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Humanities 3 [Hum 3] : Film Appreciation
Instructor: Fr. Renato C. Ocampo, S.J.

Offices: University Chaplain’s Office
Loyola House or University Chapel

Phone: 2212411 local 8716 or 8336
Office Hours: 9 to 11 am; 3 to 5 pm

 

Textbooks and References

·        Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction, 6th Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2001

·          Fischer, Edward. Film as Insight.  Indiana: Fides Publishers, Inc., 1971.

·          Casebier, Allan. Film Appreciation. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1976.

·          Johnson, Ron and Jan Bone.  Understanding the Film. New York: National Textbook Co., 1976.

·          Arnheim, Rudolf.  Film as Art. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.

·          Lewis, Jerry.  The Total Film-Maker.  New York: Warner Paperback Library, 1971.

·          Gelmis, Joseph.  The Film Director as Superstar.  New York: Anchor Press, 1970.

·          Deocampo, Nick.  Short Film: The Emergence of a New Philippine Cinema.  Manila:  Communications Foundation of Asia, 1985.

 

Required Reading:

·          Hum 3 Course Packet. Available Later.

·          Assigned articles

Useful References:

     See consult books in the University Library Reserved Section [under the name of Fr. R. Ocampo] and also in the American Library next door to the University Library

     Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction, 6th Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2001

Course Description and Overview

Hum 3 (Film Appreciation) is an introduction to the analysis and study of the cinema. It is not a "Great Films" class; the films we will be viewing are not intended to represent "the greatest films ever made" (since such a list would be difficult to agree upon). Tastes vary. However there are a number of films which critics agree on as being superior in form and content.

Rather, the course is designed to present a broad spectrum of genres and modes of cinematic storytelling and expression. We will see both classic and contemporary films. Although you may have already seen some of the films which we will see during this semester’s sessions, it is hoped that after learning some of the tools for a better appreciation of the motion picture, you will have acquired what is sometimes referred to as a “Cinema Eye and a Cinema Ear”.

Some of the films which will be shown are lesser-known films from Europe and Asia that challenge and diverge from the familiar film styles of Hollywood movies and other popular commercial movies which you normally watch in movie houses and on cable or ordinary TV. Consequently, one recurring concern of our class will be to better understand the formal, stylistic, and ideological relationships between the Classical Hollywood Cinema and its alternatives in both the art cinema and in the post-classical popular cinema. During the first half of the course, we will focus on mastering the various terms, concepts, and theoretical constructs--in other words, the critical vocabulary--of cinematic aesthetic analysis. In the second half of the course we will expand our focus to include consideration of the social and historical contexts of the films we are studying.

 

Course Requirements

We all enjoy watching films and we shall try to explore the sources of this pleasure in our discussions.

To receive a passing grade in this course, you are expected to be present in every class session on Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the radio room on the 5th floor of Canisius Building, to view with serious attention every assigned film, and actively participate in the discussions which follow each film showing. You are likewise expected to submit all written assignments some of which may include prior reading and understanding of an assigned reading. It is better to do this on a computer or a typewriter. But if these tools are not available to you because of serious reasons, please see me about some possible alternatives. 

You will need to keep up with the deadlines, otherwise you will lag far behind and this will prevent you from  developing the desired skills which will help you become an intelligent movie viewer. In addition to receiving a poor grade.

It is presumed that your written work will be the product of serious personal reflection and research. Please make use of the references available to you in the University Library and the American Library.

Occasionally you may be subjected to an oral quiz or test or report. If you have any questions, you are most welcome to consult me and I shall do my best to help you.

Do make use of the internet in your search for greater learning and familiarity with this important art form which is a source not only of recreation but also of opportunities for learning more about what it means to be more human. Here are some websites which are rich sources of data which will help you do well in this course: www.filmsite.org   www.screendaily.com    www.bfi.org.uk

Filmsite.org is specially useful, and so also the British Film Institute website [bfi.org.uk]. Be curious and explore and various links. You will learn a lot. Other sources will be given later.

