Film History - CMS 3310 - Clayton State University Syllabus for Summer 2014...Textbook Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film History: An Introduction, 3rd edition. ISBN: 978-0073386133

Film History - CMS 3310

“Only the impassive lens, stripping its object of all those ways of seeing it, those piled up preconceptions, that spiritual dust and grime with which my eyes have covered it, is able to present it in all its...purity to my attention and consequently to my love.” - André Bazin

! Course number: CMS - 3310! Film History! Summer/2014/3.0 credit hours

Instructor: Jonathan M. Harris, MFAOffice Location: ME #214! ! !Phone: (678) 491-4716 E-Mail: [email protected] Website (GeorgiaView)

You can access our course in GeorgiaView by clicking on the link above or here or by scanning the QR code here using your mobile phone. After finding Georgia View you will need to login with your CSU username and password. Don’t know what your username and password are? Click here. and select “Forgot Password”

PAGE 1 OF 14! ! CMS -3310 FILM HISTORY

Personal Website: http://faculty.clayton.edu/jharris91On Campus and Online Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday 10:00a.m.-10:30a.m., 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. and by appointment. Available via phone, and WebEx. Click here to join the office hours meeting. We can chat via text chat, video, or audio. :-) CommunicationPlease feel free to e-mail questions, concerns, ideas or just to check in whenever you like. I will try to respond during the week within 24 hours. I may not respond during the weekend but rest assured, I will get back with you during the week. Please include information about which class you are in when e-mailing, thanks! Also, please be aware that all students and faculty are expected to use the official CSU e-mail system for security reasons and to abide by federal regulations. I will be available in my office on-ground if you’d prefer to stop by and meet face to face sometime.

Introduction to the courseThis course will be 100% online. All lectures, discussions, and assignments will be conducted and delivered online. To get started with the class, please navigate to the START HERE module on the first page of our course site on Georgia View. After that, you will work your way through a series of activities, readings and discussions each week.

PAGE 2 OF 14! ! CMS-3310 FILM HISTORY

TextbookBordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film History: An Introduction, 3rd edition. ISBN: 978-0073386133. This text is available in the CSU bookstore, or as a Kindle download from amazon.com. Additional materials, including quizzes to check your learning are available at the textbook website here: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070384290/student_view0/. Course Catalog Description A study of both artistic and technological developments in American and international cinema, with emphasis on significant film movements and filmmakers. Key films will be examined in depth. 3 credit hours.

Course Prerequisites:ENGL 1102 with a minimum grade of C and CMS 2100 with a minimum grade of C

Course Objectives/Learning OutcomesStudents will learn to:

Analyze and evaluate film genres throughout the history of cinema.

Demonstrate the ability to identify leading directors and fully understand their importance for the development of cinema.

Develop competency writing about cinema including a knowledge of film technique

Demonstrate knowledge of the variety of feature films, filmmakers and styles


Program OutcomesThe following link provides the Communication and Media Studies learning outcomes:

http://www.clayton.edu/vpa/cms/programoverview

This course provides support for the following CMS learning outcome:

! “Critically analyze the aesthetic dimensions and layered ! meanings of past and present communication and media ! products”

Course FormatFully Online

Course Assignments/AssessmentsPlease check D2l for a complete list of assignments and assessments for the course. In general, students can expect the following:

-Weekly Quizzes over the reading/lecture due each Sunday night by 11:59p.m. The first quiz will be due on Sunday, June 1st by 11:59p.m. so let’s get started! :-)-Brief research assignments on films and filmmakers to deepen our understanding of film history and the women and men who created it-Thorough responses in Discussion group to weekly discussion questions. Please see the Discussion Guidelines, posted in Georgia View.


-Well-researched term paper and associated assignments (subject, sources, thesis statement, rough draft, final draft). You’ll see all dates below and in the course calendar on the course home page in Ga View.

-Periodic timed exams including a midterm and final exam. All exams will be open notes, open book, but will require not only the recall of information, but the ability to think critically and synthesize information in short essay form. Please keep up with the readings and lectures as well as the discussions so you are prepared for the exams!

Grade breakdownDiscussion Postings 10 postings x 20 points each

20%

Term Paper 20%Research Mini-Paper 10%

Midterm examination 10%Final examination** 10%Online quizzes: 10 quizzes @ 10 points each 10%Term paper assignments (topic, research sources, topic sentence, first paragraph, first draft)

10%

Participation/Activity in course 10%TOTAL 100%


Grading Scale:A 900 - 1000 pointsB 800-899 pointsC 700-799 pointsD 600-699 pointsF Below 600 points

Mid-term Progress Report:

The mid-term grade in this course, which will be issued on July 11th, reflects approximately 30% of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, or withdraw on-line using the Swan by mid-term, which occurs on July 14th. Instructions for withdrawing are provided at this link.The last day to withdraw without academic accountability is Monday, July 14th, 2014.

Late WorkLate assignments will be penalized with point deductions determined by the instructor but will not exceed 10 points penalty per day.

Grades and turnaround time for assignmentsPlease be patient. I know you will work hard on the assignments in this course. Please know that I will be diligent in returning graded assignments as quickly as possible. This usually translates into a week after the deadline date. It may be quicker sometimes and at times it may take a bit longer. Quizzes will be auto-graded by D2L so that you have feedback more quickly on how you’re doing.

Participation RequirementsStudents are expected to participate in online discussions in a timely manner and to comment on other student postings. Please see the Discussion Guidelines, posted on GeorgiaView, for additional information.

