Motion pictures began as simple films of everyday activities, capturing ordinary events to show the capabilities of this new medium. Soon, however, visionaries discovered that motion pictures could be much more than static camera shots of workers leaving a factory. Early in the history of the movies, filmmakers exploited the aesthetic, political, and economic advantages of the film medium. This triptych of functions probably explains why so many different terms--motion picture, cinema, documentary, film, and movie--have been used to describe the presentation of single-framed, sequential images that move through a machine so rapidly that they create the illusion of movement on a screen.

Movie theaters are magical places. Nowhere else is the screen as large, the sound as clear, the seats as plush, and the popcorn as fresh. People go to the movies because there is nothing else like that feeling when the lights suddenly start to dim, voices quiet to a whisper, and the screen glows from the projector. The huge horizontal frame has the power to take us to another country, another planet, or another person's point of view. With stars, scenery, and situations, movies are dramatic and riveting. And yet the screen is simply a mirror that reveals all the best and worst qualities of everyone sitting in the theater. That is why the stories and the characters are so familiar.

During this seminar we will learn to critically analyze the motion picture art form.

Required Readings:
From books, handouts and websites. See the Seminar Schedule below.

Grading:
Movie Reviews: 25 Percent (Five at 5% Each)
In-Class Presentation: 15 Percent
Term Paper: 60 Percent (15 Percent for Title and Annotated Literature Search,
20 Percent for Lead and Outline, and 25 Percent for Paper)

To learn your grade at any time go to: my.fullerton.edu, log on, click on the Blackboard tab at the top right, then click on the COMM 515T course. Once you're in, click the "Tools" button to check your grade.

Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated and may be subject to severe disciplinary action. For more information on these issues see plagiarism.

Movie Reviews:
During the course of the semester, you will write five 3-page motion picture reviews. You will select the five from the list given to you during the first evening. Avoid using any film shown in class. Each review will concentrate upon each of the five perspectives of analysis: personal (due 9/8), historical (due 9/29), technical (due 10/20), ethical (due 11/10), and cultural (due 11/17). Except for the first review based on your personal opinions, all other papers should be academic in nature with appropriate refereed sources.

In-Class Presentation:
Choose at least three films from the movie analysis handout. You will be divided into four groups and work together to present to the rest of us your insights about the motion pictures you selected (Groups 1 and 2 on 12/1 and Groups 3 and 4 on 12/8). Look for connections between them. Each group will have one hour for your presentation so edit your video selections. Be sure and leave a lot of time for discussion. You must include a 3-page paper detailing your points.

Term Paper:
You will write a 15-page term paper analyzing one or more motion pictures using the perspectives of personal, historical, technical, ethical, and cultural, or any other analytical categories you feel appropriate. The paper is divided into three parts: The title and an annotated literature search are due 9/15, the lead paragraph and an outline are due 11/3, and the paper is due 12/15.

Seminar Schedule:
Aug. 25
Film: A Philosophical Approach and a Personal Perspective
     Class Film:
     Blade Runner (1982): 1:57
     Readings:
     How to Read a Film, James Monaco, Chapter 5
     Movie Analysis List, Paul Lester
     Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K. Dick (Optional)
     Blade Runner Analysis 1
     Blade Runner Analysis 2

Sep. 1
Historical Perspective
     Class Films:
     A Trip to the Moon (1902): 9 min
     The Great Train Robbery (1903): 12 min
     The Birth of a Nation (1915): 2:05
     Readings:
     Film: Historical Perspective, Paul Lester
     Birth of a Nation Analysis

Sept. 8
Historical Perspective
Class Film:
     Citizen Kane (1941): 1:59
     Readings:
     Film: Citizen Kane Analysis, Paul Lester
     Citizen Kane Analysis 1
     Citizen Kane Analysis 2
     Movie Review 1 (Personal Perspective) Due

Sept. 15
Technical Perspective: Sound & Color
Class Film:
     Singin' in the Rain (1952): 1:43
     Readings:
     Film: Technical Perspective, Paul Lester
     Singin' in the Rain Analysis
     Term Paper Title and Literature Search Due

Sept. 22
Technical Perspective: The Shot
Class Films:
     Koyaanisqatsi (1983): 1:27
     Timecode (2002): 1:37
     Readings:
     Koyaanisqatsi Analysis
     Godfrey Reggio Bio
     Timecode Analysis

Sept. 29
Ethical Perspective: Propagating Stereotypes?
Class Film:
     The Siege (1998): 1:54
     Readings:
     Film: Ethical Perspective, Paul Lester
     The Siege Analysis 1
     The Siege Analysis 2
      "Is That a Story or a Stereotype on the Big Screen?"
     Edward Zwick
Movie Review 2 (Historical Perspective) Due

Oct. 6
Ethical Perspective: Going Against Type
Class Film:
     Smoke Signals (1998): 1:28
     Readings:
     Smoke Signals Analysis 1
     Smoke Signals Analysis 2

Oct. 13
No Class
Work on any past or future writing assignments.

Oct. 20
Cultural Perspective: Screwball Comedy
Class Film:
     Some Like it Hot (1959): 2:00
     Readings:
     Film: Cultural Perspective, Paul Lester
     Some Like it Hot Analysis
Movie Review 3 (Technical Perspective) Due

Oct. 27
Cultural Perspective: Documentary Satire
Class Film:
     Annie Hall (1977): 1:32
     Reading:
     Annie Hall Analysis

Nov. 3
The Auteur Approach: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Class Films:
     The City of Lost Children (1995): 1:42
     Amelie (2002): 2:02
     Readings:
     City of Lost Children Analysis 1
     City of Lost Children Analysis 2
     Amelie Analysis 1
     Amelie Analysis 2
Lead Paragraph and Outline for Paper Due

Nov. 10
Special Considerations: Animation
Class Film:
     Les Triplettes de Belleville (2003): 1:20
     Readings:
     Les Triplettes de Belleville Analysis 1
     Les Triplettes de Belleville Analysis 2
Movie Review 4 (Ethical Perspective) Due

Nov. 17
The Professional Approach
Class Film:
     Sweet Smell of Success (1957): 1:36
     Readings:
     Sweet Smell of Success Analysis
Movie Review 5 (Cultural Perspective) Due

Nov. 24
Fall Recess

Dec. 1
Connections: In-Class Presentations Groups 1 & 2

Dec. 8
Connections: In-Class Presentations Groups 3 & 4

Dec. 15
Term Paper Due