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LAS 2850: Introduction to Cinema Studies |
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SCHEDULE To prepare for class, please read the assigned texts carefully; think about our class discussions and the ways in which you could draw connections to cinematic concepts or to other texts/films we’ve read/viewed.
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Topic All readings are in Understanding Movies |
Film to Be Screened |
Response Paper Topics Response papers are one page long (see assignments) and consist of two paragraphs. The question for paragraph one is listed below. For the second paragraph each week, choose one bold term from the chapter and discuss a specific example of it (in the film we screened). |
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F 1/19 |
introductions |
Boffo! Tinseltown’s Bombs and Blockbusters (2006, dir. Bill Couturié) |
Write a one-page review of this film to turn in (I will return it to you at the end of the semester). |
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F 1/26 |
read: Chapter 1, “Photography”
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A River Runs Through It (1992, dir. Robert Redford)
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RP 1: What was most compelling about the photography?
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F 2/2 |
read: Chapter 2, “Mise en Scène” RP 1 due |
The Graduate (1967, dir. Mike Nichols)
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RP 2: Which component of mise en scène stands out the most for you? Why? |
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F 2/9 |
read: Chapter 3, “Movement” RP 2 due |
Chicago (2002, dir. Rob Marshall) |
RP 3: What is the most interesting type of movement in the film? |
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F 2/16 |
read: Chapter 4, “Editing” RP 3 due |
North By Northwest (1959, dir. Alfred Hitchcock) |
RP 4: Why, do you think, is Hitchcock’s editing so critically celebrated?
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F 2/23 |
Midterm Exam |
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Please bring a blue book (available at the bookstore). |
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F 3/2 |
read: Chapter 5, “Sound” RP 4 due |
Iron Jawed Angels (2004, dir. Katja von Garnier)
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RP 5: What is “new” or different about this film’s sound and how effective do you think it is? |
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F 3/9 |
read: Chapter 6, “Acting” RP 5 due |
Edward Scissorhands (1990, dir. Tim Burton)
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RP 6: Who deserves the most praise for Edward’s overall effect: Johnny Depp (nominated for a Golden Globe for this role) or Tim Burton? Explain. |
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F 3/16 |
read: Chapter 7, “Drama” RP 6 due |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975, dir. Milos Forman) |
RP 7: What is the most powerful element of this drama?
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*~ Spring Break ~* |
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F 3/30 |
read: Chapter 8, “Story” RP 7 due |
Grizzly Man (2005, dir. Werner Herzog)
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RP 8: What is the subject/main point of this documentary? (Note: this may be a trickier question than it first appears to be.) |
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F 4/6 |
read: Chapter 9, “Writing” RP 8 due |
Romeo + Juliet (1996, dir. Baz Luhrman)
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RP 9: Is it necessary to be familiar with William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in order to appreciate this film? Or, how does this postmodern version enhance your understanding of the Renaissance text? Explain. |
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F 4/13 |
read: Chapter 10, “Ideology” RP 9 due |
Fight Club (1999, dir. David Fincher) |
RP 10: What is the most significant ideological issue explored in this film?
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F 4/20 |
RP 10 due Portfolios due
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Best in Show (2000, dir. Christopher Guest)
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Bonus RP: This ensemble has improvised a number of Guest’s mockumentaries; does such collaboration seem to affect the performances in ways that a fully scripted situation might not? |
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F 4/27 |
Presentations |
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F 5/4 |
Presentations |
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Final Exam Week |
Presentations |
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