Introduction to Film

TEXT:

An Introduction to Film Genres by Lester Friedman, David Desser, Sarah Kozloff, Martha P. Nochimson and Stephen Prince. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2014

PURPOSE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Introduction to Film qualifies as a course that partially fulfills a student's LACC requirement. By the end of the course, students will:
1) be familiar with film as an art form that reflects the cultural context in which it was created, primarily in the United States
2) be familiar with different film genres and how each is distinct
3) have seen examples of different genres and filmmaking techniques through watching film clips and full length feature films.

This course cannot cover all genres in film. It simply would take too much time. For instance, full-length animated features (e.g., Minions, Frozen, Inside Out), documentaries and comic book action hero films are genres that will not be covered individually but may be discussed relative to their influence and continued growth.

RESPONSE PAPERS:

Response papers for this course serve two purposes. First, they provide a means for you to demonstrate and improve your written communication skills. Like all 100 level LACC courses, you are learning how to express your ideas in written form and this class supports that purpose. Second, the response papers provide a means for you to demonstrate that you are able to assimilate ideas from class and use them in your analysis of a film.

Don't write your papers based on films you watch at home on your television, computer, tablet or phone.Acceptable response papers will be based on films shown in movie theatres and that are currently playing (March - May). You may not use a film you saw before the class began. Choose films that are substantive and avoid those that are derivative (avoid sequels) or are based on simplistic plots. Neither should you choose animated features or nature films. The paper is meant to demonstrate what you have learned about films and how you responded to the film you saw. The paper should be no shorterthan two typewritten, double-spaced pages and no longer than three typewritten, double-spaced pages.

Your paper should be divided into four parts, each one headed by the question that you see following the number below. Please note that the text below serves as an example. Like these, be sure to ground your opinion in specific references to the film and incorporate examples:

Part I.

What is the film about and what is the filmmaker trying to express with the film?

What are unique features of the film and how did the filmmaker use those features?

Part II.

What reaction did you have to the film? Did you enjoy the film or not? You should avoid a simple "I didn't like the film." If you didn't like the film, analyze why. Was it the storyline, the plot, the acting, the way that the film was photographed, the music or a combination of any of these?

Part III.

What do you think was the filmmaker's goal and did s/he achieve it?

You may earn extra credit by seeing films that are available at one of two venues - the Historic Elsinore Theatre or Salem Cinema. This is how it works. You go to one movie from the list at the end of this page. Afterward, you turn a one page, typewritten response paper(about 200 words) that addresses these questions:

1. What was the genre of the film you watched?

2. What was the filmmaker trying to convey through the film?

3. Did the filmmaker achieve his/her goal and why/how?

Your answers should reflect what you have learned so far in the class.