Syllabus

Spring 2013                                                                                                                       North Hall 204

                                    COM 104 Film Appreciation           

Instructor: Larry Ling-hsuan Tung, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Communications

Email: larrytungnyc@gmail.com

Course Description:

This course focuses on the study of film as a major art form and as popular culture. Through readings, discussions and viewing of historical and contemporary films, the evolution of the form and aesthetics of film is identified. Various films are analyzed for meaning and their contribution to art and popular culture.

Required Text:

Barsam R. & Monahan D. (2012) Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film (4th ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company. (A used copy of the 3^rd edition with the Robert Downey Jr. cover is also acceptable.)

Grading:

Test 1                                                100 pts                        25%

Test 2                                                100 pts                        25%

Film blog                                          100 pts                        25%

Class participation                            100 pts                        25%

Grading Scale:

360-400 pts = A                        340-359 pts= B+            320-339 pts=B                        300-319 pts=C+

280-299pts=C                        260-279=D+                        240-259 pts=D                        Less than 240=F

Attendance: You are allowed to have one unexcused absence. Two and three excused absences will lower your grade. Four unexcused absences will in an F. Lateness will equal absence(s) at the instructor’s discretion.

Withdrawal Grading and Procedures 

W (Withdrawal): Student may officially withdraw from credit-bearing courses until the 9th week of the semester.  Student must submit a withdrawal form signed by the course professor to the Registrar’s Office. 

After the ninth week, an official withdrawal is permitted only at the professor’s discretion.

“W” grades are not calculated into student’s cumulative Grade Point Averages (GPA), but do appear on student transcript and can impact academic standing.

NA* (Never Attended):            Student never attended class.  “NA” grade does not impact cumulative GPA.  Student should contact advisor to discuss reason for non-attendance.

UW* (Unofficial Withdrawal): Student attended one or more classes, but stopped attending without following official withdrawal procedures.  “UW” grades are calculated as an “F” into student’s cumulative GPA.

*Financial aid recipients:  NA and UW grades may impact your current semester’s financial aid award and future eligibility for federal and state financial aid funds.

INCOMPLETES - only granted under extraordinary circumstances/verification required.  Student must be passing and cannot be missing more than one assignment and test.  Work must be completed during next complete academic term.

Tentative schedule

3/2
Chapter 1-3
Screening: No Country for Old Men (Western)

3/10
Chapter 4: Elements of Narrative
Screening: The Silence of the Lambs (Horror)

3/17
Chapter 5: Mise-en-Scene
Screening: Chinaown (Film Noir)

3/24
Test 1
Screening: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Musical)

3/31 NO CLASS (Spring Break)

4/7
Chapter 6: Cinematography
Screening: Born into Brothel (Documentary)

4/14
Chapter 7: Acting
Screening: Eat Drink Man Woman (Foreign language)

4/21
NO CLASS

4/28
Chapter 8 Editing and Chapter 9 Sound
Screening: My Neighbor Totoro (Animation)

5/5
Chapter: Film History
Screening: Citizen Kane (The Most Influential Film of All Time)

5/12
Test 2
Final Exam & Class Wrap-up
Screening: When Harry Met Sally (Romantic comedy)