FA/FILM 1401 6.0
Introduction to Film (For Non-Majors)
Fall/Winter 10-11
Introduction to Film (For Non-Majors)
Fall/Winter 10-11
Course Director: John McCullough, Department of Film, Faculty of Fine Arts
Email: johnmccu@yorku.ca
Phone: 416-736-2100 ext. 88686 (Department of Film Telephone: 416-736-5149)
Office: Centre for Film and Theatre (CFT) 216 – Office hours: By appointment
Assignment Drop Box: beside CFT 223
Lecture: ACE 102, Price Family Cinema, Mondays, 2.30-5.30
Tutorials: Various times/locations – check York’s Lecture Schedule & your Registration Information
Email: johnmccu@yorku.ca
Phone: 416-736-2100 ext. 88686 (Department of Film Telephone: 416-736-5149)
Office: Centre for Film and Theatre (CFT) 216 – Office hours: By appointment
Assignment Drop Box: beside CFT 223
Lecture: ACE 102, Price Family Cinema, Mondays, 2.30-5.30
Tutorials: Various times/locations – check York’s Lecture Schedule & your Registration Information
Course Description: This course introduces students to the fundamentals of film analysis. We begin by looking at the history of film and its various aesthetic forms. Throughout the year, the course will consider specific features of cinematic structure and aesthetic meaning: narration, mise-en-scène, montage, cinematography, and sound. We will consider various topics including: narrative films, documentaries, “art cinema,” experimental films, animation, independent filmmaking, world cinema, and Canadian cinema. Through lectures, tutorials, readings, and assignments, students will be given an opportunity to investigate the medium and to understand it in analytical, historical and practical ways.
Please note that, because this course is considered an equivalent prerequisite for upper-level film courses, the material will be dealt with in a rigorous fashion. The assignments will challenge your ability to assimilate the themes of the lectures, readings & screenings. You should take extensive notes during the lecture as well as during the screenings. If you miss a lecture, you should contact fellow students, your tutorial leader, or the course director to find out what was covered during the lecture and what material was screened. If you are absent from a screening, you should visit the Sound and Moving Image Library (SMIL) (on the main level of Scott Library) to borrow or view the material you have missed. Also, not all the films scheduled in the course are available for re-screening, so you should consider the impact that a missed lecture may have on your performance in the course.
Tutorials: Tutorials begin on Sept. 21 and 22. Tutorials are one hour long small group sessions that are held in conjunction with the lectures and screenings. You will already be assigned to a tutorial and you should familiarize yourself with the number, room, and time of your tutorial, and, when you meet for the first time, record your tutorial leader’s name and contact information. Tutorial leaders are your principle contact for evaluation, discussion, and guidance in the course. Your attendance and participation in tutorial is worth 20% of your final grade.
Required Texts:
Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction. 9th ed. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 2007 ($109)
Course Kit from York University Bookstore ($13)
** All readings are also available on short-term loan from the Reserve Desk at Scott Library
Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction. 9th ed. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 2007 ($109)
Course Kit from York University Bookstore ($13)
** All readings are also available on short-term loan from the Reserve Desk at Scott Library
Evaluation:
Tutorial Attendance and Participation (20%)
Response Paper – Due Oct. 26/27, in tutorials (10%)
Fall Term Take Home Exam – Due Dec. 13, 3pm (15%)
Essay Proposal – Due Feb. 01/02, in tutorials (5%)
Critical Essay – Due March 29/30, in tutorials (30%)
Winter Term Take Home Exam – Due April 11 (20%)
Response Paper – Due Oct. 26/27, in tutorials (10%)
Fall Term Take Home Exam – Due Dec. 13, 3pm (15%)
Essay Proposal – Due Feb. 01/02, in tutorials (5%)
Critical Essay – Due March 29/30, in tutorials (30%)
Winter Term Take Home Exam – Due April 11 (20%)
** Late penalty is 5% per day late (not counting weekends). Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).
Assignment sheets, describing the essay proposal and the critical essay assignments, will be distributed approximately one month prior to the assignment due date. These will include instructions and information about general requirements, form, style, as well as specific regulations regarding the assignment.
Note: If you miss handing in work at a tutorial, you should submit the work to the assignment drop box, which is located on the wall beside CFT 223. Please clearly identify your work by putting the course number, your name and your tutorial leader’s name clearly on the cover page. Due to the large number of students in the course, no email submissions of assignments are accepted. Retain all returned graded assignments as proof of your work in the course; these are required for grade re-appraisal and cases relating to academic honesty.
