American Cinema
Spring 2012
Tom Hammond
Objectives:
This class is a survey of the history, origins and influences of American Film. We will consider the American Cinema as an art form, an industry, and a system of representation and communication. We will explore the process by which an American identity is both formed and reflected through movies, and how films work technically, aesthetically, and culturally to reinforce and challenge our national self-image.
The course is designed to build an integrated understanding of U. S. society, politics, and culture. The interconnectedness of these domains is reflected in the films we will study.
Class Blog: http://americancinemaclass.blogspot.com. You will be invited to post on this website.
Instructors Contact Information – phone: 813-900-4759, email: hammontm@eckerd.edu
Face to face meetings can be arranged before or after class.
Required Text:
John Belton, “American Cinema, American Culture”
Netflix – A monthly subscription is a good idea for the semester. All assigned movies are “streamable” on Netflix. It costs $9 per month and the first month is usually free. You can obtain all the films at the library, but availability might be a problem with 25+ students and a limited number of copies on hand. You can rent or buy, but Netflix is easily the most convenient and affordable method. If you subscribe, for an extra $7 you can receive the films by mail as well as streaming. Turnaround is about 2-3 days.
Course Requirements and Grading:
• Attendance & Participation 20% of grade
• Quizzes 20% of grade
• Midterm & Final Exam 40% of grade
• Final Project 20% of grade
Attendance & Participation – Every class covers a component of film history, theory and criticism vital to your overall understanding of the subject. If you can’t avoid missing a class, let me know in advance. Any pattern of absence or chronic lateness will be noted and will adversely impact your final grade. Speak up in class. If that is difficult for you, bring in something that will inspire discussion. The Blog is a component of participation. Contributing to it will generate interest in the class and good grades for you.
Quizzes – There will be four quizzes given during the course. They will be at random and will cover the home viewing assignments. The questions will be general and not analytical. They are designed to determine if you have watched the film. There will be no make-ups.
Mid-Term & Final Exams – You are responsible for the information presented in class, the content of the assigned readings, and being familiar with class and required viewings. The exams will be a combination of objective and short essay questions.
Final Project – Prepare a research article with photos and film clips and post it to the blog. It should cover an aspect of American Film from its origins to the present day. This will be treated as a work in progress during the course of the semester and you will submit your materials in three stages.
1. A Proposal due the fourth week of class.
2. Assembled materials and writing-to-date due the tenth week of class.
3. Publication (posting to the blog) during the final week of class.
Academic Integrity – If you use an idea from another source, you can quote it or paraphrase it, but please CITE IT. Failure to do so will be a violation of the Honor Code.
The Eckerd College Honor Code: “On my honor, as an Eckerd College student, I pledge not to lie, cheat or steal, nor to tolerate these behaviors in others.”
To affirm this, you will write, “Pledged” followed by your signature on all assignments, papers and exams.
Assignment Schedule:
• All readings are chapters in the required text, “American Cinema, American Culture” by John Belton.
• Assigned Viewings are films you are required to see outside of class (all “streamable” on Netflix).
• In class we will watch films, clips from various movies and documentary material on filmmaking. Much of this will also be posted on the Blog for your further study.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Deadlines are to be taken seriously. Written work must be in standard written English, using conventional guidelines for style and citation (also typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins). Your presentation of your work is an extension of your competence and ability to produce college level work. If you wish, I am willing to review your work in progress. Contact me to arrange a time.
If a problem exists which will prevent you from completing an assignment on time, please contact me prior to the due date.
You are responsible for in-class viewing and any handouts.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1: Introduction
Early Films
The Emergence of Style and Narration
Reading: Belton, Chapter 1
Assigned Viewing: “The Navigator”
Week 2: The Classic Hollywood Style
Advancement of Technology and Technique
Reading: Belton, Chapter 2 & 3
In-Class Viewing: “Notorious”
Assigned Viewing: “Ball of Fire”
Week 3: The Studios
Growth of the Studio System
Reading: Belton, Chapter 4
In-Class Viewing: “Public Enemy” (1931)
Assigned Viewing: “The Wolf Man” (1941)
Week 4: The Stars – Final Project Proposal Due
Developing the Star System
Reading: Belton, Chapter 5
In-Class Viewing: “The Bad and the Beautiful”
Assigned Viewing: “Arsenic and Old Lace”
Week 5: The Silent Era
Silent Comedy & Melodrama
Reading: Belton, Chapter 6
In-Class Viewing: “The Gold Rush”
Assigned Viewing: “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925)
Week 6: The Musical
Musical Styles & Types
Reading: Belton, Chapter 7
In-Class Viewing: “An American in Paris”
Assigned Viewing: “The Blues Brothers”
Week 7: Comedy
American Comedy
Reading: Belton, Chapter 8
In-Class Viewing: “Some Like It Hot”
Assigned Viewing: “Harold and Maude”
Week 8: War – MID-TERM EXAM
America in World War II
Reading: Belton, Chapter 9
In-Class Viewing: “Blackhawk Down”
Assigned Viewing: “Apocalypse Now”
Week 9: Film Noir
The Origins of Film Noir
Reading: Belton, Chapter 10
In-Class Viewing: “Out of the Past”
Assigned Viewing: “The Asphalt Jungle”
Week 10: The West – Final Project Review Due
The Genre That Wouldn’t Die
Reading: Belton, Chapter 11
In-Class Viewing: “My Darling Clementine”
Assigned Viewing: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
Week 11: Horror
The Classic Horror Tradition
Reading: Belton, Chapter 12
In-Class Viewing: “The Bride of Frankenstein”
Assigned Viewing: “The Exorcist”
Week 12: The 1950s
The Red Scare & Atomic Paranoia
The End of the Studio System & Beginning of TV
Reading: Belton, Chapter 13 & 14
In-Class Viewing: “Sunset Blvd.”
Assigned Viewing: “Them”
Week 13: - Counterculture
Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll
Reading: Belton, Chapter 15 & 16
In-Class Viewing: “Vanishing Point”
Assigned Viewing: “Bonnie and Clyde”
Week 14: And Beyond
The Potential of American Films
Reading: Giannetti, Chapter 17
In-Class Viewing: “Blue Velvet”
Assigned Viewing: “Being John Malcovich”
Week 15 – FINAL EXAM
Posting of Final Project to the Blog
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In the event of an emergency or campus shutdown, class work will continue online at:
www.americancinemaclass.blogspot.com
You will be invited to contribute as a blog correspondent at the beginning of the semester. This is part of the participation segment of your grade and the location for all information if class can’t be held as scheduled. Assignments will be posted there as well as suggested readings. Video lectures will be available if a shutdown continues for more than one week. You may also post any written assignments on the blog or send them to my email at:
hammontm@eckerd.edu
You can contact me by phone at: 813-900-4759
Be sure to review the school handout on procedure in the event of a hurricane.
AMERICAN CINEMA – REQUIRED VIEWING
The Navigator
Notorious
Ball of Fire
Public Enemy (1931)
The Wolf Man (1941)
The Bad and the Beautiful
Arsenic and Old Lace
The Gold Rush
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
An American in Paris
The Blues Brothers
Some Like It Hot
Harold and Maude
Blackhawk Down
Apocalypse Now (Theatrical Cut)
Out of the Past
The Asphalt Jungle
My Darling Clementine
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Exorcist
Sunset Blvd.
Them
Vanishing Point
Bonnie and Clyde
Blue Velvet
Being John Malcovich
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