Film 1010: Film Aesthetics and Analysis (Spring 2010, CRN: 10604)

MW 5:30pm-6:45pm, Classroom South 309 Instructor: Email: Website: Mailbox: Drew Ayers dayers2@gsu.edu www.drewayers.com 6th Floor, One Park Place Office: 840B, One Park Place Office Hours: M 2:30pm-4:30pm; W 2:30pm4:30pm, and by appt. (ALWAYS email first)

N.B. 1) The course website and uLearn will reflect updates to the course, changes in the syllabus, assignments, etc. Be sure to check them regularly. The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary. 2) Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State University. Upon completing the course, please take the time to fill out the online course evaluation. Course Description This course will examine the aesthetics (both visual and aural) of film and their relation to film narrative and genre. This course will also explore the ways in which film aesthetics help to convey meanings, tell stories, and perpetuate ideologies. Special attention will be paid to critical writing about film, and this course will develop the critical thinking and writing skills needed for academic film criticism. Students will be introduced to the specialized concepts and vocabulary required for scholarly film criticism. This course is a prerequisite to the upper-level film courses. Course Objectives By the end of the course, students will be able to: Define terms/concepts fundamental to film studies Employ these terms/concepts in academic writing, class discussion, and class presentations Write analytical/critical essays that show understanding of, engagement with, and thoughtful use of film studies vocabulary Conduct research specific to film studies The critical, argumentative, and written skills gained in this course are those required for upperlevel film studies courses as well as for other critical engagements with the world. Required Texts 1) Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White. The Film Experience: An Introduction. 2nd Ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. (Available at the GSU bookstores) 2) Readings on uLearn 3) Course films (Available via streaming on Netflix) Screenings Throughout the semester, you will be required to view the eight films listed on the syllabus. Since we do not have a reserved screening time for the class, you will need to watch these films

2 on your own. All of the films are available via streaming on Netflix, and I suggest that you subscribe to Netflix for the duration of the semester, either individually or in small groups (unlimited plans start at $8.99/month). Most of the films are also available through the library media center reserves (2nd Floor, Library South). The films are a fundamental part of the course and will comprise a large part of our discussions. Viewing these films is mandatory, and even if you have already seen the films, you should plan to view them again before the class in which we are discussing them. Attendance and Participation Attendance for this course is mandatory. My approach to this class will integrate lectures, class discussions, student presentations, and various exercises and activities in order to explore the principles discussed in the readings and lectures you cant participate if youre not there. Attendance will be taken during the first fifteen minutes of each class by using a sign-in sheet. Each student will have three personal days during the semester to cover absences from either class or screenings. These days may be used for any reason you choose and should include time out for illness, emergencies, religious holidays, and family obligations. For each absence after the initial three, your overall attendance grade will be lowered by one letter grade. If you arrive to class after the first fifteen minutes, you will be counted as tardy. Each tardy counts as onehalf of an absence. If you have an ongoing situation that requires special consideration, please discuss this with me at the beginning of the semester. Group discussion of course material will comprise a large portion of our in-class activity. It is essential that you have carefully read the assigned material prior to class in order to fulfill your responsibilities as a member of the learning community of this class. Further, you are expected to participate actively in class discussion. Attendance/Participation comprises 10% of the final grade, and your participation grade will be based on both the frequency and quality of your participation. Everyone is expected to participate in class discussions. Late Assignment Policy If an assignment is turned in late, one full letter grade will be deducted for each day the assignment is late. Additionally, please remember that an assignment is considered late immediately following the class period for which it is due. If you are unable to attend class on a day that an assignment is due, you must contact me prior to the class and make alternative arrangements. All assignments must be submitted in hard-copy form. When assignments are due, expect the unexpected. Assume that one (or perhaps all) of the following will happen to you on exam dates and assignment due dates: Your printer will not print or the line for the printer at the University is a mile long Your printer will run out of ink or paper Your disk will crash and all data will be lost Your car will not run, busses will skip your stop, and all or your friends will be out of town Please take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these events from affecting the timely submission of assignments and exams.