Term F Term Y Term FF Term A Term AF Term P3 Term W Term WW Term B Term P2 Term WS
Last date to drop courses without receiving a grade Nov. 12 Feb. 11 Oct. 8 Oct. 31 Aug. 19 Aug. 30 March 4 Jan. 24 March 8 Feb. 22 May 22
Last date to drop courses without receiving a grade Nov. 12 Feb. 11 Oct. 8 Oct. 31 Aug. 19 Aug. 30 March 4 Jan. 24 March 8 Feb. 22 May 22
Grading, Assignment Submission, Lateness Penalties and Missed Tests Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ – 7, C+ = 5, etc.). Assignments and tests* will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.)
(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar – http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf)
(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar – http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf)
Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis. For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the Faculty of Fine Arts section of the Undergraduate Calendar – http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/calendars/2010-2011/faculty_rules/FA/grading.htm
Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.
Academic Honesty: Any thesis or research which you borrow from another writer should be cited in a footnote, endnote or by other acceptable form of reference to source material. Theft of intellectual property is dealt with harshly by the university and can lead to academic penalty. For rules about plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty please refer to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty. In this document there is ample discussion of the issue, including definitions of breach of academic honesty. Among other things the senate policy discusses offences such as cheating; submission of one piece of work in satisfaction of two assignments without prior consent; impersonation; plagiarism and other misappropriation of the work of another; abuse of confidentiality; falsification or forgery of documents; obstruction of the academic activities of another; and aiding or abetting academic misconduct. If you are unclear about these definitions, please consult the course director or visit this location: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/acadhone.htm
Academic Support at York:
Centre for Academic Writing: 416-736-5134
Sound and Moving Image Library: 416-736-5508
York University English Language Institute: 416-7365353
Office for Persons with Disabilities: 416-736-5140
Counselling and Development Centre: 416-736-5297
Office of Student Affairs & University Complaint Center: 416-736-5144
Race and Ethnic Relations: 416-736-5682
Sexual Harassment Education and Complaint Center: 416-736-5500
Security Services: 416-650-8000
York University Cooperative Daycare Services: 416-736-5190
York’s Women’s Centre: 416-736-2100 ext.33484
Centre for Academic Writing: 416-736-5134
Sound and Moving Image Library: 416-736-5508
York University English Language Institute: 416-7365353
Office for Persons with Disabilities: 416-736-5140
Counselling and Development Centre: 416-736-5297
Office of Student Affairs & University Complaint Center: 416-736-5144
Race and Ethnic Relations: 416-736-5682
Sexual Harassment Education and Complaint Center: 416-736-5500
Security Services: 416-650-8000
York University Cooperative Daycare Services: 416-736-5190
York’s Women’s Centre: 416-736-2100 ext.33484
Ethics Review Process: York students are subject to the York University Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants. In particular, students proposing to undertake research involving human participants (e.g., interviewing the director of a company or government agency, having students complete a questionnaire, etc.) are required to submit an Application for Ethical Approval of Research Involving Human Participants at least one month before you plan to begin the research.
Religious Observance Accommodation: York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for an in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the Course Director within the first three weeks of class. Similarly, should an assignment to be completed in a lab, practicum placement, workshop, etc., scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict, contact the Course director immediately. Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination periods (December and April/May), students must complete an Examination Accommodation Form, which can be obtained from Student Client Services, Student Services Centre or online at http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/exam_accommodation.pdf
Student Conduct: Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. A statement of the policy and procedures involving disruptive and/or harassing behaviour by students in academic situations is available on the York website http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/harass.htm
Schedule of Lectures, Readings, Screenings, Tutorials, Assignments, and Important Dates:
NOTE: Readings should be completed in advance of Monday’s lectures; screenings are subject to change.
NOTE: Readings should be completed in advance of Monday’s lectures; screenings are subject to change.
