TCF 112 Motion Picture History and Criticism

Spring 1999 (3 credit hours)

Course Objectives:

TCF 112 aims to introduce the student to the history of film and to explore some of the major conceptual models (e.g., formalism, genre theory, auteurism, and so on) that have been applied to that history.

Texts:

In a sense, there are three "texts" for this course:

1. The course readings:
   Louis Giannetti, Scott Eyman, Flashback: A Brief History of Film, 3^rd edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996).
   
2. The course lectures
3. The course films

Giannetti & Eyman will supply the student with the basic facts of film history. The lectures augment those facts with specific interpretations of them. The films themselves illustrate both the readings and the lectures.

Assignments:

1. There will be three objective (multiple choice, true/false) Readings Tests over the course of the semester. These closed-book tests will consist of questions drawn from the readings and the films, but not the lectures. They will be worth 15 points each.
2. Additionally, mid-term (25 points) and final (30 points) exams will be given. These exams will consist of open-note, open-book essay questions drawn from the lectures and referring to the films. Photocopied notes may not be used during these exams; any other notes or books are permissible.
   Dates of the tests/exams are indicated below. Make-up test/exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor. No tests/exams will be given before their scheduled dates.

Grading Summary:

      Readings Tests (3 @ 15)   	45
      Mid-Term Exam			25
      Final Exam			30
                                       100  TOTAL

Grading scale:

	A	93-100			C	73-76
	A-	90-92			C-	70-72
	B+	87-89			D+	67-69
	B	83-86			D	63-66
	B-	80-82			D-	60-62
	C+	77-79			F	59 and below

Posting of Grades:

Grades will be posted by the last four digits of your student ID number in the hallway outside room 216. They may also be found on the TCF Department's World Wide Web site:

http://www.tcf.ua.edu/Classes/jbutler/t112/s99/grades.htm

This site may be accessed from most computer labs on campus and, via the Internet, from computers around the world. If you do not wish your grades to be posted in this manner, please notify us in writing.

Absence Policy:

The tests/exams' questions assume the student has attended all lectures and film screenings.

Academic Misconduct Policy:

All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

Disabilities Accommodation Policy:

To request disability accommodations, please contact Disabilities Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with Disabilities Services, contact Jeremy Butler.

Film Screenings & Film Credits:

There will be no other opportunity to see the films other than the in-class screenings. Most are not available on videocassette. These films serve as our texts. Talking or other disturbances will not be tolerated during screenings.

A limited number of the class films may be purchased online. More information is available.

The best source for film credits is the Internet Movie Database: http://us.imdb.com . Click on the highlighted films below to access their credits on the IMDb.

Course Schedule

(subject to revisions announced in class)