CMS 4310: Film Analysis & Criticism

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	Instructor: Dr. Virginia Bonner
	Messages: vbonner@clayton.edu / 678-466-4713
	Semester: Spring 2007
	Meetings: TR 9:00-10:15pm, UC 272
	Screenings: T 10:30-12:45pm, UC 272
	Office hrs: M-R, 10a-5p by email & by appt. in MUS 105
	Web Address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/vbonner

Teaching Interns Spring 2007:
Ms. Laura Green csu24032@mail.claytonstate.net
Office hours: Thursdays, 10:15am-1:30pm in UC 272
and by appointment
Mr. Tony Berry csu24717@mail.claytonstate.net
Office hours: MWF, 10:30am-1:30pm in UC 210
and by appointment

Course Objectives

CMS 4310 continues the humanities-based approach to cinema begun in Introduction to Film (CMS 2100), now in a writing-intensive format. Through weekly writing assignments you will master the analysis of film form including narrative, mise-en-scène, camerawork, editing, and sound. The course also considers multiple approaches to film theory and criticism within historical and international contexts.

Course Format

We will spend approximately the first half of the course studying and writing about the formal techniques of film art (listed above). During the remainder of the course, we will explore selected stylistic, theoretical, and critical approaches to film. Excellent writing skills and thorough command of the film terminology you learned in CMS 2100 are expected in all of your writing.

Film Screenings

Please note that the film screenings are mandatory, as this material will be the subject matter of your weekly writing assignments. If you do not plan to attend the screenings, you should drop the course. We will view additional excerpts from selected films during class lectures.

Note: Many of the films in this series contain adult content, including violence, profanity, drug usage, child abuse, and/or frank sexual content. These films are intended for mature audiences and are not suitable for children under 17 who are unaccompanied by an adult. If you are disturbed by R-rated or unrated film content, you should drop the course.

Always arrive five minutes early to screenings and to class lectures, not only because we will start promptly but also because late arrivals are extremely disruptive. If you must arrive late, please take care to close the doors QUIETLY and sit quickly in an aisle seat so that you do not step over your classmates. Do not eat loud foods, answer cell phones, talk with classmates, or leave the room during screenings; these are a time for serious study of our film texts so you should be taking copious notes during each film to prepare for your journal entries, quizzes, class discussions, and exams. You may wish to bring a penlight to classes and screenings to help you take notes in the dark. Anyone behaving disruptively during a screening or class will be asked to leave.

Required Texts (Available at the campus bookstore)

1. Braudy, Leo and Marshall Cohen. Film Theory and Criticism, 6th edition. Oxford UP: 2003. (FTC)

2. Corrigan, Timothy. A Short Guide to Writing About Film, 5th edition. New York: Longman, 2004. (SGWF)

3. Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction, 7^th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. (FA)

4. Readings online via PDF and Word files. (RR)

Course textbooks & most films should be available in the collection of the library soon.

Note: If you have added this course during the schedule change period and/or were not present for the syllabus review the first day of class, you are required to meet with me the following week to review course requirements and policies.