Cañada College
Lit 442AA: Film Study & Appreciation II
Clay, Fall 2008: Masterpieces of Post World War II Cinema
David Clay , Instructor
CRN: 86781 3 units TR 11:10 am - 12:25 pm , room 03 -0142
Transfer: CSU: C1, C2, UC. (IGETC: 3A)
no prerequisite - Eng 836 eligibility recommended
Instructor
David Clay clayd@smccd.edu
office hours: room 3-242, M 10:10-11:00, MTTh 1-2, or by appointment

Text
Bordwell & Thompson. Film Art, An Introduction. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.

Course Description
Masterpieces of Post World War II Cinema -- Film Noir, Neorealism, The New Wave. The directors, the styles, the politics, the actors that gave us some truth about our new world. Films from De Sica, Antonioni, Fellini, Truffaut, Dassin, Wilder, Welles and others.
Film Noir exposed the other soul of 20th century America. Based on the ethos of suspicion, corruption, opportunism, and psychological darkness, the "dark" movies of the 40's and 50's gave us another truth about ourselves -- the underside of our culture where women are not pure, crooks are not without charm, cops are not what they should be, and big brother is not watching you because he has bigger fish to fry. Maybe the conventional life is what you are supposed to want, but maybe it doesn't exist, and for sure it can't be as much fun as living a little dangerously. Break loose.
So noir movies were a message of hope. As Eddie Muller says, "To me, film noirs were the only movies that offered bracing respite from sugarcoated dogma, Hollywood-style. They weren't trying to lull you or sell you or reassure you -- they insisted that you wake up to the reality of a corrupt world. Quit kidding yourself. Stand up, open your eyes, and be ready for anything." (Dark City, the Lost World of Film Noir, NY: St. Martin's, 1998, p.11.)
We will focus on the American Noir tradition and its connection to the post WWII films of Italy and France. Like American film noir the Neorealism of Italy and the New Wave of France brought a new kind of honesty to cinema, The course will give you a chance to enjoy, discuss, and write about some of these films, and to think about the role of cinema in our own time.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. identify and analyze specific technical issues of film production, and relate these to the style and rhetoric (the intent) of films.
2. identify the common genres of narrative film.
3. identify thematic elements of narrative film
4. identify and discuss fictional and dramatic elements of film such as dramatic structure, symbolism, tone, and characterization. 5. discuss the importance of editing and special effects in film.
6. recognize and discuss the importance of music and sound effects in film. 7. recognize and analyze various styles of directing and acting in film.
8. discuss and analyze the effect of censorship and cultural bias in various periods of film history.
9. recognize and discuss issues of gender and diversity which are presented in film.
10. recognize and discuss ethnic, cultural, and gender stereotyping in film.
11. identify and discuss the historical development of film techniques and genre.
12. write critically about specific elements of film technique.
13. write critically about whole films.
14. keep viewing journals.
15. participate in small group presentations about specific topics in film study.
16. share ideas about evaluation of films, the social significance of particular works, the cultural importance of film as one of the visual arts.

Course Activities
In-class screenings
Large group discussions led by the instructor
Small group discussions and collaborations
In-class quizzes
midterm and final examinations
Study questions
2 papers

Evaluation
Grades will be determined by the instructor's evaluation of
Mid term and final examinations (30%)
Papers (40%)
quizzes (10%)
Class participation (10 %)
Study Questions (10%)

Policies
Late Assignments: Assignments are due on the dates shown on the assignment sheets. If special circumstances occur, please discuss the situation with me. I know that we all have lives.
Plagiarism: Don't even think about it. All writing must be your own work. If you use anyone else's work without documentation you will receive a failing grade on that assignment, and you may be dropped from the class.
Essay Format: All of your work written outside of class (except your study questions) must be typed, double spaced, with the class heading on the first page. Attach all preparatory work to the back of the final draft. Use MLA style.
Attendance: Attendance is very important for this class. We learn by sharing ideas and participating in class activities. You have to be here. 4 absences is the limit - you may be dropped from the course if you miss more than 4 classes. It is your responsibility to drop the the class if you stop attending, and I cannot drop you after the last drop date. Athletic events are not excusable absences. Cell phones, and other electronic devices are great fun, but they are not appropriate for use in class. If you can't resist using your electronic toys in class I will ask you to leave, and I will consider you absent for that day.