FIL3803C-22Spring 0W61

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FIL 3803C: Film Theory and Criticism I (92586)

Spring 2022

Instructor:

Andrew Myerson

Section Number:

0W61

Office:

Online

Credit Hours:

3

E-Mail:

amyerson@knights.ucf.edu

Class Location:

Online Only

Online Office Hours:

Individual meetings via Zoom, by appointment:

Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 am to 3pm

Welcome to FIL 3803C: Film Theory and Criticism I! In this course, you will contribute to film criticism through the careful application of analytical techniques and theoretical concepts. The theories and criticism you study in this course will help you develop a video essay, graphical novel or series of analytical papers by the end of this course.  Below, you will find helpful links to guide you through the completion of this course. 

Please note* Although I am not the author of this course, I am knowledgeable with the concepts being taught in this course.

See below for the Course Schedule, listing all activities and assignments.

Course Syllabus The syllabus contains the course information, requirements and expectations.

Modules Every Monday, a new module will open. Modules contain lectures, screenings, required readings and assignments.

Technical Support Seek technical assistance for Webcourses@UCF.

Please note this schedule is subject to change at any time. Any changes that impact assignments will be announced. All assignments are due by 11:59pm, the Monday night one week after they are assigned, unless otherwise stated.

Date

Module, Topics, Films

Assignments

Week 1

January 10-16

Getting Started Module

 

Unit 1: The Frame

 

Module 1: Introduction to Film Viewership in Film Theory and Criticism I

 

Watch: Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 17th)

Complete: Free-Write Activity due by 5pm January 14th for financial aid

 

Watch “Every Frame a Painting: Buster Keaton – The Art of the Gag”

 

Read: Filmish Chapter 1: The Eye

 

Complete: Sherlock Jr. Discussion on motifs from the film

Assignment due January 16th due to federal holiday. 

Week 2

January 18-24

 

Unit 1: The Frame

 

Module 2: Film Analysis Terms

 

Watch: Her (2013)

Complete: Discussion post on Her and the Yale Film Analysis Guide

 

Complete: Sherlock Jr. Scene Analysis: Off-Screen Space

 

Assignment due January 24th at 11:59pm 

Week 3

January 24th to January 31st

Unit 2: Cinematic Space: spectacle, story, movement

 

Module 3: Apparatus Theory and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

 

Introduction to Apparatus Theory and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

 

Watch: L'arrivée (1999) and The Truman Show (1998) or The Conformist (1970)

Read: Routledge, Apparatus Theory (Plato) (p. 21-33)

 

Practice: Label Plato's Cave

 

Complete: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Discussion

 

Complete: Quiz #1 due by 11:59 p.m. on January 31st

Week 4

January 31st to February 7th

Unit 2: Cinematic Space: spectacle, story, movement

 

Module 4: Cinematic Space

Plato’s allegory of the cave in Brazil

 

Watch: Brazil (1985)

 

Mid-term essay instructions released

 

Read: Filmish Chapters 2 & 3: The Body; Sets and Architecture

 

Complete: Brazil Scene Analysis: Set Design and Architecture

Week 5

February 7th to

February 14th

Unit 3: Silence and Sound

Module 5: Sound Design and Movement

Watch: M (1931)

Watch: “Every Frame a Painting” Akira Kurosawa– Composing Movement

 

Complete: M Discussion

 

Complete: Quiz #2 due by 11:59 p.m. on February 14th 

Week 6

February 14th to February 21st

Unit 3: Silence and Sound

 

Module 6: Silence is Sound

 

Theories of sound in film  

 

Watch: A Man Escaped (1956)

Read: Filmish, Chapter 5: Voice and Language

 

Complete: A Man Escaped Discussion

 

Work on Mid-term Essay Exam

Week 7

February 21st to

February 28th 

Unit 4: What is cinema?

 

Module 7: The Ontology of the Photographic Image

 

Watch: La Jette (1962) or The Witch (2015)

Read: “Ontology of the Photographic Image,” Andre Bazin (Webcourses)

 

Read Filmish, Chapter 4: Time

 

Complete: Discussion Ontology of the Photographic Image along with La Jetee or The Witch

 

Work on Mid-term Essay Exam

Week 8

February 28th to March 4th

Module 8: Mid-Term Essay Exam

 

Use the week to complete the Mid-Term Essay Exam

 

 

Mid-term due by 11:59pm March 4th

Week 9

March 14th to

March 21st

 

Unit 4: What is Cinema?

 

Module 9: Subjective Camera and Research Methods for Film Analysis

 

Final Project Instructions

 

Research Methods for Film Analysis

 

Camera and Rhetoric

 

Watch: Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962)

Read: Routledge, Camera (p. 69-74)

 

Complete: Analyzing Film Criticism Assignment

 

Complete: Quiz #3 due by 11:59 p.m. on March 21st 

 

Complete: Cleo from 5 to 7 Writing Assignment

Week 10

March 21st to

March 28th

 

 

Withdrawal deadline: March 25th at 11:59pm

Unit 5: Time & Sequence

 

Module 10: Video Essay Criticism and Power and Ideology

 

Video Essay Criticism

 

Power and Ideology, Technology and Technophobia

 

Watch: Meek's Cutoff (2010) or I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Read: Filmish Chapters 6 & 7: Power and Ideology; Technology and Technophobia

 

Watch: “Every Frame a Painting” on F for Fake

 

Complete: Diversity in Film Criticism Assignment

 

Complete: Final project proposal due by 11:59pm March 28th

Week 11

March 28th to April 4th

 

 

Unit 5: Time & Sequence

 

Module 11: Point of View, Emotion and Illusion in Stories We Tell

 

Emotion in film and illusion

 

Watch: Stories We Tell (2012)

 

 

Read: Routledge, Emotion, Film and (p. 151-156) + Illusion (p.247-252) + Point of View (pg. 371-375)

 

Complete: Stories We Tell Discussion

 

Complete: Quiz #4 due by 11:59 p.m. on April 4th

 

Work on Final Project

Week 12

April 4th to April 11th

Module 12: Work-In-Progress Presentations

Complete: Post your work-in-progress presentation by 11:59 pm on April 11th

 

Work on Final Project

Week 13

April 11th to April 18th

 

Module 13: Peer Review of Final Project & Rough Draft Delivery

 

 

Module 14: Rough Draft Delivery

Complete: Work-in-Progress Discussion

 

Complete: Peer Evaluation of Final Project by 11:59 p.m. April 18th

 

Complete: Rough Draft due by 11:59 April 18th

Week 14

Nov 29-Dec 3

Grade Forgiveness Deadline: April 25th

 

Module 15: Revise Rough Draft

Revise Rough Draft

Final Exam Week

April 27th to May 3rd

Module 16: Delivery of Final Project and Optional Final Project Discussion

Complete: Final Project due by 11:59p, Tuesday, May 3rd

Extra Credit (optional): post your final project in the Final Project Discussion by 11:59pm Tuesday, May 3rd