JMS 220.1W1 Introduction to Film StudiesSummer 2015Online Course- BlackboardInstructor: Dr. Cynthia GottshallOffice Hours online roomOffice Phone: 301-2979Email: Gottshall_cm@mercer.edu

Course Description: The course offers an introduction to the broad field of film studies including formal analysis, genre studies, film history, film criticism and film theory. Film screenings will be required.

This is an entirely online summer course offering. We do not meet face-to-face at any time.

Course Goals: The course will introduce the elements of cinematic language (including narrative, mise-en-scene, cinematography, acting, editing, and sound) in order to analyze the way filmmakers convey information, story, and meaning, develop style, and elicit audience response within a single scene and over the course of an entire feature film. The course will also explore the central critical approaches to the study of film and examine a wide range of film styles and movements,

Student Learning Outcomes:After taking this course, students will:

Identify the narrative, visual, and aural elements of films. Analyze how these elements can contribute to a film's overarching aesthetic and thematic concerns. Discuss the basic terminology of narrative film form. Be able to identify various film movements and styles. Be able to distinguish between major film genres and subgenres. Have a basic understanding of film history. Understand the social and ideological functions of film. Write a wellorganized analytical paper about narrative film. Give a strong, original interpretive reading of a film.

Required Texts and MaterialsBy enrolling in this course you accept responsibility for acquiring all required textbooks and materials. Failure to purchase them will not be accepted as an excuse for late or incomplete assignments.

Text:Pramaggiore, Maria and Tom Wallis. Film: A Critical Introduction, 3rd edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson. Also contains access pass to textbook website.

Any additional readings will be put on Blackboard.

Read all materials from textbook and on Blackboard carefully and on time.

Films: You will be responsible for screening the required films by the noted deadline in the course schedule. The specific titles are listed in your syllabus. It is the responsibility of each student to view the films for the class. These films may be found for rental at sites such as www.amazon.com, www.netflix.com, or through iTunes or sometimes through YouTube. There are a number of sites on the internet that offer opportunities to view full movies online without downloading. It is your responsibility to locate the films online or at the library, if possible. Please start searching now to see where you can get the film. Dont wait until the day before it is due.

Dont watch these films for entertainment; watch them for study. Like the readings, the screenings form the basis of our class discussions, essay work, and exams.

The course will be comprised of five units of study corresponding to the weeks of class. For each unit you will be required to view one film.

The required films for this course are: Week 1 (May 26 May 30): Pans Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro, 2006) Required

Week 2 (May 31 June 6): Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) Required

Week 3 (June 7 June 13): No Country for Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen, 2007) Required

Week 4 (June 14 June 20): Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) Required Week 5 (June 21 June 24): Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) Required

Films are to be viewed by Wednesday of the designated week. Each week for the film viewed you will have discussion responses about the film due by 11pm on the Thursday of that week. See below under Discussion Board for Films Viewed for further information. The last week (Week 5) requires a different viewing schedule. Please look at the schedule at the end of syllabus for deadlines for week 5.

In addition to these complete films, there are several film clips that are required viewing. There will either be links to the films within the weekly materials or the clips will be on Blackboard under Course Content within a chapters folder.

Film Subject Matter: Good film deals with a wide variety of subject matter, some of which may be considered controversial or offensive. Assigned films may include violence, various forms of sexuality, nudity, and strong language, among other things. Because this is a college class, our aim is to think critically about the films we are viewing and to gain exposure to a wide range of materials, not all of which may be deemed socially desirable by all. The intent is not to offend anyone. It may be in your best interest to reconsider taking JMS 220 if you anticipate having objections to the course material.

Assignments:You will have several opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the principles explained in this course. A primary means of evaluating your work will be through practical application of the material. In the event that you have difficulty completing any of the assignments for this course, please contact your instructor immediately.

Here are the required assignments:

1. Chapter Responses:For many chapters you will be given a question or set of questions that you will need to respond to using your text, films watched, and/or any external materials you wish. These questions will be posted on Blackboard under the Course Content area in the folder titled Chapter Questions. Your responses must be posted by required date listed. There will be a maximum of 15 points per chapter (except for Week 5 chapter 14) where a response is required. Each of your responses should fully answer the question posed. Not all chapters will have a chapter response required.

2. Discussion Board for Films Viewed: (Minimum of two postings per film @ 25 points per film)

Each of the five films we view will have a designated area for discussion. The first four films require responses. The final film (Week 5) is a voluntary discussion only with no points attached because this film will be used in your answer to the chapter question.

Initial Substantive Posts: Submit an initial response to the prompts provided for each film by your instructor. Your initial post should be substantive (no less than a page in length, 4-5 paragraphs) and must be posted by 11pm of the Thursday of designated films viewing week. In your substantive post you are urged to use references (you may use your textbook); show evidence of critical thinking as it applies to the concepts or prompt and/or use examples of the application of the concepts in the work. Proper punctuation, grammar and correct spelling are expected. Please use the spell-check function.

Required Replies: You must reply to at least one of your peers' responses. Your reply must build on what is discussed, offer a question to consider, or add a differing perspective, etc. Rather than responding with "Good post," explain why the post is "good" (why it is important, useful, insightful, etc.). Or if you disagree, respectfully share your alternative perspective. Overall, it is strongly recommended you visit the discussion forum throughout the end of the week to read and respond to your peers' postings. You are encouraged to post more than the required number of replies. All responses to other person's posts are due by Saturday at 5pm.

