English 345 Studies in Film: Cine/Technology Winter 2007

Transcription

1 English 345 Studies in Film: Cine/Technlgy Winter 2007 Instructr: Kimberlee Gillis-Bridges Class: M-TH, 2:30-4:20 p.m. Lcatin: Smith 120 Office: Padelfrd A-305 Phne: Office Hurs: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00-2:00, and by appintment Class Web Page: Descriptin In English 345, we will cncentrate n films that prtray the relatinship between humans and technlgy. Our investigatin f the visual language filmmakers use t represent technlgy will invlve frmal analysis f narrative, mise-en-scene, cinematgraphy, editing, and sund. Hwever, we will g beynd frmal analysis t address the histrical, scial, and idelgical cntexts at play in films abut technlgy. Thrughut the quarter, we will questin hw films abut technlgy bth draw n and shape cntemprary cultural ntins f technlgy. The first part f the curse fcuses n films depicting the prmise f technlgy. The secnd explres critiques f technlgy and technlgical scieties, and the third analyzes the cybrg and ther meldings f human and machine. Curse Gals and Methdlgy Students in the curse wrk tward several gals: learning hw t read film bth frmally and cntextually and develping as critical thinkers and writers. Curse activities prmte active learning, with mst class sessins including a mix f mini-lectures, discussin, and grup wrk. My rle is t prvide the tls and resurces yu will need t advance yur wn thinking and writing. I will pse questins, design activities t help yu think thrugh these questins, and respnd t yur ideas. Yur rle is t d the hard wrk the critical reading, discussin, and writing. Yu will analyze films, generate ideas in electrnic and face-t-face discussins, verbally analyze a film clip, and cnstruct written arguments. Requirements Class Participatin Class discussin cnstitutes ne key methd f develping yur analytical skills. Thus, I expect prmpt, regular attendance and active participatin in discussins f films and supplemental readings. Yu shuld cme prepared fr each class sessin with assigned reading cmpleted. Yu shuld als plan t ask questins, make cmments, summarize critical arguments, analyze clips, paraphrase yur electrnic pstings, r cntribute t smallgrup discussins. Like all skills, speaking in class becmes easier with practice. I d nt expect fully plished analyses in class discussin; rather, yur cntributins represent ideas fr further develpment. Electrnic Discussin Students will use the class discussin bard t pst respnses t films and readings. T facilitate discussin, I will pst questins t which I want yu t respnd. Yur psting shuld prvide a 200- t 250-wrd respnse t a selected questin; yu may als address yur classmates ideas as yu respnd t the questin. The electrnic discussin site allws us t extend class discussin and t raise issues fr in-class discussins. Yur pstings receive pints n a credit/n credit basis, with full pints granted t n-time pstings that meet the length requirement and demnstrate serius engagement with the discussin questins. Over the curse f the quarter, yu may d three ptinal pstings in which yu respnd t yur classmates r develp an idea nly partially explicated in class. Yu may reply any ther student, nt nly thse in yur grup. These pstings will als receive full pints fr length and genuine engagement. On the curse schedule, I have indicated the dates when I will accept ptinal pstings.

