Mike Traina, professor    (707) 778-3687   mtraina@santarosa.edu 

Petaluma office #674, Drop-in hours: Wed 2-5pm; Tues & Thurs by appointment

 

MEDIA 10: Film Appreciation

Wednesdays 6-10pm in the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium

Course Syllabus, Spring 2018

 

READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY!

Welcome to the Spring Cinema Series… a unique opportunity to learn about cinema in an interdisciplinary, cinematheque-style environment open to the general public!  Throughout the term we will invite a variety of special guests to enrich your understanding of the films in the series.  The films will be preceded by formal introductions and followed by public discussions.  You are welcome and encouraged to bring guests throughout the term! This is not a traditional class, therefore it is important for you to review the course assignments and due dates carefully to ensure that you fulfill all the requirements to earn the grade you desire.  We want the Cinema Series to be both entertaining and enlightening for students and community alike. Welcome to our college film club!

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will introduce students to one of the most powerful cultural and social communications media of our time: cinema.  The successful student will become more aware of the complexity of film art, more sensitive to its nuances, textures, and rhythms, and more perceptive in “reading” its multilayered blend of image, sound, and motion.  The films, texts, and classroom materials will cover a broad range of domestic, independent, and international cinema, making students aware of the culture, politics, and social history of the periods in which the films were produced.  

 

RECOMMENDED PREPARATION

Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent. Be realistic about your skill levels and seek help when you need it.  Bring drafts of your work by my office for consultation.  

 

REQUIRED ITEMS

Lumet, S.  (1995).  Making movies.  New York: Vintage Books.

iClicker

Students are expected to join Associated Student Programs ($15) in lieu of a course materials fee.  Additional expenses might include several DVD rentals (which may be viewed on loan in the Mahoney library). 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Appraise films and filmmakers from a technical, aesthetic, and cultural point-of-view.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in recognizing and describing film techniques with proper film vocabulary.
3. Differentiate among the various phases of motion picture production.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, the successful student will be able to:

1. Analyze motion pictures utilizing precise film vocabulary.
2. Distinguish between the various phases of motion picture production.
3. Differentiate between multiple film forms, narratives, and genres.
4. Appraise films in terms of style and mise-en-scene.
5. Evaluate films in their historical context.
6. Examine motion pictures as a technology, business, cultural product, entertainment medium, and industrial art form.
7. Compare and contrast a film’s relationship with other art forms and media.
8. Construct an original thesis and organize a college-level essay analyzing specific films and filmmakers.

 

ASSIGNMENTS & EXAMS	PTS POSSIBLE	% of grade
Online discussion	64	17
Quizzes	66	17
Film Fest Review	25	6
Auteur worksheet/Storyboard	15	4
Peer critiques	15	4
Auteur Project	85	22
Final exam	60	16
Participation and discussion	55	14

There will be 385 points in the course:

A = 345

B = 307

C = 268

D = 230

F = less than 230

 

THE FILM LIST

All the films screened in class and recommended in the syllabus have been carefully selected for their artistic value because they provide fitting examples of movements and trends in world cinema. As every student, with no exception, will be required to watch every movie, it is important that you understand that some of the movies in class may be rated R or unrated. Students who will not tolerate scenes involving adult content, such as nudity, sexuality, violence, or coarse language are strongly advised to enroll in a different class. 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is expected every day and will be recorded with the iClicker.  It is your responsibility to have your iClicker in class every day with working batteries.  No special accommodations will be made for broken, lost, or forgotten devices.  Absences will result in lower participation grades. Students are allowed to miss one class period without penalty.  A student arriving late or leaving early will only receive partial credit for the class session.  Students are responsible for all lecture material presented in class regardless of attendance.  According to SRJC District Policy, if you miss more than 10% of the total hours that the class meets (2 weeks), you may be dropped from the course.  Students should contact the instructor as soon as possible if an emergency develops that prevents attendance in class.

Cellular phones & other mobile devices must be turned off when in class.  Students should not be text messaging or web surfing during class time!  No hot food in the auditorium.

 

DISCUSSION POSTS

Online discussion boards will be created for all of the films in our series.  Each student will be expected to participate in at least eight of these online discussions.  You will receive 1-8 points for a thoughtful, well written, high quality post.  A high quality post integrates information from the course materials or another valid source and/or applies course vocabulary and concepts in a meaningful way.  Students should strive to earn at least 64 discussion points over the term. Students exceeding the 64 points will earn extra credit. Discussion posts should be made by the Monday following our class screening.  Check the Discussion Forum regularly to create a dialogue on the films.  If someone replies to your work, or someone else’s post inspires you, take the time to engage.  Enhance posts with images, media clips, and active hyperlinks. Check out our post on How to Earn 8pts Weekly in the Discussion Forum. If you are earning less than 6 points on a post, consult with a TA or the instructor on how to improve your scores.

 

AUTEUR PROJECTS AND PEER CRITIQUES

Each student will utilize their newly acquired knowledge of film form to either (1) perform an auteur critique on a major filmmaker or (2) create a 90-second short film based on a predetermined treatment.  Additionally, students will peer critique each other’s work.  

 

QUIZZES AND THE FINAL EXAM

Quizzes and exams will be skills-based tests requiring students to recognize and interpret many of the cinematic techniques that are presented throughout the semester. Quizzes and exams may not be made up.  Quizzes and exams must be taken during the scheduled times unless advance arrangements are made.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND DISCUSSION

It is important that you make an effort to be an active participant in the class.  It is strongly recommended that you take notes on the films for use in discussions.  All students are expected to contribute orally.  It is customary to state your first name before making comments in the theatre.  In addition to participating in the post-screening discussions, you are encouraged to communicate via email and visit me during office hours, as well as introduce yourself during breaks before and after the screenings.  iClicker participation and the quality and frequency of your oral comments will determine your participation grade.  

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic dishonesty is regarded as any act of deception, benign or malicious, in the completion of any academic exercise.  Examples of academic dishonesty include cheating, plagiarism, impersonation, misrepresentation of idea or fact for the purpose of defrauding, use of unauthorized aids or devices, falsifying attendance records, violation of testing protocol, inappropriate course assignment collaboration, and any other acts that are prohibited by the instructor of record.

A student who plagiarizes an assignment, in part or in full, will receive no credit for the assignment.  A second offense will result in failure of the course.  Plagiarism – from the Latin word for “kidnap” – involves using another’s work without giving proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose.  This includes not only words and ideas, but also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos, and the like.  Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources.  It does not matter whether ideas are stolen, bought, downloaded from the Internet, or written for the student by someone else – it is still plagiarism.  Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used, or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited.  To avoid problems, students should cite all sources and check with the instructor before submitting an assignment or project. Students are always responsible for any plagiarism in their work.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

If you need disability related accommodation for this class, such as a note taker, test-taking services, special furniture, etc., please provide the Authorization for Academic Accommodations (AAA letter) from the Disability Resources Department (DRD) to the instructor as soon as possible.  You may also speak with the instructor privately during office hours about your accommodations.  If you have not received authorization from DRD, it is recommended that you contact them directly.  

Except under unusual circumstances, the guidelines in the syllabus will not change.  If any changes are necessary, all changes will be communicated in writing as an addendum to the syllabus.

Download the syllabus here: SyllabusMEDIA10_spring2017.pdf