Professor Tom Isbell
Office: 148 MPAC
Phone: 726-6313Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 12:00-1:00
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.
REQUIRED READING:
- Giannetti, Louis. Understanding Movies, 11th Edition. Prentice-Hall. 2004.
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.
Assignment
Point Value
Quiz 10-20 points In-class Assignments 3-5 points each Midterm Exam 60-100 points Final Exam 60-100 points At the end of the semester, 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 Day
Date
Assignment
Mon. May 19 Syllabus. Lecture: The Business of Film; The Beginnings. A Trip to the Moon. The Great Train Robbery. Tues. May 20 Lecture: Chapter 1 - Photography. The Birth of a Nation. The Immigrant. Wed. May 21 Lecture: Chapter 2 - Mise en Scene and Chapter 3 - Movement. Battleship Potemkin. Thurs. May 22 Quiz (The Business & Beginnings; Chapters 1-2). Lecture: Chapter 3 - Movement. It Happened One Night. Fri. May 23 Lecture: Chapter 3 - Movement and Chapter 4 - Editing.
Mon. May 26 No Class - Holiday. Tues. May 27 Lecture: Chapter 5 - Sound. Stagecoach. Wed. May 28 Midterm Exam. Lecture: Chapter 5 - Sound. Thurs. May 29 Lecture: Chapter 6 - Acting. Citizen Kane. Fri. May 30 Lecture: Chapter 6 - Acting. Casablanca. Mon. June 2 Lecture: Chapter 8 - Story. Tues. June 3 Lecture: Chapter 8 - Story and Chapter 7 - Drama. North by Northwest. Wed. June 4 Lecture: Chapter 7 - Drama. All the President's Men Thurs. June 5 Lecture: Chapter 7 - Drama. Amelie. Fri. June 6 Final Exam. EXAMS:
Both the Midterm and Final Exams will consist of multiple choice, True/False, and matching. 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 Final Exam is comprehensive and will include everything from the first half of the semester 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 on your own or check it out from the library.
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.
Students must remove caps when taking quizzes and exams.
All cell phones must be turned off at the beginning of each class period.
Throughout the semester, in-class assignments will be given. Students who are not present for those assignments will not be allowed to make them up.
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.
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.