Dr. Rachela Permenter
Summer 1997, Slippery Rock University
Text: Understanding
Movies. Louis Giannetti. Prentice Hall, 7th ed.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE READING ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE CLASS ON DAYS LISTED . (Read all photo captions on pages assigned and those listed separately.)
THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE MAY BE MODIFIED:
Wed., May 21.
Intro to course. Casablanca(Michael Curtiz,
1943)
Thur., May 22.
Camera and Mise en Scène.Photo captions 1-4 and 1-5 (pp. 6 & 7); "The Shots," "The
Angles," "Light and Dark," "Color," pp. 10-26.
"Lenses," pp. 26-29; Photo caption 1-30 (p. 36); "Mise en scène,"
"The Frame," pp. 39-52, "Composition and Design," pp. 52-54; Photo
Captions 2-12a, 2-12b, 2-13, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16, 2-17 (on pp. 55-60).
Fri., May 23.
The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967)"Territorial Space," pp. 62-64; Photo captions 2-22a, 2-22b, 2-24;
"Territorial Space," (cont.), pp. 68-70, 72-77, 81-82, 85-87;
"Movement," 94-99; Photo Caption 3-14 (p. 105); "The Moving Camera,"
pp. 106-119.
EXAM #1
Mon., May 26.
Memorial Day. No Class.
Tues.,
May 27. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
"Editing," Chapter 4
Wed., May 28.
Film Noir
Thurs.,
May 29.
Fri., May 30.
Women in/and Film. Medley of Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991), Orlando (Sally Potter, 1992), Fried Green Tomatoes (Jon Avnet, 1991), The Piano (Jane Campion, 1993) EXAM #2
Mon., June 2.
Il Postino (Michael Radford, 1994), Clips from Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988)Come to class having seen Boyz'N the Hood (John Singleton, 1991) within the last two weeks."Ideology," Chapter 10
Tues.,
June 3.
"Figurative Comparisons," 375-81; "Literary Adaptions," 386-90
Wed., June
4.
Thurs., June 5.
To Live (Zhang Yimou, 1994)Fri., June 6.
Expressionism in Trainspotting and Dracula (and The Shining), Photo Caption 7-16 (p. 301)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Class attendance for all scheduled meetings and viewing of all films.
2. Two examinations.
3. Five Viewer Responses.
4. Shot-by-shot Analysis (of three shots from a film on the syllabus)
5. Research Contribution to class discussion (two reviews or critical articles of two films on syllabus for a total of four photocopied reviews or articles).
6. Formal Analysis (Final Exam)
BASIS FOR GRADES:
Final grades for this course will be assessed by your percentage of points.
Scale:
90-100% = A
80-91% = B
70-80% = C
62-69% = D
0-61% = F
Exams (2) 100 pts. each. . . 200 pts.
Viewer Responses (5) 30 pts. each. . . .150 pts.
Photocopies of reviews (4) 5 pts. each. . . .20 pts.
Shot-by-shot analysis. . .30 pts.
Formal Analysis. . . .150 pts.
TOTAL: 550 pts.
Absence:Absence and tardiness are strongly discouraged. For each unexcused absence above one, 25 points will be deducted from your final grade. Absences beyond one will be excused only if documentation from a dean or medical doctor is provided.
Conferences:You
are heartily encouraged to visit the instructor during office hours or by appointment to
discuss assignments, films, grading, presentations, papers, journals, etc.
Also see Cinematic Review
Comments to Dr. Rachela Permenter
Last updated on May 24, 1997
