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COMM230: Cinema

SUSSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Critical Analysis of Cinema (COMM230)

Professor Mielo

Office: D317 Office

Phone: (973) 300-2282

E-mail: mielo@nac.net

COURSE DESCRIPTION This three-credit course will explore film genres, major themes of leading producers and directors throughout the world, film styles; as well as film terms, from silent film classics to commercial and experimental films of the present. Films under discussion will be selected from those aired on commercial-free basic cable television channels. In addition, students will be directed to various Web sites to view specific examples of film techniques, styles and terms, as well as to conduct film research. Emphasis will be on writing critical pieces about the cinema; however, participation in class chat sessions will also be encouraged. Internet as well as basic cable televison access is required. At least 45 class hours of faculty attention will be devoted to each student.

COURSE OBJECTIVES To reinforce critical thinking and visual literacy skills To become familiar with technical and theoretical bases upon which a film is constructed To approach film as a work of art, using aesthetic criteria that are similar to those used to evaluate a work of literature To become sensitive to gender, race, and other sociological issues inherent in the shaping and screening of a film To gain knowledge about how a director's personal vision can affect the form and content of a film

MODULES This course is divided into nine modules, each of which will direct you to one or more Web sites from which you will receive specific information about the cinema. It will be required that by the end of the semester all modules will have been explored.

FILMS Films to be screened will fall into one or more of the following categories: Film Directors, Actresses, and Actors Film Genres Individual Film Classics Documentary Films Experimental, Short, and Special Films

BULLETIN BOARD You are encouraged to frequently use the course Bulletin Board to: post your reviews of current films, provide your reactions to various Web sites, note your discovery of interesting new film- related Web sites, and express whatever else you want to that pertains to films and film studies.

REFERENCE MATERIALS All materials are contained in the various Web sites described in the course modules.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND DEADLINES Reaction Papers (25 percent of grade) Each week you will be responsible for completing a 50- to 100- word reaction paper for each film screened this semester. What constitutes a reaction paper? Simply, your noting something that you feel is significant, interesting, pertinent to your study of the cinema. State what this is and why it's important. These reaction papers will constitute your class participation grade (25 percent) for the course. Grades will be computed according to the number of paper submitted. For example, 15 papers submitted will receive a grade of A, 14 = A-, 13 = B+, 12 = B, 11 = C+, 10 = C, 9 = C-, 8 = D+, 7 = D, 6 = D-, fewer than 6 = F.

DUE: At the end of each week.

Critiques (75 percent of grade) You will be responsible for submitting three 400- to 500-word critiques. Each will be worth 25 percent of your grade and must cite information from at least three Internet-based sources that will help clarify, support, illustrate, and reinforce your ideas. For the First Critique, write a critical review of a single film (e.g. "The Mummy") or collection of films from the same genre (e.g. recent horror films). Without discussing story lines or plots, describe how the film(s) was cinematically effective.

DUE: March 3.

For the Second Critique, write a critical review of a film director's work (e.g. Alfred Hitchcock's films). Include what you feel are this director's specific cinematic contributions.

DUE: April 7.

For the Final Critique, refer to film(s) screened or recommended throughout this course and: Use specific film terminology (e.g. establishing shot, montage, dissolve) to describe how and why any film technique was cinematically effective or ineffective OR describe how and why any film(s) screened gave new meaning to an important social and/or cultural practice or belief. Describe how the film is representative of its time period OR analyze an actor's or actress's cinematic contributions (refer to specific scenes) .

DUE: May 19.

MAKING THE GRADE The following is taken from the SCCC document Student Learning Outcomes Syllabus. This course will adhere to these criteria.

A. Unity: The essay gives imaginative treatment to a significant and striking central idea.

Coherence: The plan of the essay reveals a strategy for persuasion this is fluid and shows sophisticated transitions.
Development: Generalizations are supported with details that show originality and concreteness.
Mechanics: The essay is free of mechanical error.
Style: [Writing] is engaging and authentic. Sentence length is varied, and diction is natural and appropriate to [the] audience.

B+/B. Unity: The essay's central idea is interesting and significant.

Coherence: The organization of the essay demonstrates a plan.
Development: Details are specific.
Mechanics: The essay is free of mechanical error.
Style: Sentences show variety of purpose and pattern. Diction is chosen with awareness of audience and purpose.
C+/C. Unity: The essay has a clear central idea.
Coherence: The plan of the essay is clear with an identifiable introduction and conclusion.
Development: Generalizations are supported with specifics.
Mechanics: Sentences make sense and conform to conventional patterns. Subjects and verbs agree. Pronouns agree with antecedents. Verb tenses are consistent. Punctuation is conventional. Words are spelled correctly.
Style: Style is emerging.

D/F. Unity: Central idea is weak or confused.

Coherence: Organization is poor.
Development: The essay lacks specific examples to back up generalizations.
Mechanics: Errors in usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation are frequent and distracting..
Style: Sentence structure is confused; word choice is careless.