3 Additional Sources of Academic Support The University offers a range of support services for students. Among the resources available are: The Writing Studio (http://www.writingstudio.gsu.edu/) Provides advice and tutoring in composition Student Support Services (http://www.gsu.edu/oeo/sss.html) Offers a variety of services, including tutoring, career counseling, and support groups Special Accommodations If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities that you believe may require accommodations for this course, please meet with me after class or during my office hours to discuss appropriate adaptations or modifications that might be helpful to you. The Office of Disability Services (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwods/) can provide you with information and other assistance to manage any challenges that may affect your performance in coursework. Assignments There are five primary assignments for the semester. We will talk about each in more detail as the due dates approach. 1) Short Essays: There are four short writing assignments spaced throughout the semester. Each short essay is worth 5% of your overall grade, and the essays together comprise 20% of your overall grade. See page 9 of this syllabus for more detailed information. 2) Film Clip Presentation: Groups of two or three people will present and discuss the cinematic aspects of a film clip of their choosing. The presentations should focus on the particular aspects of cinema we are studying (editing, cinematography, etc.), and your presentation should be 10-15 minutes in length. Your presentation should: a) Focus on a brief clip from a film of your choice clips should be no more than two or three minutes; b) Provide an analysis of the clip focusing on the topic of the class discussion (editing, etc.); c) Draw conclusions as to how your clip is representative of the larger issues we are discussing; and d) Provide further questions for class discussion. I expect a polished, rehearsed presentation with a clear argument or thesis about your clip. Your group should meet with me at least a week prior to your presentation to discuss what you are going to present. The presentation is worth 10% of your overall grade. 3) Midterm Exam: You will be responsible for completing a take-home midterm exam. The exam is designed to test you on the material we have covered in class up to the midpoint, and you will have one week in which to complete it. You will respond to two questions/prompts of your choice, selected from a list of several questions/prompts that I will provide to you. Each response should be at least 750 words in length (roughly 3 double-spaced pages), resulting in a total of approximately 6 pages for the entire midterm. The midterm is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, March 3rd, and it is worth 20% of your overall grade. 4) Final Paper Proposal: Each student must submit a proposal for his/her final paper. This proposal should include the following information: a) The title of your final paper; b) A thesis statement and summary of your argument; c) An annotated bibliography of at least three peer-reviewed, academic sources; d) An outline of your final paper. For the annotated bibliography, you should summarize the argument and main points of the source and state how you are going to use the source in your own paper. There is no

4 required length for this proposal, but the more thorough and detailed you are, the better feedback I can provide. The final paper proposal is due on Monday, April 5th, and it is worth 10% of your overall grade. See page 10 of this syllabus for a template of the proposal. 5) Final Paper: The final paper must be 7-8 pages in length (NOT including the title page and bibliography), and it requires a research element. The paper should make use of all of our discussions about film criticism filmic elements, essay construction, analysis, research, etc. and it is meant to showcase all you have learned this semester. The final paper is due on the last day of class (Monday, May 3rd), and it is worth 30% of your overall grade. See page 11 of this syllabus for more details. All materials must be submitted in hard-copy form and should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins on all sides, and double-spaced. Each page should also include your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. The upper left-hand corner of the first page should include your name, my name, the course name, and the date of submission. You should include a word count at the end of each essay. Use MLA format for your citations and works cited page. Please remember to staple your essays. All work is due at the beginning of the class for which it is due. Grading Four Short Essays (5% each): Film Clip Presentation: Midterm Exam: Final Paper Proposal: Final Paper: Attendance/Participation/Quizzes: 20% 10% 20% 10% 30% 10%

Grading Breakdown A+ (100-97); A (96-94); A- (93-90); B+ (89-87); B (86-84); B- (83-80); C+ (79-77); C (76-74); C- (73-70); D+ (69-67); D (66-64); D- (63-60); F (59-0)

Regarding Scholastic Dishonesty: I take this matter very seriously and will report any suspected cases of academic dishonesty to the Office of Judicial Affairs. For details on the Universitys policy on Academic Honesty, please consult the Offices website at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/judicial.html or the Policy on Academic Honesty in the Faculty Handbook (section 409) at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/fhb.html. The policy prohibits plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple submissions. The process by which the university handles academic misconduct cases is also very specifically spelled out in the policy. Violation of the policy may result in failing the class as well as disciplinary sanctions. The internet makes it easy to plagiarize, but also easy to track down plagiarism If you can google it, I can google it. Bottom line: Dont plagiarize its not worth it. Cite all your sources, put all direct quotations in quotation marks, and clearly note when you are paraphrasing other authors work.