It is true and you know from experience that many movies are inferior or do not contribute to making the moviegoer appreciate and value the qualities which make us more human, and therefore better sons and daughters of God. In short many movies shortchange the moviegoer who feels cheated that he/she spent good money uselessly and that he/she wasted his/her time watching garbage. One remedy for this is to read reviews of films done by reputable and experienced film critics and reviewers. Usually they will give you some idea about the story and whether the creator of the film, namely the movie director, did a superior or excellent job of creating the motion picture.

NOTE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

If any student plagiarizes in writing a paper--that is, copies or closely paraphrases from a source without proper quotation and acknowledgment of the source--then that student will be given a failing grade either on the paper or in the course.

University Grading Standards

A -  achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements. (92-100)

B+ - achievement that is significantly satisfactory to meet course requirements. (88-92)

B - achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. (84-87)

C+ - achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect. (79-82)

C - achievement that fairly meets the course requirements. (76-78)

D - achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements. (75)

F - Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit (70) or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an INC.

INC (Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student. (65)

FD (Failure Debarred) Represent failure (or no credit) due to tardiness and absences.  The student absences and tardiness must not exceed 20% of the total number of session hours. (60)

 

Course Policies

1) Late arrival should be the exception. It is disruptive and extremely annoying, and common sense should tell you that it is a bad thing to annoy the teacher. When it is unavoidable, however, sign the late arrival form posted on the wall by the door and sit in the nearest available seat so as not to further disrupt the class. You are responsible for any information you miss, and because I often cover important business (such as assignments, due-dates, changes in the syllabus, etc.) in the first few minutes of class, make absolutely sure that you find out what you missed from one of your classmates.

2) Early preparation for departure---please don’t. Class ends at the scheduled time and not one, two, or three minutes before. If you promise to give me 3 full hours of your undivided attention, I promise to never keep you past the final bell. Give me 3 hours and I’ll never take more.

3) Participation in this class is required. This does not mean, however, that you MUST talk. I certainly appreciate, enjoy, and encourage lively class discussions, but "participation" simply means that you are actively taking part in the learning process occurring around you, and there’s no reason this can’t be done silently. You are participating as long as you come to class prepared, pay attention, take notes, and are generally engaged with the material. (You would be astounded, by the way, at how easy it is for a teacher to tell whether a quiet student is engaged with the class or is simply unprepared or uninterested in what is going on around her or him.) I understand that some folks are reluctant to speak, whether this reluctance arises from fear, self-consciousness, or cultural differences, and I will not force anyone to speak who doesn’t want to. However, I consider the ability to formulate and articulate questions and comments in the context of an informal class discussion to be one of the most important, valuable, and rewarding skills that the college experience has to offer (and one of the most valued skills in the "real world"), and those who choose not to take advantage of opportunities to speak in class are doing themselves a grave disservice. Everyone in class should try to raise their hand and contribute to class discussions (whether it be to ask a question or offer an insight) regularly throughout the semester.

4) Attendance in this class is mandatory. There is a tremendous amount of material to cover, terms and concepts to learn, and skills to develop in this course, and actual classroom time is limited to 30-75-minute lecture per week. Excessive absences and/or tardiness will affect what you learn and, consequently, the grade you earn. IMPORTANT: Four (4) absences will result in an automatic failing grade.

5) Keep the lines of communication open. Feel free to tell me if I’m covering the material too fast or too slow, if you are having trouble seeing the blackboard, if you can’t read my handwriting, if I haven’t explained something clearly enough, if you need me to clarify my expectations for a particular assignment, and so on. My goal is to do everything I can to help you succeed in this course, and your comments and constructive criticism are welcomed and encouraged. If you find yourself having difficulty understanding or keeping up with the readings or our class discussions, or completing assigned work on time, come see me before you fall too far behind. Keeping me informed of problems is always in your best interest. First of all, I may be able to help you resolve the problem. A little one-on-one discussion can often clear things up quickly. Second, if you keep the lines of communication open, I’ll be more responsive to requests for extra help, extensions, and so on, because I’ll know you’ve been engaged and working hard all along. I will make myself available to everyone--via email, phone, and one-on-one conferences--throughout the semester to answer questions, explain assignments, provide individualized help and encouragement, or just to chat about the cinema. I value the opportunity to meet with students on an individual basis, and encourage you to stop by my office early in the semester to introduce yourself.

