EXPLORING THE FILM
COM 271
Summer 2009

 Hugh McCarney
mccarneyh@wcsu.edu
837-8254


Text: Bordwell and Thompson, Film Art (B&T)
Web Board Discussion (PW=COM271)

SCHEDULE

Date ReadingViewing
6/1 Read B&T Chapters 2 & 3, "Types of Films," and "The
Significance of Film Form"		The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
6/2 Read B&T, Chapter 4, "Narrative as a Formal System";
The title of the film you will be working with is due
The General
6/3 Sample for Paper OneFrenzy
6/4 Paper due on Narrative Structure
Citizen Kane
6/8 Citizen Kane
6/9 Road Warrior
6/10 Read B&T, Chapter 7, "The Shot: Cinematography" Mildred Pierce
6/11 Paper due on Formal Analysis
It Happened One Night
6/15 High Noon
6/16
The Big Sleep
6/17 The Shootist
6/18 Read B&T, Chapter 8, "The Relation of Shot to Shot: Editing"
Paper due on Interpretation 		Diner
6/22 Blood Simple
6/23 Dirty Harry
6/24 Adam's Rib
6/25 Read B&T, Chapter 10, "Style as a Formal System"
Paper due on Evaluation 		Best in Show
6/29 Read B&T, Chapter 11, "Film Criticism" Palm Beach Story
6/30A Night at the Opera
7/1 Harold and Maude
7/2 Repo Man

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To understand how the elements of film combine to present, support, or develop ideas--how film communicates.

READING: The reading will provide you with essential information for writing the papers.


DISCUSSION: While there will be some time available for discussion in class, in order to increase the opportunity to consider the films we view you will be expected to participate DAILY in an on-line discussion. There is a link to the Web Board Discussion at the top of the page.
GRADES: The final grades are based on the best three papers, and the on line discussion.

PAPERS: The papers will be submitted as email attachments, prepared in Microsoft Word. All of the papers are based on one film chosen from the library collection. Each paper looks at the form from a different perspective, and requires a particular type of thinking.
  • Paper One is primarily descriptive, and looks at the narrative structure of the film. The question answered in the discussion is "How does the way the events are ordered in the film function to create surprise, suspense, or curiosity?"

  • Paper Two discusses how formal aspects of the film (editing, camera work, lighting, sound, etc.) function to create surprise, suspense, or curiosity.

  • Paper Three is an interpretation of the film. It tries to answer the question, "What does the film mean?"

  • Paper Four is an evaluation of the film. It requires establishing criteria for judgment, and then discussing how the film measures up to them.

    • The papers must be typed . See "Requirements For Typed Papers" for information about the layout form of the papers and the APA style of referencing. Printers are available in all of the computer labs.

    Papers are due at the beginning of class and late papers will not be accepted without a doctor's note. Papers may be submitted by email or fax

    CONVENTIONS FOLLOWED IN WRITING ABOUT FILM:

  • Film titles are italicized, not put in "quotes". Handwritten titles are underlined.
  • Characters are referred to by the character's name, not the name of the actor playing the part.

    All reference material must be credited using the form presented in The Publication Manual of the APA. A summary of APA style is available at owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

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