FIL 2030- HISTORY OF MOTION PICTURES

Department of Film �College of Arts and Humanities, University of Central Florida

COURSE SYLLABUS

                           Instructor: Jesse Wolfe Term: Summer B 2013 Office: COMM 221 Class Meeting Days: Mon/Wed Phone: (407) 823-4044 Class Meeting Hours: 2:00-5:50p E-Mail: Jesse.Wolfe@ucf.edu Class Location: CL1 0104 Website: http://wolfe-ucffilm.blogspot.com Course blog: http://wolfe-fil2030.blogspot.com Course Dates: June 24- August 2, 2013 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Just over a hundred years old, film has become a dominant artform throughout the world. Both the medium and the Industry that has grown around it have influenced our society in profound ways. This evolution and influence is the subject of this course. We will investigate different eras, genres and movements of Film’s history, discuss some influential filmmakers, screen some seminal films, and (hopefully) further develop your appreciation for film….fun. “Only by knowing where we came from, will we know where we are going.” FORMAT: Lecture and power points, screenings, and discussions of topics relating to film history, reading assignments, written quizzes and exams REQUIREMENTS: As this class will be primarily a discussion course, students will be required to attend the class, listen and take notes on lectures, participate in class discussions and view the selected films. They will also be required to read assigned materials posted on the course blogsite. Quizzes and a final exam will be given as listed on course calendar, and the professor reserves the right to assign more quizzes as he deems necessary. EVALUATION: Grades will be based on the average of 3 quizzes given periodically during the course, completion/verification of the assigned reading materials and a cumulative Final Exam. OBJECTIVES: By semester’s end, students will have a basic understanding of where the invention and art form of film originated from, milestones in it’s evolution, major movements and advances in the artform, and it’s influence on culture around the world. REQUIRED TEXT / MATERIALS: Quizzes and Exams will be given on raspberry-colored UCF scantrons. Students are responsible for having correct version of scantron on all quiz and exam days. Scantrons are available for purchase in various vending machines and at the bookstore.

-Required Reading: Required Reading Assignments can be found on/downloaded from the on the course blogsite (http://wolfe-fil2030.blogspot.com).

GRADE SCALE:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F 94-100 90-93 87-89 84-86 80-83 77-79 74-76 70-73 67-69 64-66 60-63 0-59 ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION FINAL GRADE

% Reading Assignments

Each student will be required to read assignments posted on the course blogsite and respond to the questions listed on the blog comment section.

20%

Quizzes Quizzes will be given at different intervals throughout the semester. These quiz grades will be averaged and that average will be put towards the student’s final course grade. No make up quizzes will be given for unexcused absences.

30%

Final Exam A cumulative Final Exam will be given- covering all lectures, discussions, reading assignments and films screened

50%

ASSESSMENT TOTAL 100% EXTRA CREDIT: No extra credit is offered in this course. Except in regard to Class Cancellation Policy (read below) CLASS CANCELLATIONS: The professor is a working professional in film and video production, and as such may occasionally have to cancel class or alter the syllabus due to work schedule and responsibilities. With the exception of emergencies, class will never be canceled with less than a week’s notice to the students. These notices will be posted on the course blogsite. In the case of cancellations, students will be required to complete an assignment posted on the blogsite, and will be turned in by a certain time/date per instructions. The professor's teaching assistant will have instructions. Make sure to check the course blogsite regularly for updates and notices. TECHNOLOGY POLICIES E-MAIL: Email is the best and preferred way of contacting the professor. When you email please make sure to preface your email by putting the course number and your name in the subject line of the email: (Example: “FIL 1001- John Smith”) This will ensure it is not tossed out unread. LAPTOP USAGE: Laptops are acceptable for note taking purposes only. If you are found working on other projects, on my space, emailing etc, you will be asked to leave and a failing grade will be given for the course. NO LAPTOPS OR OTHER DEVICES MAY BE ON OR USED DURING FILM SCREENINGS. If you are found using laptop, phone, or any other electronic device during a screening, you will be asked to leave and a failing grade will be given for the course. OTHER DEVICES: Please read the Laptop Usage section above

ADDITIONAL POLICIES: GRADING/EVALUATION: No exam grades will be dropped ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION: Students are required to attend every class. So if you miss a course, it is your responsibility to obtain missed information from a fellow student. If you miss a day where a quiz/exam is given- you will receive an F for that quiz/exam. PLEASE NOTE: THE PROFESSOR WILL NOT MAKE LECTURES AVAILABLE ON LINE OR AT ANY TIME AFTER IT IS DELIVERED DURING CLASS PERIOD ATTENDANCE POLICY: It is the overall department policy that exceptions to fulfill attendance requirements for film students in all courses shall be as follows: 1. Medical Absence - Students shall provide to the professor and/or department chair written proof of absence for medical reasons from their physician. 2. Religious holidays and observances 3. School functions for which student must provide legitimate excuse in writing prior to event All other reasons for missing scheduled class times must be submitted in writing and approved by the professor and/or department chair IN ADVANCE of expected absence. (Weddings, parties, job interviews, family trips, etc., are not acceptable excuses for missing exams). LATE / MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS or EXAMS There are no make up assignments or exams given in this course for unexcused absences. You are required to be in class on time on the days an exam is given. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: As reflected in the UCF creed, integrity and scholarship are core values that should guide our conduct and decisions as members of the UCF community. Plagiarism and cheating contradict these values, and so are very serious academic offenses. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, or suspension or expulsion from the university. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and follow the University’s Rules of Conduct (see http://www.osc.sdes.ucf.edu/). ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED: (alternate testing opportunities, support for signers, etc.) The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the professor. DISCLAIMER: Some of the films that will be screened and materials discussed may express adult or controversial themes, violence, nudity, strong language etc. If you have any problems with this please discuss it with the instructor. The syllabus- it’s dates, assignments and elements- is subject to changes at the discretion of the professor.

COURSE CALENDAR (subject to change at professor discretion)

DATE IN CLASS ASSIGNMENT M 6/24 Intro to course

Go over syllabus and blogsite Lecture: Pioneers of Cinema

Reading Assignment- read the syllabus

W 6/26 Lecture: The Birth of a (Film) Nation Lecture: The Russians and Germans of the Silent Era

M 7/1 Quiz #1 Screen Movie – TBD

Reading Assignment

W 7/3 Lecture: The Silent Film Comic Trinity Lecture: The First Golden Age

M 7/8 Lecture: The Hollywood Studio System Lecture: The Hayes Code

W 7/10 Quiz #2 Screen Movie- TBD

Reading Assignment

M 7/15 Lecture: Film Noir Lecture: The Movie Musical

W 7/17 Lecture: The Western Lecture: The Comedy

M 7/22 Quiz #3 Screen Movie – TBD

Reading Assignment

W 7/24 Lecture: The New Waves Lecture: The Inmates Run the Asylum

M 7/29 Lecture: TBD Screen Movie- TBD

W 7/31 FINAL EXAM