SYLLABUS FOR AMERICAN CINEMA

Course Time: Wednesday, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Course Description: This class presents an overview of the history of film, its technique, methods of distribution, the film industry and the viewing of films and their relationship to society as a medium.

Sikov, Ed. American Cinema Study Guide. McGraw-Hill, 1994.

Other components: Ten one-hour video programs and three half-hour supplementary programs from PBS.

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances.

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After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).

 Class Policy For Assignments: Students are expected to view 12 movies, which should include at least 5 in-class screenings, and write two-page reports/reviews. Each of the 10 units must be represented; titles may be chosen from lists in the textbook and study guide. One of the remaining 2 films must be seen at a theater.

Students will be expected to do all of the self-tests in the Guide and hand them in at the movie screenings or at other times on a regular weekly basis in the college mailroom.

Students should follow the study plans given in the Guide for each unit. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CUT CORNERS.

This course will enable students:

1. To acquire knowledge of American film history, from silent movies to the present day.
2. To recognize and use the basic technical and critical vocabulary of motion pictures.
3. To understand how the technology of the cinema relates to film art.
4. To gain a fundamental background in the economic structure of the film industry.
5. To understand the role of genre in American film history and to recognize how some of the most popular genres express American social and cultural tensions.
6. To develop a more sophisticated conception of "realism" as it relates to motion picutres.
7. To question their own role as passive spectators, and to increase their ability to watch films actively and critically.

Assessment: Final grades will be based upon the instructor’s holistic evaluations of the exams, the reports/reviews, and the self-tests. Participation in discussions following screenings will count positively. No numerical grading scale is used.

Class Assignments

May 3-- Introduction to Film Language

Study Guide (SG)--Supplementary Unit 1

Tape 111

May 10-- The Hollywood Style

SG—Unit 1: Textbook (T)—Chapters 1, 2 and 3

Tape 101; Vertigo

Note: Movie showings are on designated Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Other titles may be substituted.

May 17-- The Studio System

SG—Unit 2; T—Chap. 4

Tape 102; Swing Time

May 24-- The Star

SG—Unit 3; T—Chap. 5

Tape 103; Mildred Pierce

May 31-- The Western

SG—Unit 4; T—Chap. 10

Tape 104; Red River

June 7--Romantic Comedy

SG—Unit 5; T—Chap. 7

Tape 105; The Lady Eve

Take-home midterm will be distributed, due June 21.

June 14—Class outing to movie at local theater

June 21--The Combat Film

SG—Unit 6; T—Chap. 8

Tape 106; They Were Expendable

June 28--Film Noir

SG—Unit 7; T—Chap. 9

Tape 107; Double Indemnity

SG—Supp. Unit 2; Tape 112

July 5--Film in the Television Age

SG—Unit 8; T—Chap. 12

Tape 108; Rebel Without a Cause

July 12--The Film School Generation

SG—Unit 9; T—Chap. 14

Tape 109; The Age of Innocence

July 19--The Edge of Hollywood

SG—Unit 10; Tape 110; Eight Men Out

Take-home final exam distributed, due August 2.

July 26--Classical Hollywood Style Today

SG—Supp. Unit 3; Tape 113

Movie outing to local theater or selected in-class screening

PBS videotapes are to be rented through the College bookstore. A back-up set is on 1-3 day reserve at the College library. Movies shown in class will also be on reserve in the library and may be viewed there or checked out overnight. These films may also be available at video rental stores or public libraries. Call ahead.