Your first film discussion is on Pans Labryinth which is to be viewed by Wednesday 5/27 so your original discussion post is due by 11pm on Thursday the 28th. Your response to at least one other persons post is due by Saturday the 30th at 5pm.

3. Film Analysis Paper: You will write one paper (5-7 pages) for the course. The paper will be on a film you view from the list given to you. Your analysis will follow the guidelines for a film analysis discussed in chapter 3 of your text (p. 43). There will be a more detailed assignment explanation provided on Blackboard. (100 points)

4. Tests: There will be three tests (50-100 points each). The tests will be multiple choice and true/false over the material.

Grade Breakdown: Each assignment will be worth a specified number of points. Your grade will be based on how many points you receive out of the possible number of points for the assignment. Your final grade in the course will be determined by the percentage of points you earned out of the total number of points possible in the course.Grade Scale:A = 90 - 100; B+ = 88 - 89; B = 80 - 87; C+ = 78 - 79; C = 70-77; D = 60 - 69; F = below 60

Documented Disability StatementStudents with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting. The instructor will refer you to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations foraccommodation, if needed. Students will receive from SSS theFaculty Accommodation Form. On this form SSS will identify reasonable accommodations for this class. The form must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS. To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students immediatelycontact the Office of Student SupportServices. The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.

Honor SystemMercer University operates with an honor system. You have agreed to abide by that honor code by enrolling in the university. Any violations of the Honor Code will be referred to the Honor Council.

Deadline and Extra Credit PolicyIn keeping with new Department of Journalism and Media Studies policy, there will be zero tolerance for work turned in after a deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. Each late assignment will be given a zero with no opportunity to make-up the work or raise the grade. In addition, extra credit assignments will not be given.

Waiting until the last minute to submit assignments electronically increases the possibility of technical malfunctions contributing to missed deadlines. My internet was down or my computer messed up are not acceptable excuses for lateness. Just as you would in a paid position, use your imagination and find a way to make it happen, even in the face of technical difficulties.

Do not ask for or expect exceptions to this policy. Remember, work may, and should, be turned in early if you have a conflict with a deadline.This applies to excused absences as well. If you have a doctor's or dean's excused absence, assignments must be submitted before the deadline and tests must be taken beforethe day(s) you will miss.

Schedule

Week One: May 26th May 30thChat Session: Tuesday, May 26th at 6pm. Drop in between 6 and 6:30pm. Email me prior to that time if there is a problem with your dropping in at that time. This session is just for me to check in with you to introduce course and to see if you have any questions after you have looked at syllabus. Chapters 1,2,3, and 4. Read chapters in text and material found on Blackboard under Course Content and Chapter folders. Chapter response questions found on Blackboard under Course Content. Chapter responses due no later than Friday, May 29th at Noon. Film: Pans Labryinth must be viewed by Wednesday, May 27th.Initial discussion post on film due Thursday, May 28th at 11pm.Required Reply to a classmates post due by Saturday, May 30th at 5 pm.

Week Two: May 31st June 6th

Test One: due Tuesday, June 2nd by 7pm. Covers chapters 1-4, Blackboard materials and Pans Labryinth.

Chapters 5 and 6. Read chapters in text and material found on Blackboard under Course Content and Chapter folders. Chapter response questions found on Blackboard under Course Content. Chapter responses due no later than Friday, June 5th at Noon. Film: Citizen Kane. Film must be viewed by Wednesday, June 3rd. Initial discussion post on film due Thursday, June 4th at 11pm. Required Reply to others post on film due by Saturday, June 6th at 5pm.

Week Three: June 7th June 13th Chapters 7 and 8. Read chapters in text and material found on Blackboard under Course Content and Chapter folders. Chapter response questions found on Blackboard under Course Content. Chapter responses due no later than Friday, June 12th at Noon. Film: No Country For Old Men. Film must be viewed by Wednesday, June 10th. Initial discussion post on each film due Thursday, June 11th at 11pm. Required Reply to others post due by Saturday, June 13th at 5pm.

Week Four: June 14th June 20th Test Two: due Monday, June 15th by 5pm. Covers chapters 5-8, materials on Blackboard and films from Weeks 2 and 3. Chapters 10, 12, and 13. Read chapters in text and material found on Blackboard under Course Content and Chapter folders. Chapter response questions found on Blackboard under Course Content. Chapter responses due no later than Friday, June 19th at Noon. Film: Psycho. Film must be viewed by Wednesday, June 17th. Initial discussion post on film due Thursday, June 18th at 11pm. Required Reply to others post due by Saturday, June 20th at 5pm.

Week Five: June 21st June 24th Chapter 14. Read chapter in text and material found on Blackboard. Chapter Response question found on Blackboard. Response due no later than Tuesday, June 23rd. Film: Rear Window. Film must be viewed no later than Sunday, June 21st. No required discussion posts. Your chapter question involves this film in its answer.

Film Analysis Paper: Due no later than Thursday, June 25th at 6pm. Your film analysis paper should be on one of the following films:FargoPleasantvilleTrue Grit (2010)Shutter IslandThe Hurt LockerThe Dark KnightNorth by NorthwestRaging BullCaptain America: The Winter Soldier 2014)The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)Chef (2014)

Test 3: due Friday, June 26th by 5 pm. Covers material from chapters 10, 12, 13, and 14; materials on Blackboard and films from Weeks 4 and 5.