University of North Alabama

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Communication and Theatre


Course Syllabus
Com/Th 300:

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 		History of Film

3 semester hours

The study of both the silent and sound film development periods until 1960 and the study of Ernest Borgnine's filmography preparing for Lindsey/UNA Film Festival participation, April 15-17, 2004.

Spring 2004

Thursday night, 6:00 -- 8:30 pm

Avon Edward Foote, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Room 108

Office: (256) 765-4489
E-mail: aefoote@una.edu
FAX: (256) 765-4839

Office Hours: M, 10-2; TU, 12:30-1:30; W, 10-12; TH, 1:30-3:30. And by appointment when necessary

Giannetti and Eyman, FLASHBACK: A BRIEF HISTORY OF FILM, 4th edition (Prentice Hall, copyright 2001).

The student is expected to complete the following objectives:
  • To learn about the early inventors and technique pioneers who made possible the earliest experiments in filmmaking and film exhibition for the silent and sound eras.
  • To be able to list the contributions of Armat, Edison, Porter, Chaplin, Griffith, DeForest, the Warners, Riefenstahl, Welles and Selznick.
  • To be able to recount the significant film events and releases by decade between 1890 and 1960.
  • To know the names of the major studios and the reputations of each.
  • To be enriched by watching some of the greatest films of all times.
    •

    Assigned readings, lectures, viewing of important historical films, documentaries about films, optional research paper, reports on current films showing in Shoals, festival attendance -- all learning activities under the course management and supervision of the instructor.

    The following are methods by which the course objectives will be evaluated:
    Two exams will contribute 40% each to the final grade. To complete 100% credit, the 20% remaining requires festival attendance on campus and downtown and follow-up class discussion and a written report on the event. Students will be able to increase the festival attendance an additional 10% with 5% reduction for each test grade when all Lindsey Festival sessions and screenings are attended. If optional paper is written, the exams grades will be reduced to 30% each and the paper will then makeup 20% of the final grade with festival weight still being 20%. Only one of these three complete options may be used to improve semester grade. Students will not be allowed to pick and choose various elements from the grading options to create their own average weighting combination.

    A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=<60

    Grading Considerations: If you write the optonal Research Paper to count 20%: A paper may be completed by the end of week 15 of at least 8 pages including references and footnotes to count 20 per cent of final grade. The topic must be approved by week 10 after being submitted to the professor in writing. Students must follow an appropriate style manual for writing and editing.

    Attendance: Required by University policy. After four weeks of absences your grade will be become an "F" as announced in University literature. Grade may be lowered for excessive absences over the equivalent of two complete class periods (5 hours of class time).

    January 19 --- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    February 20 to 22 --- University closed for Winter break
    March 5 --- Middle of term
    March 5 --- Last day to apply for 2004 Fall graduation
    March 22 to 28 --- Spring Holidays
    April 9 --- University closed
    April 15 to 17 --- Lindsey/UNA Film Festival
    May 6 --- Study Day
    May 7 to 13 --- Semester Exams

    MEETS 1 AND 2: Early Technological and Narrative Experimentation. Discuss Edison’s Role. View "Before the Nickelodeon" and early Mutoscope productions. Read Chapter 1.

    MEETS 3 AND 4: Advances of D. W. Griffith and Friends. View "Birth of a Nation" and excerpts from "Intolerance". Read Chapters 2 and 3.

    MEETS 5 AND 6: Early Films of Russia, Germany, and France. View very early films of Russia under the Czar, and "Potemkin". Compare Soviet and German filmmaking. Read Chapter 4.

    MEET 7: Film viewings preparing for Lindsey/UNA Film Festival participation.

    MEET 8: Take Midterm Exam. More Festival related viewing.

    MEET 9: Sound arrives. Radio becomes a Keen Competition and Hollywood Debuts Sound to Regain its Position with the Public. Several examples from early sound period are used. Reread the Talkies section of Chapter 3.

    MEETS 10 AND 11: RKO’S Contribution to Special Effects and Sound Improvement. View "King Kong". The problems of Docu-drama and "Disneyfication". Read Chapter 6.

    MEET 12: The Documentary Tradition. View "Nanook Revisited" , "The River" and other examples from early period.

    MEETS 13 AND 14: The World’s Greatest Film and Film Noir. View "Citizen Kane" and excerpt from "The Hucksters." Read Chapter 8.

    MEET 15: International Films and Wrap-Up. View "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by French producer/director. Read Chapters 10 and 11.

     

    University of North Alabama Policy regarding student disabilities is on separate web page.

    15 January 2004