Film Studies Course Syllabus

Ms. Amy McGrath

720-424-1803

Welcome to Film Studies! Over the course of the next two semesters, we will view, discuss and write about almost 40 movies! Film is possibly the most culturally relevant of all modern art mediums. It is also an important synthesis of ALL art forms. Film Studies will help give you a basic understanding of the history of the cinema, major genres, and basic elements of filmmaking. We will be considering symbol, archetype, perspective, and structure- as well as many other tools that filmmakers use to create meaning. You will be researching and writing about all of the films that you see. Thinking and writing critically about film is one of the key aspects of the course- you will be doing a substantial amount of writing.

Course expectations:

-We will watch, in class, one movie per week. One day of class will be spent in discussion, lecture, research and writing.
-You will need to keep a notebook or journal to write about each movie that we view. Your movie journals comprise a substantial percentage of your grade.

-Every two weeks, you will need to write reviews about a movie that you watch independently. One movie needs to be from my “Recommended Viewing” list, and one movie can be of your own choice.
-As a class, we will attend one movie per quarter at the movie theater. We will try to arrange a night and time that works for as many of you as possible, but if you miss our movie night, you will need to make arrangements to see the movie on your own. The movies that we see will primarily be independent films, unless there are particularly compelling Hollywood films to be seen. We will have class discussion and writing assignments based on these films.

-You will have film vocabulary/concepts tests.

-You will write one major paper (5 pages). I will give you more details about this assignment later in the year.

- Eventually, you will research and present to the class a film- including background information, a shot-by-shot analysis, and the preparation of discussion questions.

It’s such a privilege to teach film studies at DSA! We’re going to have a great time, but it will require a considerable commitment on your part. It will be worth it, I promise!

Attendance/Grading policies

-Be on time. After your first few warnings, you’ll be spending lunch periods working in my room, which is, like, completely humiliating .

-Show up for class. Missing a lot of class will be really tough in Film Studies because you’ll miss watching the films, which puts you behind in your journals and discussion questions. I can’t lend out my dvd copies of the films- so if you miss a movie, you’ll have to find it yourself or come watch it in my classroom during your lunch or free periods.Finally, I don’t accept makeup work from unexcused absences. Unexcused absences will be referred to the student advisor.

-Get your work turned in, on time. Late work in film studies can be turned in for half credit which means you will always receive a failing grade on anything not turned in on time. This will become especially important on your journals, which are high-points grades. You will have ONE grace journal entry per semester- use it wisely! I will accept your film journals and discussion questions hand-written (though many students choose to type them), but all reviews, papers and other written work should be typed, double-spaced and edited for writing errors.

-Points are cumulative throughout the semester. Assignments will be given point values based on the time required and expectations of the assignment.

-Work will be turned in on time. LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR 50% CREDIT. Makeup work from excused absences must be completed promptly. It is YOUR responsibility to find out what work you missed if you were absent.

If you ever need more time or help on anything, please contact me. I’m actually really nice. Just don’t come see me about why you don’t have your assignment that’s due that day… I won’t be very nice. The best way to reach me outside of class is by email, which I check regularly-

Class Norms:

Be respectful. Film Studies is a privilege reserved for DSA Juniors and Seniors. I have based this course on college level Film courses with the expectation that you can handle the workload and the benefits. This is the only class at DSA where you get to watch lots of amazing movies- and some of them have pretty adult themes. I expect you to be respectful and take the course seriously, which doesn’t mean that we won’t have any fun- we definitely will. It is also essential that you earnestly contribute to class discussion and ask intelligent, important questions.

And a little pet peeve –please use the bathroom before you come to class. I do not like people leaving the classroom mid-film; I find it highly distracting. So, if you can at all help it, utilize the facilities before or after class.

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder."

Alfred Hitchcock.

Film Studies Proposed Film List – NOT all inclusive

Nosferatu

Birth of a Nation

Charlie Chaplin shorts

Modern Times

Duck Soup

Citizen Kane

The Wizard of Oz

Casablanca

Rear Window

Psycho

Singin’ in the Rain

Some Like it Hot

Rebel Without a Cause

On the Waterfront

Hard Day’s Night

The Graduate

To Sir, With Love

Easy Rider

Dr. Strangelove

Cool Hand Luke

Bonnie and Clyde

Rosemary’s Baby

The Godfather

American Graffiti

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

All the President’s Men

Annie Hall

Dog Day Afternoon

Apocalypse Now

Close Encounters or Jaws

Alien

Do the Right Thing

Barton Fink/ Raising Arizona

Silence of the Lambs

Shadow of the Vampire

Fargo

Adaptation

Elephant

Magnolia