City College Cinema 18

AMERICAN CINEMA Spring 2008 ONLINE

WELCOME

Welcome to City College Cinema 18 - American Cinema, Fall 2009


CLASS BEGINS August 17!

GETTING STARTED

The information below is only applicable to students who are officially registered in the class.

If you have already registered, please be sure to do the following:

1. Send me an email (wendylevy@comcast.net) verifying your registration. I have not received emails from all registered students yet - please just let me know you are registered and plan to take the class.

2. Log into the course by the end of the first week of the semester to secure your spot in the course. You may be dropped if you do not show your intent to take the course by logging on by the end of the first week of classes. Instruction begins August 17, and you should be logged on and participating no later than August 22.

Once you are enrolled and registered, you will access all the course information over the Internet using your web browser through a system called Insight, which is built in MOODLE. You'll need to log in to the website with a username and password. First, go to CCSF online. If you have taken an online course at City College of San Francisco, you can use your old username and password. If you have not taken an online course, you will use your Student ID (for example, W88888888, or if your Student ID number is @888888, then you'll use X888888.) Your initial password is set to "changeme". You will be required to change your password the first time you access the system.

 Questions about online registration? http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Distance_Education/faq.htm

I'm Wendy Levy - your instructor this semester. I've been teaching film and media studies and production for many years in the Bay Area at San Francisco State, College of San Mateo, UCBerkeley Extension, and City College. I'm the Director of Creative Programming at Bay Area Video Coalition (www.bavc.org), and a documentary filmmaker. If this is your first online class, great.

 

Please don't take this class if you think it is less work than an in-person class. I really try to create an engaging and compelling format and an interactive structure for the course, but you actually have to be VERY self-motivated to succeed. You have to write a lot, watch telecourses online and feature films on video, read the texts, participate regularly in online discussion boards, and take regular quizzes on the reading.
 

There are no required in-person meetings for this class. Everything is online. By request, I am available for in-person office hours during the semester.

You are welcome to email me at wendylevy@comcast.net if you have any pre-registration questions or issues.

 

About The Class

 

Course title:

American Cinema

Course number:

Film 18

Course discipline:

Film and Television Studies

Course description:

An introductory course in film studies bringing Hollywood filmmaking into clear focus as an art form, as an economic force, and as a system of representation and communication. Explores how Hollywood films work technically, artistically, and culturally to reinforce and challenge American’s national self image. These 3 units are transferable to a CSU or UC. Expect 6-7 hours of course work/week.

 

Course Goals:

 

Upon completion of this course a student will be able to:

1. Summarize American film history from the silent era to present day movies.

2. Compare the developing technology in film to its evolving aesthetics.

3. Interpret the basic technical and critical vocabulary of motion pictures.

4. Evaluate the changing economic structure of the film industry.

5. Assess the different genres, film grammar, and editing and lighting styles used in films and rate how successfully these techniques are employed.

6. Appraise their role as moviegoers and increase their ability to watch films critically.

7. Examine how the tools of camera angles, lighting, editing and sound manipulate how we feel about a filmed subject.

8. Distinguish and contrast the styles of different filmmakers.

 

Course Expectations

1.       Students are expected to view the 13 Telecourse programs outlining American Cinema as an art form, economic system and cultural commodity.

2.       Students are expected to read a standard text and study guide on American Cinema.

3.       Weekly written assignments are also required. These will be posted.

4.       Additional assignments include:

a. Renting & viewing assigned films
b. Weekly participation in online discussion
c. Participation in group projects, as well as a designed web page
d. Taking online quizzes

 

Required Reading

 

 

American Cinema/American Culture, John Belton, McGraw Hill, 3rd. edition

 

Study Guide for American Cinema, Ed Sikov, McGraw Hill, 3rd. edition

 

www.learner.org - streaming program, www.mhhe.com/cinema2 - text website