SPRING 2012 - SYLLABUS

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

The Graduate

I saw this film for the first time last summer in my Elements of Film class and was just as blown away by its magic this time. This is another watershed film and an emblem for its time. It creatively reveals the generation gap so topical in the sixties--the differences in values between the middle-aged (hardworking, disciplined, materially driven) and the young adult (free-loving, keeping it real, and a little lost). The characters that drive this movie are so distinctly shaped and often in conflict with one another that it's enthralling. Forbidden sex only adds to the seduction. Protagonist Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is a pitifully likeable hero as he comes of age among the two Robinson women amid the late-1960s economic boom, civil and feminist rights movements, and uncertainties of a country at war in Vietnam and at home within the institution of the American family. Simon and Garfunkel's music heightens this meaningful story. I love and appreciate all of the symbolism! And the ambiguous ending only adds to the film's allure.

"DRACULA" - 1931

This is the one that started the classic Universal Horror cycle of the 1930s.

High Noon

I really enjoyed this film. I noticed that everytime Kane was shown as he was searching for prospective deputies the same "theme" music was used. Kinda gave it a sort of Peter and the Wolf feel.

Gary Cooper sutble facial gestures are still the best. He does it better than any actor I have seen....I think Edward Norton might be a close 2nd.

A FEW TOP 20 LISTS

These lists are meant to be guides for future viewing if you find yourself drawn to any one of the genres we will study in class. They are all titles you can't go wrong with. There are three lists here covering Westerns, Film Noir and Horror. A few foreign titles weaseled their way in but all the rest are as solid as Mom and apple pie. If you have lists of your own, be sure and post them. See you in class.

20 WESTERNS
Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian)
A Fistfull of Dollars (Italian)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Italian)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Unforgiven
Red River
Rio Bravo
Shane
Stagecoach
My Darling Clementine
The Searchers
7 Men From Now
Ride the High Country
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
The Wild Bunch
Winchester 73
The Naked Spur
The Magnificent Seven
High Noon


20 FROM THE CLASSIC PERIOD OF FILM NOIR
They Live By Night
Out of the Past
Gun Crazy
Murder My Sweet
The Set-Up
Detour (1945)
On Dangerous Ground
Gilda
Double Indemnity
The Asphalt Jungle
The Maltese Falcon
The Big Sleep (1946)
Kiss Me Deadly
The Killers (1946)
Criss-Cross
Nightmare Alley
The Killing
Naked City
The Big Heat
Touch of Evil


20 HORROR MOVIES
The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari (1920 - German)
Nosferatu (1922 – German)
Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Dracula (1931)
Vampyr (1932 – Danish)
The Black Cat (1934)
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Wolf Man (1941)
Cat People (1942)
Curse of the Demon
The Horror of Dracula (British)
Eyes Without a Face (French)
Psycho (1960)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The Exorcist
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Halloween (1978)
Alien
The Shining
The Thing (1982)

My Man Godfrey

I was impressed by the term "a forgotten man," which is a much more graceful label than "the homeless." I admire the way this Capra film was trying to make us look at class and success/failure with new eyes, but the melodramatic tone of any scene containing Irene repelled me. As with Scarlet in Gone with the Wind, she was not a character I cared about, and I really didn't want her to end up marrying someone as intelligent as Godfrey. Her sister was better suited for him; there was more behind her eyes.

Arsenic & Old Lace

This old farcical film was too over-the-top for my taste. I understand it's a comedy with melodramatic moments, since it's adapted from a stage play, but the overacting, especially on Cary Grant's part, nauseated me. Many times he looked more like one of the Three Stooges than a leading man. The loony lacy aunts, murderous as they were, seemed to trot everywhere like Edith in All in the Family.

While the allusion to Frankenstein's Monster, in the characters of Johnny and Dr. Einstein, was smart and cute, I'm wondering if any of you enjoyed watching this film. To me, it's American Cinema at its cheesiest.