5
Georgia State University Policy on Academic Honesty FROM THE GSU FACULTY HANDBOOK As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The university assumes as a basic and minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts. Both the ideals of scholarship and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to their academic work. The university's policy on academic honesty is published in the Faculty Affairs Handbook and the On Campus: The Undergraduate CoCurricular Affairs Handbook and is available to all members of the university community. The policy represents a core value of the university and all members of the university community are responsible for abiding by its tenets. Lack of knowledge of this policy is not an acceptable defense to any charge of academic dishonesty. All members of the academic community -- students, faculty, and staff -- are expected to report violations of these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate authorities. The procedures for such reporting are on file in the offices of the deans of each college, the office of the dean of students, and the office of the provost. In an effort to foster an environment of academic integrity and to prevent academic dishonesty, students are expected to discuss with faculty the expectations regarding course assignments and standards of conduct. Students are encouraged to discuss freely with faculty, academic advisors, and other members of the university community any questions pertaining to the provisions of this policy. In addition, students are encouraged to avail themselves of programs in establishing personal standards and ethics offered through the university's Counseling Center. Definitions and Examples The examples and definitions given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic honesty and academically honorable conduct are to be judged. The list is merely illustrative of the kinds of infractions that may occur, and it is not intended to be exhaustive. Moreover, the definitions and examples suggest conditions under which unacceptable behavior of the indicated types normally occurs; however, there may be unusual cases that fall outside these conditions which also will be judged unacceptable by the academic community. A. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting another person's work as one's own. Plagiarism includes any paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student's work as one's own. Plagiarism frequently involves a failure to acknowledge in the text, notes, or footnotes the quotation of the paragraphs, sentences, or even a few phrases written or spoken by someone else. The submission of research or completed papers or projects by someone else is plagiarism, as is the unacknowledged use of research sources gathered by someone else when that use is specifically forbidden by the faculty member. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one's reliance on other sources is also a form of plagiarism. Any work, in whole or in part, taken from the Internet or other computer-based resource without properly referencing the source (for example, the URL) is considered plagiarism. A complete reference is required in order that all parties may locate and view the original source. Finally, there may be forms of plagiarism that are unique to an individual discipline or course, examples of which should be provided in advance by the faculty member. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility. B. Cheating on Examinations: Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help include the use of notes, computer based resources, texts, or "crib sheets" during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member), or sharing information with another student during an examination (unless specifically approved by the faculty member). Other examples include intentionally allowing another student to view one's own examination and collaboration before or after an examination if such collaboration is specifically forbidden by the faculty member. C. Unauthorized Collaboration: Submission for academic credit of a work product, or a part thereof, represented as its being one's own effort, which has been developed in substantial collaboration with another person or source, or computer-based resource, is a violation of academic honesty. It is also a violation of academic honesty knowingly to provide such assistance. Collaborative work specifically authorized by a faculty member is allowed. D. Falsification: It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or fabricate information in an academic exercise, assignment or proceeding (e.g., false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of the results of experiments or of computer data, false or misleading information in an academic context in order to gain an unfair advantage). E. Multiple Submissions: It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is a natural development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.

Daily Schedule
1/11 Topic: Reading: Syllabus; Why Study Film?; Sign-Up for Presentations Smith, Its Just a Movie (uLearn) pp. 5-12 (C&W) Course Syllabus (uLearn and Class Website) The Elements of Mise-en-Scene pp. 61-73; 75-84 (C&W)

