| CRN: 21311 |
| 16 Weeks - Distance Education course |
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introductory course in which the student will learn how to analyze films on technical, aesthetic, and thematic levels. Historically significant films will be used as source material.
This course will include the study of style, narrative, structure, genre, techniques, aesthetics and social implications of film. Lecture will be accompanied by appropriate screenings. Students will be evaluated by exams, a term project and participation.
STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
This is an interesting class! It's not an easy class, despite what people might think when you tell them you're taking Motion Picture Appreciation. This class makes you think about things that you probably hadn't thought about. Sometimes it can make your head hurt. I wouldn't lie to you about that. On the other hand, you're going to be watching a film every week, so that's pretty cool homework.
Your grading will rest on a midterm, a final, a paper or project, and your discussion board work.
The book I require is called Film Art by Bordwell and Thompson. There are several editions floating around out there. I usually don’t care which edition you get, but this year, I am encouraging everyone to buy the the 8th or the 9th editions. What is the difference? Well, the 8th will be LOTS cheaper, but you can’t sell it back at the end of the semester. The 8th will have older film examples, so if your parents wouldn’t let you watch anything other than a G film until you were a senior in high school, you might not recognize any of the films. The biggest difference between the 8th and the 9th edition is chapter 1. There are significant content differences between them. So if money is a big issue, my advice is the get the 8th edition and plan a trip to campus to read chapter 1 in the 9th edition. It is on reserve in the library.
BLACKBOARD
Art 199 will utilize Blackboard as our online learning system. See below for more information about logging on to Blackboard (your student account will be available the first day of class). You should plan on logging in during the first 3 days of the first week of class if you are enrolled. If you don’t log in during the first 3 days of the semester, you may be dropped because I’ll assume that you aren’t very eager to participate. If you experience trouble logging in, email me at
tvilleneuve@citruscollege.edu and let me know.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
You're going to read, listen to lectures on the website, watch movies and answer questions on the discussion board. Basically, the majority of your grade rests on the midterm, the final and a project, which is either a paper or a film you make yourself. Please make sure you've got a good study schedule set for yourself before you begin class, because semester after semester, people take this class and flake.
WHAT KIND OF MOVIES WILL WE WATCH?
You can either come to campus and watch the movies for free in the library, or you can rent them yourself (I highly recommend Netflix, but that’s just because one of the extra credit films is hard to find in the video store and I know Netflix has it. But do whatever is best for you). Here's a list of films that we commonly watch in this class:
- Goldfinger
- Psycho
- Fargo
- Usual Suspects
- Citizen Kane (DUH!)
- Wizard of Oz
- Being John Malkovich
- The Player
- And many fabulous others!
WHAT DO I DO FIRST?
Your first move, (if you're enrolled) is to log in to Blackboard DURING THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF CLASSES. That's not the week before. That’s not the weekend after the first week, it’s the FIRST THREE DAYS OF CLASSES! If you don’t log in during the first 3 days, I might drop you and give your spot to the jillions of people who email me begging to add. I am not kidding. I am a kidder, but seriously: LOG IN.
WHAT IF I CAN'T GET ON BLACKBOARD DURING THE FIRST THREE DAYS?
First, email me and let me know you're having troubles so that I don't drop you. Then make sure you email the Distance Education office (
online@citruscollege.edu) and let them know you're having trouble. If you're adding late, your information will be loaded into Blackboard within 6 to 24 hours.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE THIS CLASS, BUT I DIDN'T GET IN.
If you would like to be a part of this class but you were dissed by registration, email me and I'll see what I can do. I'm not inclined to over-enroll the class because if I take too many people I tend to get buried in grading, but you never know when a whole bunch of folks flake and the class opens up a bit.
QUESTIONS?
Feel free to email the instructor at
tvilleneuve@citruscollege.edu
- Update email on WingSpan so it will load to Blackboard
- Your WingSpan ID becomes your Blackboard Username
- Your WingSpan PIN number (six digits only) becomes your Blackboard password
- To change these on Blackboard requires you change them on WingSpan
- Data will be transferred from WingSpan to Blackboard on a regular basis
Once you get to the Blackboard welcome page, click on the Art 199 course link on the right, and you will go to the course site. Familiarize yourself with the course site and if you have any questions please email your instructor with your concern. Get your textbook and get started with your initial assignments. A major key to your success in this course will be keeping up with both the reading and the other assignments.
If you have a disability documented by a physician or other appropriate professional and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the DSP&S office at (626) 914-8675. Please discuss your accommodations with me by email and be sure to allow at least one week to arrange appropriate accommodations.