FALL TERM 2009
Sept. 13: Introduction – The “invention” of cinema
Reading: Bordwell &Thompson (hereafter referred to as B&T), Ch. 1 and 454-458; Screening: Eadward Muybridge, “Animal Motion Studies”; Films by the Edison Manufacturing Company – The Kiss (1896), Serpentine Dances (1895), Sandow (Strong Man) (1894), Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing) (1894), Cock Fight (1896), The Barber Shop (1894), Feeding the Doves (1896), Seminary Girls (1897); Films by Frères Lumière (1895-96): Swimming in the Sea, Children Digging for Clams, Loading a Boiler, Dragoons Crossing the Sâone, Promenade of Ostriches, Childish Quarrel, Lion, London Zoological Garden, Photograph, Transformation by Hats, Carmaux: Drawing out the Coke, Poultry-yard, Arab Cortege, Geneva, New York: Brooklyn Bridge, New York: Broadway and Union Sq., Policemen’s Parade, Chicago; Various Actualities – President Mckinley at Home (1897); Packtrain on Chilkoot Pass (1898); Skyscrapers of New York City (1903); The Georgetown Loop (1903); San Francisco: Aftermath of Earthquake (1906)
Sept. 20: Science, Photography, Ethnography
Reading: Bazin, “The Ontology of the Photographic Image” (kit); Screening: Nanook of the North (USA, 1922, Robert Flaherty)
Sept. 13: Introduction – The “invention” of cinema
Reading: Bordwell &Thompson (hereafter referred to as B&T), Ch. 1 and 454-458; Screening: Eadward Muybridge, “Animal Motion Studies”; Films by the Edison Manufacturing Company – The Kiss (1896), Serpentine Dances (1895), Sandow (Strong Man) (1894), Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing) (1894), Cock Fight (1896), The Barber Shop (1894), Feeding the Doves (1896), Seminary Girls (1897); Films by Frères Lumière (1895-96): Swimming in the Sea, Children Digging for Clams, Loading a Boiler, Dragoons Crossing the Sâone, Promenade of Ostriches, Childish Quarrel, Lion, London Zoological Garden, Photograph, Transformation by Hats, Carmaux: Drawing out the Coke, Poultry-yard, Arab Cortege, Geneva, New York: Brooklyn Bridge, New York: Broadway and Union Sq., Policemen’s Parade, Chicago; Various Actualities – President Mckinley at Home (1897); Packtrain on Chilkoot Pass (1898); Skyscrapers of New York City (1903); The Georgetown Loop (1903); San Francisco: Aftermath of Earthquake (1906)
Sept. 20: Science, Photography, Ethnography
Reading: Bazin, “The Ontology of the Photographic Image” (kit); Screening: Nanook of the North (USA, 1922, Robert Flaherty)
Sept. 21/22: Tutorials meet for the first time
**Sept. 26: Last day to enrol without permission of the course director
**Sept. 26: Last day to enrol without permission of the course director
Sept. 27: The Development of Story Films
Reading: B&T, 458-461; Gunning, “Cinema of Attraction” (kit); Screening: Trip to the Moon (France, 1902, George Méliès); The Great Train Robbery (USA, 1903, Edwin S. Porter); The Lonedale Operator (USA, 1911, D. W. Griffith); Cops (USA, 1922, Buster Keaton)
Reading: B&T, 458-461; Gunning, “Cinema of Attraction” (kit); Screening: Trip to the Moon (France, 1902, George Méliès); The Great Train Robbery (USA, 1903, Edwin S. Porter); The Lonedale Operator (USA, 1911, D. W. Griffith); Cops (USA, 1922, Buster Keaton)
**Sept. 28/29: Tutorials –Response Paper Assignment (worth 10%) Distributed (Due Oct. 26/27)
Oct. 04: Form and Meaning in Narrative Film
Reading: B&T, Ch. 2; Screening: Wizard of Oz (USA, 1939, Victor Fleming)
Reading: B&T, Ch. 2; Screening: Wizard of Oz (USA, 1939, Victor Fleming)
Oct. 05/06: Tutorials
Oct. 09 -15: FALL READING WEEK – No Lecture or Tutorials
Oct. 18: The Design Principles of Classical Narrative Film Form:
Reading: B&T, Ch. 3, 318-325 and 470-473; Screening: Citizen Kane (USA, 1940, Orson Welles)
Reading: B&T, Ch. 3, 318-325 and 470-473; Screening: Citizen Kane (USA, 1940, Orson Welles)
Oct. 19/20: Tutorials
Oct. 25: Aspects of Mise-en-scène – The Case of German Expressionism (1919-1926)