Mise-en-Scene 1/13 Topic: Reading: 1/18 1/20

NO CLASS MLK HOLIDAY Topic: Reading: The Significance of Mise-en-Scene pp. 84-93 (C&W) Film Reviews vs. Analytical Essays pp. 507-512 (C&W) Two reviews of a film of your choice Bring to class and be ready to discuss (http://www.rottentomatoes.com is a good place to start) Writing a Film Essay pp. 513-531; 536-541 Rashomon (Kurosawa, 1950) Discussion of Boyz N the Hood Diawara, Black American Cinema: The New Realism (uLearn) Boyz N the Hood (Singleton, 1991) Short Essay #1 Due The Elements of Cinematography pp. 95-121 (C&W) The Significance of the Film Image pp. 122-123; 127-133 (C&W) Discussion of Vertigo pp. 124-126 (C&W) Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958) Short Essay #2 Due

Writing About Film 1/25 Topic: Reading:

1/27

Topic: Reading: Screening:

Mise-en-Scene, Cont. 2/1 Topic: Reading: Screening: Assignment: Cinematography 2/3 Topic: Reading: 2/8 2/10 Topic: Reading: Topic: Reading: Screening: Assignment:

2/15

Topic: Presentations Assignment: Film Presentations from Group I

7 Editing 2/17 2/22 2/24

Topic: Reading: Topic: Reading:

The Elements of Editing pp. 135-166 (C&W) The Significance of Film Editing pp. 166-183 (C&W)

Topic: Discussion of La Jete; Distribute and Discuss Midterm Exam Screening: La Jete (Marker, 1961) Assignment: Short Essay #3 Due Classical Film Theories pp. 457-485 (C&W)

Reading About Film 3/1 Topic: Reading: 3/3

Topic: Contemporary Film Theories Reading: pp. 485-505 (C&W) Assignment: Midterm Exam Due NO CLASS SPRING BREAK NO CLASS SPRING BREAK

3/8 3/10

Researching for a Film Paper 3/15 Topic: Researching Film; Proper Citation Format Meet with Nedda Ahmed: Library North, Classroom 1 Reading: pp. 527-543 (C&W) Sound 3/17 3/22 3/24 Topic: Reading: Topic: Reading: The Elements of Film Sound pp. 185-211 (C&W) The Significance of Film Sound pp. 211; 214-223 (C&W)

Topic: Discussion of Eraserhead Screening: Eraserhead (Lynch, 1977) Assignment: Short Essay #4 Due Topic: Presentations Assignment: Film Presentations from Group II Topic: Reading: The Elements of Narrative Film pp. 227-259 (C&W)

3/29 Narrative 3/31

8 4/5 Topic: The Significance of Film Narrative Reading: pp. 259; 262-269 (C&W); BST, Classical Narration (uLearn) Assignment: Final Paper Proposal Due Topic: Discussion of Cleo from 5 to 7 Screening: Cleo from 5 to 7 (Varda, 1962) Assignment: There is no formal written assignment due, but be prepared to discuss the narrative strategies of Cleo from 5 to 7. Everyone should come up with a thesis statement about the narrative of the film and be prepared to share it with the class. I will be asking everyone to present his or her thesis to the class. Topic: Reading: Topic: Reading: Topic: Reading: Screening: The Elements of Film Genre pp. 331-342 (C&W); Schatz, The Genius of the System (uLearn) The Significance of Film Genre & Hollywood Genres pp. 343-367 (C&W); Schatz, Film Genres and the Genre Film (uLearn) Discussion of From Dusk Till Dawn King, Genre Benders (uLearn) From Dusk Till Dawn (Rodriguez, 1996) Intro to Ideological Analysis pp. 288-297 (C&W); Stam, 1968 and the Leftist Turn (uLearn) Discussion of Taxi Driver Cahiers analysis of Young Mr. Lincoln (uLearn) Taxi Driver (Scorsese, 1976)

4/7

Genre 4/12 4/14

4/19

Ideological Analysis 4/21 Topic: Reading: 4/26 Topic: Reading: Screening:

4/28 5/3

Topic: Presentations Assignment: Film Presentations from Group III Topic: Course Wrap-up Assignment: Final Paper Due Remember to submit your course evaluations