2 T access the electrnic discussin bard, g t the curse Web site, click n Discuss, and fllw the instructins. I have divided the class int three grups t keep the discussin manageable: Grup One: Students with last names A thrugh J Grup Tw: Students with last names K thrugh N Grup Three: Students with last names O thrugh Z Clip Presentatin Students will wrk tgether in grups f tw r three t create a 15- t 20-minute analysis f a selected clip frm a curse film. The presentatin shuld fcus n the frmal, thematic, r idelgical significance f the clip. Presenters will use visual aids (PwerPint, film clip, images, transparencies, handuts) t structure their remarks and underscre key pints. Grups shuld cnclude their presentatins with tw r three questins fr class discussin. Midterm Exam During the fifth week f the term, yu will take an in-class midterm exam. The exam will cnsist f three shrt essays that require yu t analyze the narrative frm and cinematic techniques at play in selected clips frm class films. Article Critique Students will cmplete a 4- t 5-page critique f a packet article n Dr. Strangelve, Brazil, Blade Runner, r The Terminatr. Yu will cmplete the assignment in tw stages: a prpsal and a final draft. Befre submitting yur cmpleted essay fr a grade, yu will receive feedback frm tw classmates. Yu can seek additinal feedback frm me r cnsultants at the English Department Writing Center, lcated in Padelfrd B-12; the CLUE Writing Center in the Mary Gates Cmmns; r the Odegaard Writing and Research Center in Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Please title, paginate, and duble-space yur essay, and set margins at ne inch. In the upper left hand crner f the first page, include yur name, the curse number, the assignment, and the due date; this infrmatin shuld be single-spaced. Please use a 10- r 12-pint Arial, Bkman, Century Schlbk, r Times New Rman fnt fr yur papers. When citing surces, use MLA frmat. Yu will submit the article critique via the curse E- Submit tl. I will include a link t the E-submit space n the curse Web site. Take-Hme Final During the final week f the quarter, I will distribute a take-hme final t be submitted n 3/13. The final will cnsist f tw essays n films screened after the midterm. Please fllw the frmatting guidelines fr the article critique when cmpsing the final exam. Yu will submit the final via the curse E-Submit tl. Plicies Lateness Plicy I will nt accept late electrnic pstings, presentatins r article critique prpsals. Late article critiques and take-hme finals will receive a 10-pint deductin per day late, including weekends and hlidays. Because receiving and respnding t feedback cnstitutes an essential cmpnent f the article critique, failure t submit a prpsal will result in a 20-pint deductin frm the final grade. I will make exceptins t the lateness plicy nly in cases f dcumented illness r family emergency. Technlgy glitches d nt cnstitute valid excuses fr lateness. T avid cmputer prblems, yu shuld save frequently while wrking, and yu shuld back up wrk saved t a hard drive n disk r yur Dante accunt. Remember als t avid string flppy disks next t cellular phnes. T avid prblems submitting dcuments via E-Submit, make sure t use nly

3 alphanumeric characters t name files; therwise, the prgram will nt accept yur file. If the psting bard r E-Submit breaks dwn, yur wrk directly t me. Plagiarism Plicy In yur electrnic pstings, article critique, presentatin, and take-hme final, yu may draw upn the ideas and wrds f ther writers. Hwever, yu must make clear t yur audience that yu are incrprating anther s wrk by placing qutatin marks arund exact wrds and citing the authr s name whenever yu qute, summarize r paraphrase. Failure t credit surces may result in a failing grade fr the assignment, a failing grade fr the curse, r expulsin frm the university. The curse links page cntains infrmatin n when and hw t cite surces. and Access t Curse Web Site Yu must have a UW Net ID, a wrking accunt and a way t access the curse Web site. I frequently uplad schedule changes, film clips, assignment guidelines, and grading criteria t the Web site. The site als cntains links and sample student wrk nt distributed in class. Texts Films All curse films are n reserve at the Odegaard Media Library, either fr English 345 r anther class. While yu may nt check ut reserve films, yu may view them at the Media Library. Blade Runner (Ridley Sctt, 1982, 117 min.) Brazil (Terry Gilliam, 1985, 142 min.) Dr. Strangelve (Stanley Kubrick, 1964, 93 min.) existenz (David Crnenberg, 1999, 97 min.) The General (Buster Keatn, 1926, 75 min.) Ghst in the Shell (Mamru Oshii, 1995, 82 min.) Man with a Mvie Camera (Dziga Vertv, 1929, 80 min.) The Matrix (Wachwski Brthers, 1999, 136 min.) Metrplis (Fritz Lang, 1927, 124 min.) Mdern Times (Charlie Chaplin, 1936, 87 min.) The Terminatr (James Camern, 1984, 108 min.) Terminatr 2: Judgment Day (James Camern, 1991, 137 min.) Sherlck Jr. (Buster Keatn, 1924, 45 min.) Textbks Gillis-Bridges, Kimberlee. Reading Packet fr English 345. Available at Prfessinal Cpy N Print n the nrtheast crner f 42nd and University. Grading Grades in English 345 will be cmputed by pints, with 400 pints equaling a 4.0, 300 pints a 3.0, and s n. If yur ttal falls between grades, I will rund up if yu scre ne t five pints belw the higher grade and rund dwn if yu scre ne t fur pints abve the lwer grade. Fr example, 274 pints equals a 2.7 and 275 pints a 2.8. Students wh scre less than 65 pints ttal will receive a 0 fr the curse, as the UW grading system des nt scale grades lwer than.7. Apart frm pstings, which are graded n a credit/n credit basis, pints fr each assignment will be awarded based n quality f wrk submitted. I will distribute grading criteria with all assignments. Each cmpnent f the curse is wrth the fllwing number f pints: Article Critique: 80 pints Class Participatin: 40 pints Clip Presentatin: 40 pints

