"Film and Film Theory"

starring

Members of Humanities 351, Spring 1998

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts

directed by

Mr. David A. Salomon

Opening Credits

This course is a survey of film and film theory from its beginning in the silent masterpieces of Charlie Chaplin through its development during the "Golden Age" of film and into the present day era of blockbuster movie events. We will discuss major issues in film theory and apply those discussions during weekly screenings of specific films. Along the way, we'll get a chance to compare versions of great literature on screen, explore issues of light, sound, and special effects, and discuss what it is that makes a film "great." Along the way, we will also probably look at snippets from other films as examples of different styles and movements in film.

Snack Bar

One short paper (4-6 pages in length); Due March 25

One longer paper (9-11 pages in length, using at least three secondary sources-only one may be from the Internet); Due May 6

One brief review: discussed on another handout; Due February 25

A final examination; May 13

No Re-entry

Papers must be handed in on time. Papers handed in late will receive a one grade deduction for each class late.

Tickets

Students are expected to attend all classes. Absences will begin to affect grades after two class meetings have been missed. It is important that you are in class for discussion of the films-seeing them on your own will not suffice. Lateness will have a similar effect.

On the Smaller Screen: WWW

A World Wide Web page for this class can be found at

http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~das93006/film/film.html

If a film script is available on the Internet, you will find it linked from the Course Links; some other scripts, most notably Woody Allen's "Manhattan," are available in print form at most libraries and some bookstores (Allen's script is not on the Internet at this time). You will need either a copy of the script for the film on which you are writing your longer paper or a copy of the film.

I can always be contacted via e-mail at das93006@uconnvm.uconn.edu or by fax at 860-486-1530.

Your Program (These texts are required and are available at the bookstore)

Graeme Turner, Film as Social Practice (Routledge)

William Shakespeare, The Tempest (Folger Library Edition)

Various articles on reserve in the Lyme Academy library; see Bente or Brenda

Now Showing:

January 21: Course Introduction

January 28: History of Early Film

Introduction to Film Theory and Terminology

SILENT FILM MASTERY

"City Lights" (1931), dir. Charlie Chaplin

Scenes from "Battleship Potemkin" (1925), dir. Sergei Eisenstein

Read "The ending of 'City Lights,'" on reserve

Read "Theory of Film" by Siegfried Kracauer, on reserve

Familiarize yourself with the glossary of terms handed out at meeting one

February 4: "Chaplin" (1992), dir. Richard Attenborough

Read Turner, chapter 1

February 11: FILM LYRICISM: USING BOTH SOUND AND SILENCE

"Wings of Desire" (1988), dir. Wim.Wenders

Read "Meditations on Wim Wenders' 'Wings of Desire,'" on reserve

Topic for discussion: why remake "Wings of Desire"?

February 18: LITERATURE AND FILM/FILM AS LITERATURE, PART 1

Read "Beauty and the Beast," fairy tale on handout

Read "'Beauty and the Beast': From Fable to Film," on reserve

"Beauty and the Beast" (1946), dir. Jean Cocteau

"Beauty and the Beast" (1991), dir. Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale (Disney)

February 25: Discussion of "Beauty and the Beast"

Discussion of Shakespeare's The Tempest

Read Shakespeare, The Tempest

**REVIEW DUE

March 4: LITERATURE AND FILM/FILM AS LITERATURE, PART 2

Read Shakespeare, The Tempest

"Tempest" (1982), dir. Paul Mazursky

Read "Mazursky's 'Tempest': Something Rich, Something Strange," on reserve

March 11: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC

"Citizen Kane" (1939), dir. Orson Welles

Read Turner, chapter 4

Read "Appendix," Orson Welles' statement, on reserve

March 18: Spring Break: No Class

March 25: THE FRENCH NEW WAVE

"Breathless" (1959), dir. Jean-Luc Goddard

**SHORT PAPER DUE

Read Turner, chapter 6

April 1: FILM AS SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Read "'Planet of the Apes' As American Myth," on reserve

"Planet of the Apes" (1968), dir. Franklin J. Schaffner

April 8: BLACK AND WHITE VS. COLOR/NARRATIVE

"Manhattan" (1979), dir. Woody Allen

**SUBMIT A PROPOSED TOPIC FOR LONGER PAPER

Read Turner, chapter 3

April 15: NO CLASS: School Function

April 22: VISUAL AND SPECIAL EFFECTS

"Burden of Dreams" (1982), dir. Les Blank, documentary on "Fitzcarraldo"

Read "Fitzcarraldo," on reserve

April 29: "Fitzcarraldo" (1982), dir. Werner Herzog

May 6: HISTORY AS FILM/FILM AS HISTORY

"All The President's Men" (1976), dir. Alan J. Pakula

**LONGER PAPER DUE

Read Turner, chapter 5

May 13: Final Examination