9 Short Essay Assignments Short Essay #1 Write a 500 word paper (1.5-2 double-spaced pages) analyzing the mise-enscene of one scene or shot from Boyz N the Hood. Pay particular attention to the ways in which the mise-en-scene helps to create meanings and tell the films story. Remember, you should focus on the visual aspects of the film (what you see) rather than on a summary or explanation of the story/plot of the film. I expect a detailed analysis of the particulars of the mise-en-scene in the scene or shot Use the terms that weve discussed in class to make your analysis more precise. The first sentence or two of this short essay should consist of a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of what points you are going to make in the essay. Include a word count at the end of your essay. Short Essay #2 Write a 500 word paper (1.5-2 double-spaced pages) analyzing the cinematography of one scene or shot from Vertigo. Remember, you should focus on how the cinematography helps to tell the story rather than simply providing a summary or interpretation of the film. Also remember to utilize the cinematographic terms weve learned in class. The first sentence or two of this short essay should consist of a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of what points you are going to make in the essay. Include a word count at the end of your essay. Short Essay #3 After watching La Jete, write a 750 word paper (2.5-3 double-spaced pages) in which you analyze the relationship between story and editing, using the editing terms weve learned in class. This essay should have a short introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of your argument. Also pay careful attention to the structure of your essay, making sure that your argument proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easy for the reader to follow. This assignment is building towards the type of argument youll be expected to make in the final paper, and as such, pay close attention to the way in which you present and defend your argument. Include a word count at the end of your essay. Short Essay #4 Write a 750 word paper (2.5-3 double-spaced pages) in which you analyze the use of sound in Eraserhead, utilizing the sound terms weve discussed in class. This essay should have a short introduction that includes a clear thesis statement and a concise summary of your argument. Also pay careful attention to the structure of your essay, making sure that your argument proceeds in a clear and logical order that is easy for the reader to follow. Include a word count at the end of your essay.

10 Final Paper Proposal Template 1) Title of Final Paper 2) Thesis and Summary of Main Argument 3) Source #1 a. Annotation 4) Source #2 a. Annotation 5) Source #3 a. Annotation 6) Source #n a. Annotation 7) Outline of the Complete Paper

11 Final Paper Assignment 1) For this paper, you will develop an argument that engages with a topic and film(s) of your choosing. I will leave the exact topic up to you, but your paper should demonstrate a clear understanding of the concepts weve discussed in class mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, genre, and ideology and the paper should apply the concepts to a specific film or films. (You dont need to write about all of the concepts listed above; you are free to write about whatever concepts you choose.) 2) This paper should expand on the work you did in your proposal, and you should expect to do significant rethinking/revising of your initial argument, incorporating any suggestions I might have provided you. Failure to take my revision suggestions into account will negatively affect your grade on this paper. 3) At least three peer-reviewed, scholarly sources are required, and these sources must be cited within the text and in a works cited page remember, any time you use another authors work (either paraphrased or directly quoted), you must cite that author. Plagiarism will result in an automatic zero for the assignment and possible academic sanctions. 4) The sources must be academic in nature, either from scholarly journals or books (no Wikipedia or film reviews), and the readings we did in class will not count toward your source total (though you are welcome to use these readings as additional sources). The goal is to get you to put into practice the research techniques we discussed in class and to utilize the resources of the University library. Remember everything that Nedda discussed with you Use the librarys research page to help begin your research: http://research.library.gsu.edu/film. 5) I expect you to engage thoughtfully with your sources. Dont merely pull quotations from sources and assume that they speak for themselves. You should explain how you are interpreting an authors argument and how it relates to your own argument. 6) Dont wait until the last minute to do your research. It will show in the finished product. Your research should be an ongoing project throughout the semester. 7) Your paper must be 7-8 pages in length, and you should include a title page and bibliography (which should NOT be included in your page count). The title page should include your name, my name, the course name, the date of submission, and a title for your paper. 8) Formatting: Use MLA format for this paper. The essay should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins on all sides, and double-spaced. Each page should also include your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. Please remember to staple your essay. 9) This essay is meant to showcase all you have learned about film aesthetics and analysis this semester (mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, and ideology). As such, you should submit a polished essay with a clear thesis and argument. Impress me J 10) The paper is due on the last day of class Monday, May 3rd at the beginning of class. Late papers will be deducted one letter grade for each day they are late. The final paper is worth 30% of your overall grade.