Reading: B&T, Ch. 4 and 461-463; Screening: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Germany, 1919, Robert Wiene)
Reading: B&T, Ch. 4 and 461-463; Screening: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Germany, 1919, Robert Wiene)
**Oct. 26/27 Tutorials – Response Paper (worth 10%) Due – 5%/day late penalty
**Oct. 29: Last day to enrol with permission of the course director
Nov. 01: The Radical Poetics of Modernism and European Avant Garde Cinema
Reading: Freud, from “On Dreams” (kit); Breton, from “First Manifesto on Surrealism” (kit); Léger, “Ballet mécanique” (kit); B&T, 463-467 and 368-376; Screening: Ballet mécanique (France, 1924, Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy); Ghosts Before Breakfast (Germany, 1927, Hans Richter); Un chien andalou (France, 1928, Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel)
Reading: Freud, from “On Dreams” (kit); Breton, from “First Manifesto on Surrealism” (kit); Léger, “Ballet mécanique” (kit); B&T, 463-467 and 368-376; Screening: Ballet mécanique (France, 1924, Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy); Ghosts Before Breakfast (Germany, 1927, Hans Richter); Un chien andalou (France, 1928, Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel)
Nov. 02/03: Tutorials
Nov. 08: Film Form and Theories of Revolutionary Cinema – The Case of Soviet Montage (1924-1930)
Reading: B&T, 467-469; Screening: Battleship Potemkin (USSR, 1925, Sergei Eisenstein)
Reading: B&T, 467-469; Screening: Battleship Potemkin (USSR, 1925, Sergei Eisenstein)
Nov. 09/10: Tutorials
Nov. 15: Realism as a “Progressive” Narrative Film Style – The Case of Italian Neorealism (1942-1951)
Reading: B&T, 473-474; Screening: Bicycle Thieves (Italy, 1948, Vittorio De Sica)
Reading: B&T, 473-474; Screening: Bicycle Thieves (Italy, 1948, Vittorio De Sica)
Nov. 16/17: Tutorials
Nov. 22: Hollywood and Genre Films
Reading: B&T, Chapter 9; Screening: Stagecoach (USA, 1939, John Ford)
Reading: B&T, Chapter 9; Screening: Stagecoach (USA, 1939, John Ford)
Nov. 23/24: Tutorials
Nov. 29: Modernism, Independent Filmmaking and Genre Transformation
Reading: B&T, 477-482; Screening: (excerpt); The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Italy, 1966, Sergio Leone) (excerpt); El mariachi (Mexico/USA, 1992, Robert Rodriquez)
Nov. 30/Dec.01: Last tutorials of the term
Dec. 06: Postmodern Genre Films
Screening: The Good, The Bad, and the Weird (S. Korea, 2008, Kim Ji-woon)
Midterm Take Home Exam (worth 15%) Distributed at the End of the Lecture (Due Dec. 13, 3pm)
Reading: B&T, 477-482; Screening: (excerpt); The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Italy, 1966, Sergio Leone) (excerpt); El mariachi (Mexico/USA, 1992, Robert Rodriquez)
Nov. 30/Dec.01: Last tutorials of the term
Dec. 06: Postmodern Genre Films
Screening: The Good, The Bad, and the Weird (S. Korea, 2008, Kim Ji-woon)
Midterm Take Home Exam (worth 15%) Distributed at the End of the Lecture (Due Dec. 13, 3pm)
Dec. 07/08: Tutorials Cancelled
**Dec. 13: Fall Term Take Home Exam (worth 15%) Due 3pm – Assignment Drop Box, CFT 223 – 5%/day late penalty
WINTER TERM 2010
Jan. 10: Continuity Style Editing and the Construction of Coherent Screen Spaces:
Reading: B&T, 221-255; Screening: Across The Universe (USA, 2007, Julie Taymor)
Jan. 10: Continuity Style Editing and the Construction of Coherent Screen Spaces:
Reading: B&T, 221-255; Screening: Across The Universe (USA, 2007, Julie Taymor)
Jan. 17: Alternatives to Continuity Style Editing
Reading: B&T, 256-268; 408-413 and 475-477; Screening: Breathless (Fr, 1960, Jean-Luc Godard)
Reading: B&T, 256-268; 408-413 and 475-477; Screening: Breathless (Fr, 1960, Jean-Luc Godard)
Jan. 18/19: Tutorials resume
Jan. 24: Cinematography – Qualities of the Photographic Image
Reading: B&T, 167-186; Place and Peterson, “Some Visual Motifs of Film Noir” (kit); Screening: Collateral (USA, 2004, Michael Mann)
Reading: B&T, 167-186; Place and Peterson, “Some Visual Motifs of Film Noir” (kit); Screening: Collateral (USA, 2004, Michael Mann)
