Professor Tom Isbell T.A.s: Kaela Blenkush, James Erickson, Savannah Hildenbrant, William Hulst,
Mary Kitterman, Bryan Nelson, Matthew Nyman, Bruce Paulson
Office: 148 MPAC
Phone: 726-6313Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 12:30-1:30
or by appointment
E-Mail: tisbell@d.umn.edu/
Home Page: http://www.d.umn.edu/~tisbell
Home Page Courses
"This is a Category 9 Liberal Education class. Courses in this category should familiarize students with the basic aims, elements, and principles of interpretation and criticism of literature, folklore, myth, the visual arts, dance, film, music, and theatre. Emphasis should be on principles and techniques of analysis, interpretation, and criticism." COURSE OBJECTIVE: To acquire and develop an understanding of and a greater appreciation for the art and history of film. To position contemporary American and international cinema in its broader historical and cultural contexts. To enhance analysis skills to better understand film and filmmakers' intentions.
COURSE ACTIVITIES:
- View, discuss and analyze films.
- Learn the basic history of cinema, as well as corresponding genres.
- Analyze film technique.
- Think critically about the act of filmmaking.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Giannetti, Louis. Understanding Movies, 11th Edition. Prentice-Hall. 2007.
IF INTERESTED:
Books:
- Cook, David A. A History of Narrative Film. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Cooper, Dona. Writing Great Screenplays for Film and TV. American Film Institute.
- Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia. Putnam Publishing Group.
- Mast, Gerald. A Short History of the Movies. Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing.
- Seger, Linda. Making a Good Script Great. Hollywood: Samuel French.
- Stanley, Robert Henry. Making Sense of Movies. McGraw Hill.
- Thompson, Kristin and David Bordwell. Film History: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
- Although there is no official attendance policy, students should know that a significant portion of the lecture material will come from sources other than the required text. In addition, students will be responsible for knowledge of film clips shown in class.
- Throughout the semester, in-class assignments will be given to assess students' abilities to analyze film and think critically about its various components. Students who are not present for those assignments will not be allowed to make them up.
Assignment
Point Value
7 Text/Lecture quizzes 10 points each In-class Assignments 1-5 points each Midterm Exam 75-100 points Final Exam 75-100 points At the end of the semester, the two lowest quizzes will be discarded, and the remaining points will be totaled and graded on the following scale:
Grading Scale Letter Grade
Percentage
A 91-100 A- 88-90 B+ 85-87 B 81-84 B- 78-80 C+ 75-77 C 72-74 C- 69-71 D+ 66-68 D 62-65
Course Outline Week
Assignment
Tues. Sept. 8 Syllabus. Lecture: The Business of Film; Chapter 1 - Photography. Thurs. Sept. 10 Lecture: Chapter 1 - Photography; Chapter 2 - Mise en Scene. Tues. Sept. 15 Quiz #1 (The Business & Chapter 1 - Photography). Lecture: Chapter 2 - Mise en Scene. Thurs. Sept. 17 Lecture: Early history of film. A Trip to the Moon. The Great Train Robbery.
Tues. Sept. 22 Quiz #2 (Chapter 2 - Mise en Scene). Lecture: Early history of film. The Birth of a Nation. The Immigrant. Battleship Potemkin. Thurs. Sept. 24 Screening: It Happened One Night Tues. Sept. 29 Lecture: Early history of film. Film analysis. Thurs. Oct. 1 Screening: Stagecoach Tues. Oct. 6 Quiz #3 (Early history of film). Lecture: Chapter 3 - Movement. Thurs. Oct. 8 Screening: Citizen Kane Tues. Oct. 13 Quiz #4 (Chapter 12 - Synthesis). Analyze Citizen Kane. Lecture: Chapter 3 - Movement; Chapter 4 - Editing. Thurs. Oct. 15 Screening: Some Like It Hot Tues. Oct. 20 Lecture: Chapter 4 - Editing Thurs. Oct. 22 Midterm Exam Tues. Oct. 27 Review Midterm Exams. Lecture: Chapter 8 - Story Thurs. Oct. 29 Screening: Casablanca Tues. Nov. 3 Lecture: Chapter 8 - Story Thurs. Nov. 5 Screening: The Big Sleep Tues. Nov. 10 Lecture: Chapter 8 - Story Thurs. Nov. 13 Screening: Strangers on a Train Tues. Nov. 17 Quiz #5 (Chapter 8 - Story). Lecture: Chapter 5 - Sound. Thurs. Nov. 19 Screening: The Graduate Tues. Nov. 24 Lecture: Chapter 5- Sound Thurs. Nov. 26 No Class. Thanksgiving Holiday. Tues. Dec. 1 Screening: Do the Right Thing Thurs. Dec. 3 Screning: Amelie Tues. Dec. 8 Quiz #6 (Chapter 5 - Sound). Lecture: Chapter 6 - Acting. Thurs. Dec. 10 Lecture: Chapter 6 - Acting; Chapter 7 - Drama. Tues. Dec. 15 Quiz #7 (Chapter 6 - Acting). Lecture: Chapter 7 - Drama; International Filmmakers Thurs. Dec. 17 No Class. Final exams begin. Final Exam: Monday, December 21 8:00-9:55 a.m. EXAMS:
The Midterm and Final Exams will consist of multiple choice and True/False questions. Students will be responsible for reading the text, all class lectures, and knowledge of films viewed in class.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
There will be regular class discussions to analyze current films. Students will be expected to see current movies, participate in these discussions, and voice their opinions, backing up their opinions with specific examples. As the semester progresses, students will be expected to speak specifically in terms of the film elements learned in class.
The Tuesday quizzes will cover the previous week's lecture, the previous week's assigned reading, and the previous week's film(s). The Midterm Exam will cover the class lectures, the first four book chapters, and films viewed in the first half of the class. The Final Exam is comprehensive and will include everything from the first half as well as the second. (Note: lecture material is all material covered in class, not just the PowerPoint slides.)
You will be responsible for all material viewed, discussed and assigned. If you miss a class, you will need to borrow those notes from another student, not the instructor. If you miss a film, you will need to rent it or check it out on your own.
This is a floating syllabus. Films, dates, and lectures may change, based on schedules, conflicts, and the progress of the class. There may also be other assignments throughout the semester. Point total possibilities will be announced when the new assignment is given.
Because the two lowest quizzes will be dropped at the end of the semester, students will not be allowed to make up a Tuesday quiz if they miss it.
Students must remove caps when taking quizzes and exams.
Each student will need to bring a #2 pencil to class on quiz and exam days.
All cell phones must be turned off at the beginning of each class period. Students are not allowed to scan items or take pictures during class. Texting is strictly prohibited during film screenings.
All scores will be posted on eGradebook. Students are required to check their scores within one week of the score being posted. Failure to do so forfeits your right to challenge that particular score.
Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in class. Such behavior, including excessive talking during lectures or films, could lead to expulsion from the course.
Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD's reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. UMD is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. This pledge can only be redeemed in an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. As a result, academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity. This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.
The instructor will enforce and students are expected to follow the University's Student Conduct Code (http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/code). Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity. Disruptive classroom behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach, or student learning, is prohibited. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Examples include ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, doing email, or surfing the Internet on your computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities.
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the UMD Health Service Counseling website at http://www.d.umn.edu/hlthserv/counseling/
I invite individuals who have any legitimate disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class, to inform the instructor at the start of the semester. Adaptations of methods, materials or testing may be made as required to provide equitable participation.