6) All due-dates in this class are firm, serious deadlines. No late work will be accepted. Whenever you turn in a paper, always make sure you keep a copy for yourself. Never give me (or anyone) the only copy of your work--too many things could happen.

**An important note concerning technology**

Often students will come to class on the day a paper is due and tell me that one of the machines in the computer lab destroyed their disk, that all of the printers in the computer lab are broken, that their system mysteriously crashed the night before, or offer some other reason for turning in a late paper. Although I sympathize with the frustration technology can cause, I do not consider technological failure to be a valid excuse for turning in late work. Use your common sense if you do your work on a computer--save your work often and make backup copies of your files and disks. Whenever you print something out, print two copies; one to turn in, and one for you to keep. It’s also important--and this applies to everyone, not only those working on computers--to start working on assignments early, so that you have plenty of time to accommodate any technical difficulties that arise. Starting a paper the night before it’s due is a recipe for disaster.

7) Plagiarism: Plagiarism is trying to pass off someone else's words or ideas as your own. It's very hard to get away with and the consequences of it are severe (including expulsion from the university). Don't do it.

8) Extra Credit: The web bulletin board on our class's website provides a forum for students to post responses to the course material. Posting to the bulletin board is not required, but is encouraged and welcomed. I read every post, often using student comments to help guide class discussion. To encourage use of the bulletin board, I offer an extra credit bonus for students who post their thoughts regularly. Anyone who posts five (5) or more messages to the bulletin board over the course of the semester will have their lowest grade on an assignment raised one full letter grade. See the handout on the bulletin board option for more details concerning what counts as a legitimate post.

9) Labs: You must attend the weekly film screening lab. Videotapes are convenient and acceptable for close study or quick review, but they cannot provide the superior quality (and cultural evocativeness) of the projected image. Sometimes videotapes cut off part of the image--you're not seeing the entire film! Moreover, some of the films we will watch are not be readily available on videotape. Again, every week you must come to Saturday’s class prepared to discuss the assigned films and readings. The lab screening is a class, and as such you are expected to conduct yourselves appropriately. Please review and follow the rules for lab screenings.

My Learning/Teaching Philosophy

"Understanding" and "learning" are not synonymous terms. It is my primary responsibility to ensure that you understand the content of the course (i.e., the various terms, concepts, and theoretical constructs associated with the serious and scholarly study of cinema). Your job is to learn the material; that is, you need to be able to apply the terms, concepts and theories we discuss to the films we watch as a class (and to other films you have seen or see outside of class), and reflect on how they help you interpret the meanings films communicate and make sense of an account for the impact they have on you as a viewer. This learning requires that you do two things:

1) ask questions whenever you don't understand or need further clarification; and
2) practice applying the knowledge you acquire in this class.

I will do my best to fulfill my responsibility by

1) striving to communicate effectively;
2) explaining the content of the course clearly and at an appropriate pace;
3) helping to create and maintain a classroom culture in which students feel safe asking questions and expressing and exploring their ideas;
4) providing ample opportunities for students to practice applying their knowledge;
5) providing timely, constructive, and fair responses to and evaluation of student work;
6) periodically soliciting student feedback concerning ways to improve the class; and
7) making myself available for individual conferences and one-on-one assistance.

In order for learning to take place, we must both do our jobs and fulfill our respective responsibilities. Your responsibilities include:

1) coming to class regularly and on time;
2) seeing the films on Saturday’s class meeting;
3) completing all assigned readings, homework, and papers on time; and
4) developing a sincere interest and intellectual curiosity about the content of the course.

Please take the time during the semester to reflect periodically on the extent to which we are each fulfilling our respective responsibilites.

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 11/14/01
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