Jan. 25/26: Tutorials
Jan. 31: Cinematography – Framing and Shot Duration
Reading: B&T, 186-222 and 413-417; Screening: Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953, Yasujiro Ozu)
Reading: B&T, 186-222 and 413-417; Screening: Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953, Yasujiro Ozu)
**Feb. 01/02: Tutorials – Essay Proposal (worth 5% of the final grade) Due – 5%/day late penalty
Feb. 07: Sound – Music and Meaning
Reading: B&T, 269-284; 366-367; Screening: Meshes of the Afternoon (US, 1943-59, Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid); Scorpio Rising (USA, 1964, Kenneth Anger)
Reading: B&T, 269-284; 366-367; Screening: Meshes of the Afternoon (US, 1943-59, Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid); Scorpio Rising (USA, 1964, Kenneth Anger)
Feb. 08/09: Tutorials
**Feb. 11: Last day to drop the course without receiving a grade
**Feb. 11: Last day to drop the course without receiving a grade
Feb. 14: Sound – Narration and Characterization
Reading: B&T, 284-311; 417-422 and 482-485; Screening: Chungking Express (HK, 1994, Wong Kar-wai)
Reading: B&T, 284-311; 417-422 and 482-485; Screening: Chungking Express (HK, 1994, Wong Kar-wai)
Feb. 15/16: Tutorials
**Feb. 19-25: WINTER READING WEEK – No lecture or tutorials
Feb. 28: Realism and Documentary Form
Reading: &T, 349-365; Screening: The River (US, 1937, Pare Lorentz); Paperboys (US, 2001, Mike Mills)
Reading: &T, 349-365; Screening: The River (US, 1937, Pare Lorentz); Paperboys (US, 2001, Mike Mills)
Mar. 01/02: Tutorials
March 07: Alternative Nonfiction Films and the Concept of Documentary Voice
Reading: Nichols, “How Did Documentary Filmmaking Get Started?” and “Figure 6.1, Documentary Modes” (kit); Screening: You Are on Indian Land (Can., 1969, NFB/George Stoney, Mort Ransen, Noel Starblanket, Mike Mitchell, and the Indian Film Crew of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation); Lessons of Darkness (Fr./UK/Ger., 1992, Werner Herzog)
Reading: Nichols, “How Did Documentary Filmmaking Get Started?” and “Figure 6.1, Documentary Modes” (kit); Screening: You Are on Indian Land (Can., 1969, NFB/George Stoney, Mort Ransen, Noel Starblanket, Mike Mitchell, and the Indian Film Crew of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation); Lessons of Darkness (Fr./UK/Ger., 1992, Werner Herzog)
March 08/09: Tutorials
March 14: Associational Form in Experimental Films
Reading: B&T, 376-381; Screening: A Movie (US, 1958, Bruce Conner); Very Nice, Very Nice (Can., 1961, Arthur Lipsett); Handtinting (Can., 1967, Joyce Wieland)
Reading: B&T, 376-381; Screening: A Movie (US, 1958, Bruce Conner); Very Nice, Very Nice (Can., 1961, Arthur Lipsett); Handtinting (Can., 1967, Joyce Wieland)
March 16/17: Tutorials
March 21: Animated Films
Reading: B&T, 382-394; Screening: Walking (Can., 1968, Ryan Larkin); La planète sauvage / Fantastic Planet (Fr./Czech, 1973, Roland Topor and René Laloux)
Reading: B&T, 382-394; Screening: Walking (Can., 1968, Ryan Larkin); La planète sauvage / Fantastic Planet (Fr./Czech, 1973, Roland Topor and René Laloux)
March 22/23: Tutorials
March 28: Independent Filmmaking in Canada
Screening: From Alex to Alex (Can., 2006, Alison Kobayashi); Rude (Can., 1995, Clement Virgo)
Screening: From Alex to Alex (Can., 2006, Alison Kobayashi); Rude (Can., 1995, Clement Virgo)
**March 29/30: Last tutorials of the year – Critical Essays (worth 30% of final grade) Due – 5%/day late penalty
April 04: Canadian Film in Global Hollywood
Screening: Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (Can., 2006, Mike Clattenburg)
Screening: Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (Can., 2006, Mike Clattenburg)
**Winter Term Take Home Exam Distributed (worth 20% of final grade) – Due April 11, 3pm – Assignment Drop Box, CFT 223 – 5%/day late penalty
**April 11: Winter Term Take Home Exam Due 3pm – Assignment Drop Box, CFT 223 – 5%/day late penalty
