152.230
The Popular Film L01 (Fall 2003)

Course Objectives

Texts

Requirements

Procedural Matters

Team Project

Major Project

Final Exam

Calendar

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Over the past ten years, many people have complained about the decline of cinema and the demise of cogent reviewing and criticism. Our main textbook for this course is, in fact, one of the best articulations of these complaints. Using this as a starting point we will ask and answer some of the main questions about movies and the industry in the 21st century: can a movie be both popular and artistic, commercial and serious? Are movies really worse now than ever before? What has happened to the practices of criticism/reviewing? etc. etc. Unlike other film courses this one will require that you judge and evaluate movies and reviews. It will also try to prepare students to be the critics and reviewers of tomorrow.

PROCEDURAL MATTERS:

1. Films will be shown each Tuesday (Room 237 UC) or will be assigned at a city cinema. These screenings will be followed on Thursday (in Room 238 UC) by a discussion and/or lecture on the films and the questions they raise. For most of these films there will be brief (5-20 page) background reading assignments which MUST BE READ BEFORE the THURSDAY class to which they apply. Bring your textbook or a copy of the relevant reading to each Thursday class.  In addition you will be expected to fill out a sheet of screening notes (the template will be passed out) FOR EACH FILM.  See Calendar for films/screenings

2. Attendance is not mandatory, but the roll will be taken in every class. This may seem like a contradiction; it is not — it helps me determine who is serious and who isn’t. [Serious students can sometimes convince me to grant an extension (one per course), etc.].  If you miss a class for no good reason, you should not expect me to repeat a lecture or any part thereof for your benefit alone. [No matter what, never ask a professor: did I miss anything?!]  If you miss a “quiz” without a valid reason, you’ll get a zero.  If you must be late (ONCE!), please do not disrupt the class on your arrival.  Check the U of M policies on attendance in the General Calendar for additional info.

3. Papers must be double-spaced, typed and paginated. Do NOT enclose assignments in those clear-plastic covers. Proof-read everything before submission. Please keep a finished copy of all assignments that you submit.

4. Late papers will result in the loss of ½ of a grade per week (e.g., an”A” paper becomes a B+”, etc.). Late papers will receive a grade but no feedback, no comments.  No late papers will be accepted after graded papers have been returned.  If you are having difficulties with an assignment, talk to me well before the due date —  not a day or two before!

5. The common penalty in the Faculty of Arts for plagiarism in a written assignment, test, or examination is a grade of “F” for the course. For the most serious acts of plagiarism, such as the purchase of an essay or cheating on a test or examination, the penalty can also include suspension for a period up to five (5) years from registration in courses taught in a particular department in the Faculty of Arts or from all courses taught in the Faculty.  The Faculty also reserves the right to submit student work that is suspected of being plagiarized to internet sites designed to detect plagiarism.

6. Tests and written assignments will be graded for:
   
       - originality and insightfulness in observation and thought
       - attention to details in sustaining general ideas
       - logical organization and coherent development of an argument
       - clarity, correctness (grammar, punctuation, spelling), and stylishness of your writing
   
   Mere plot summarizing is never acceptable. Use present tense to describe film plots. Never use “we” or “us” or “the audience” in describing your response.

7. The final date for voluntary withdrawal from this course is November 12.

TEAM PROJECT

The class will arbitrarily be grouped into teams of four students. Each team will prepare a four page report on the critical reception of an assigned film with enough photocopies (37) to hand out to every member of the class plus the professor. You will check the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature, the New York Times Index, the Canadian guide to newspapers and periodicals and the Internet (especially www.IMDB.com) for reviews of the film. The report will outline the overall reception, highlight the reviews’ major points, and evaluate the general response (with comments on what was missed, etc.).

MAJOR PROJECT

This is an opportunity to craft the course to fit your needs, your talents, and your extra-curricular interests. It is not to be used as an easy way to avoid studying for the final exam.

1. What has been accepted in the past: research papers, interviews, film/videos, scripts/storyboards, installations/paintings/sculptures (mainly for Fine Arts students), websites, boardgames, photo-essays. Surprise me. Impress me.

2. Procedure:
   
       a.     Type out 2 or 3 ideas in some detail (minimum 150 words). Give them to me by October 31. I’ll help you make a choice and offer suggestions.
       b.     Keep me informed of your progress during the week of November 17.
       c.     Provide concrete evidence that you have done all the readings (during the final week of classes).
       d.     Do not miss more than 3 classes. As soon as you miss more than 3 (even if the 4th miss is the final class), you must take the final exam.
       e.     Bring the project to my office by noon on the day of the final exam. NO EXTENSIONS!

FINAL EXAM

The final exam will be scheduled during the exam period and will be three hours of excruciating pain and debilitating mental anguish. Two parts: short answers (to test whether you watched all the movies, did all the readings and understood them, stayed awake in class and took reliable notes) and essay questions (to test your ability to make connections and develop ideas). There will be some choice. It may be an open-book.

The final exam has been scheduled for 10 December 2003 at 1:30pm in the Wallace Bldg.  Room 223, Seats 1 - 36 
See the Exam Timetable for more info.

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