• Students will be expected to attend one live online class


session (optional but highly encouraged) each month, times will be posted in GeorgiaView. It will contribute to your attendance and participation score and it’s fun!

• Each week, students will open the “To Do List” on Sunday or Monday and work through the requirements for that week. Feel free to work ahead, just don’t fall behind!

• The course week runs from Monday morning until Sunday at 11:59:59 p.m. EST. Please make sure that you have posted to all discussions and submitted all weekly assignments by this deadline. Late written work will not be accepted without penalty. No late discussion posts will be accepted.

Working your way through the Course

Course modules will be assigned on a weekly basis according to the Course Schedule and include objectives, a lesson guide and expectations for completing homework assignments. You are expected to actively participate in all aspects of the course. This includes completion of assigned readings, homework assignments, and tests or quizzes and participation in online discussions. Course weeks run Monday through Sunday, with Sunday at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time as the deadline for making posts and submitting the week's assignments. All work assigned during the weekly course module(s) must be turned in by this


deadline; late work will not be accepted. It is suggested that you read through all course content in the week's assigned module(s) to get a feel what is expected during the course week and to help you plan your time wisely.

You should post three to four times minimum to the discussion boards as required. Please read the full discussion guidelines here.

Online Etiquette (Netiquette)

Discussion, chat, and e-mail spaces within this course are for class purposes only, unless otherwise stated. Please remember to conduct yourself collegially and professionally. Unlike in the classroom setting, what you say in the online environment is documented and not easily erased or forgotten.

The following guidelines apply: • Avoid using ALL CAPS, sarcasm, and language that could

come across as strong or offensive. • Use proper punctuation, grammar and be sure to edit your

contribution before posting.• Read all postings before posting your responses to

discussion topics so as to not unnecessarily repeat information.

• Keep chat comments brief and to the point. • Focus on one topic at a time when chatting or posting to


discussions. • Remember that unlike in face-to-face learning

environments what you say in discussions and chats is documented and available to be revisited. Choose your words and discussion topics carefully.

• E-mail should only be used for messages pertaining to the course. Please refrain from sending forwards, jokes, etc. within e-mail.

General PolicyStudents must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to log in and participate as part of their learning in the course. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Attendance Policy

Students are expected to access the online course materials and participate in the required discussions, activities and assignments. Course tracking can be used to assess the amount of


“attendance” in an online course. Any student who fails to complete a scheduled assignment during the first two weeks of class will be reported as a “No Show”.

Computer/Technology/Materials Requirements

You are required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for your academic program. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm You must have a stable internet connection which is available to you frequently in order to access the course and keep up with assignments. Please see an exhaustive list of technology requirements here.

Supplemental

Please be aware of the companion website for the course textbook which offers an array of quizzes for students to test their knowledge each week. http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070384290/student_view0/

Required Skills Students enrolled in this course should possess the following technology skills:

• The ability to access information via the Internet • The ability to use GeorgiaView (WebCT/LMS) and associated

tools, including discussion boards, chat rooms, online testing and assignment submission features

• The ability to use word processing software and to save in alternate formats


• The ability to send, receive and include attachments using email

• The ability to demonstrate netiquette (appropriate online conduct)

Software The following software is required in order to view course content and to participate in planned course activities. If you do not have this software currently loaded on your computer or are unsure, you can download the software for free by clicking on the following links:

Technical SupportHUB URL (http://thehub.clayton.edu/index.php?nav=hub_services)

Disabilities

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations need to register with Disability Services in order to obtain their accommodations. You can contact them at 678-466-5445 or [email protected]. If you are already registered with Disability Services and are seeking accommodations for this course, please make an appointment with me to discuss your specific accommodation needs and give me your accommodations letter.

Academic DishonestyAny type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic

Adobe Reader

Flash Player


dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs.

Plagiarism Detection Software.Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You should submit your papers in such a way that no identifying information about you is included.

Student Code of ConductBehavior that disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding online behavior and/or behavior while participating in online course activities may be dismissed from class. A more detailed description the Student Code of Conduct can be found at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentconduct/

Operation StudyAt Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items.


Course Schedule

TOPIC AND DATE DESCRIPTION OF CONTENT READ

Week 1 Introduction to Film History: Ways of thinking about film history or why was film invented in the first place?

Chapter 1

Week 2 Origins of the film industry: Inspiration, Gambling, Murder, Theft, and Mystery. Porter and Meliés “Like history written in lightning” --D.W. Griffith, Silent Hollywood Stars and Studios

Chapters 2, 3

Week 3 Silent Auteurs and Expressionism Chapters 4, 5, 6

Week 4 Conversion to Sound and the Production Code

Chapters 7,9


Week 5 The Classical Hollywood Style Poetic Realism, Orson Welles and the WWII Years

Chapter 10, 13, 14

Week 6 Post-war filmmaking and politics- Film Noir and Italy: Italian neo-realism

Chapters 15, 16

Week 7 New waves emerge and Hollywood in Transition

Chapters 19, 20, 22

Week 8 Cinema of the 1960s and 1970s

Chapter 23

Week 9 Art Cinema and Cinema of the 1980s and 1990s

Chapters 27, 28

Week 10Digital Cinema, National Cinemas, and Global Film Culture

Chapters 26, 29, 30

All assignment due dates are posted in the GA View course calendar. Thanks!


Documents

Film History - CMS 3310 - Clayton State University Syllabus for Summer 2014...Textbook Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film History: An Introduction, 3rd edition. ISBN: 978-0073386133