April 1 |
Writing
·
Giannetti CH 9 |
Some Like It Hot (1959) |
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M April 8 |
Ideology
·
Giannetti CH 10 ·
Corrigan 105-108 |
Thelma & Louise (1991) SECOND EXAM |
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M April 15 Patriot’s Day |
NO CLASSES |
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M April 22 |
Synthesis
·
Giannetti CH 12 |
Citizen Kane (1941) |
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M April 29 |
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FOURTH PAPER & PRESENTATION |