4 Electrnic Pstings: 80 pints Midterm Exam: 60 pints Take-hme Final: 100 pints Schedule This schedule may be altered at any pint in the term at the instructr s discretin. Students must cmplete readings by the time class meets n the dates indicated. The designatin (P) indicates a reading frm the curse packet. Date Activity/Tpic Reading/Film Due 1/3 Curse intrductin 1/4 Lecture and screening: Sherlck Jr. (Keatn, 1924, 45 min.) and shrt silent films Slnitt, The Annihilatin f Space and Time (P) Student Infrmatin Sheet 1/8 Discuss Sherlck Jr. and silent films Brdwell and Thmpsn, Narrative as a Frmal System (P) Clip presentatin assignment intrduced 1/9 Screening: The General (Keatn, 1927, 75 min.) 1/10 Rescreen The General (Keatn, 1927, 75 min.) n wn 1/11 Discuss The General Crrigan, Film Terms and Tpics (P) Psting n The General due by 1/15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Hliday 1/16 Screening: Man With a Mvie Camera (Vertv, 1929, 80 min.) 1/17 Discuss Man with a Mvie Camera Student clip presentatins Phillips, Editing, and Brdwell and Thmpsn, Dcumentary Frm and Style: Man with a Mvie Camera (P) Psting n Man with a Mvie Camera due by 1/18 Screening: Metrplis (Lang, 1927, 124 min.) 1/19 Optinal respnse psting due by 1/22 Finish screening Metrplis Discuss Metrplis Student clip presentatins

5 Date Activity/Tpic Reading/Film Due 1/23 Cntinue discussin f Metrplis Jrdanva, Science, Machines, and Gender (P) Student clip presentatins 1/24 Screening: Mdern Times (Chaplin, 1936, 87 min.) 1/25 Discuss Mdern Times Psting n Mdern Times due by 10:00 p.m. Student clip presentatins 1/26 Optinal respnse psting due by 1/29 Midterm exam 1/30 Class cancelled: cmplete midterm evaluatin nline 1/31 Screening: Dr. Strangelve (Kubrick, 1964, 93 min.) Psting n Dr. Strangelve due by 2/1 Discuss Dr. Strangelve Maland, Dr. Strangelve (1964): Nightmare Cmedy (P) 2/2 Optinal respnse psting due by 2/5 Screening: Brazil (Gilliam, 1985, 142 min.) 2/6 Finish screening Brazil Discuss Brazil 2/7 Rescreen Brazil (Gilliam, 1985, 142 min.) n wn 2/8 Cntinue discussin f Brazil Pstman, The Idelgy f Machines: Cmputer Technlgy (P) Psting n Brazil due by 10:00 p.m. Article critique assigned 2/9 Optinal respnse psting due by 2/12 Screening: Blade Runner (Sctt, 1982, 117 min.) 2/13 Finish screening Blade Runner Discuss Blade Runner 2/14 Screening: The Terminatr (Camern, 1984, 108 min.) Kerman, Technlgy and Plitics in the Blade Runner Dystpia ; Stiller, The Music in Blade Runner (P) Psting n The Terminatr due by Date Activity/Tpic Reading/Film Due

6 2/15 Discuss The Terminatr, clips frm Terminatr 2, and appraches t article critique Teltte, The Terminatr, Terminatr 2, and The Expsed Bdy (P) 2/16 Optinal respnse psting due by 2/19 Presidents Day Hliday 2/20 Submit article critique prpsal and review tw peers prpsals nline 2/21 Article critique wrkshp 2/22 Class cancelled fr individual article critique prpsal cnferences Article critique prpsal due nline at 2:30 p.m. 2/26 Presidents Day Hliday 2/27 Screening: existenz (Crnenberg, 1999, 97 min.) Psting n existenz due by 10:00 p.m 2/28 Discuss existenz Keane, Frm Hardware t Fleshware: Plugging int David Crnenberg s existenz (P) 3/1 Screening: The Matrix (Wachwski Brthers, 1999, 136 min.) 3/2 Article critique due via E-Submit by 5:00 p.m. 3/5 Finish screening and discuss The Matrix 3/6 Cntinue discussin f The Matrix Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulatins (P) Take-hme final assigned Curse evaluatin 3/7 Screening: Ghst in the Shell (Oshii, 1995, 82 min.) 3/8 Discuss Ghst in the Shell Napier, Dll Parts: Technlgy and the Bdy in Ghst in the Shell (P) Psting n Ghst in the Shell due by 3/13 Take-hme final due via E-Submit by 5:00 p.m.