SRJC Course Outlines

12/5/2024 8:04:36 PMFMA 15 Course Outline as of Summer 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  FMA 15Title:  MODERN FILM HISTORY  
Full Title:  Modern Film History
Last Reviewed:2/12/2018

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum4.00Lecture Scheduled4.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled70.00
Minimum4.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total4.00 Contact Total70.00
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  140.00Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  MEDIA 15

Catalog Description:
Untitled document
A survey of international film history from the 1950s to the present with emphasis on the New Waves and the New Hollywood.  The course will also cover the historical evolution of the narrative form, as well as development of formal devices such as shot, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound design.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent and Course Completion of MEDIA 10 and MEDIA 14

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
A survey of international film history from the 1950s to the present with emphasis on the New Waves and the New Hollywood.  The course will also cover the historical evolution of the narrative form, as well as development of formal devices such as shot, mise-en-scene, editing, and sound design.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent and Course Completion of MEDIA 10 and MEDIA 14
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 2012
Inactive: 
 Area:E
Humanities
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 C1ArtsFall 2012
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 3AArtsFall 2012
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2012Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2012Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
1.  Differentiate among the various movements in international film history from the 1950s
     to the present.
2.  Evaluate the impact of historical movements, social and cultural trends, and new
     technologies on the development of motion pictures.

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
 
1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of American and international film history from the
     1950s to the present.
2. Recognize and distinguish films according to the period in which they were produced.
3. Examine the evolving art of the motion picture in social, cultural, artistic, technological,
     and economic contexts.
4. Evaluate the contributions of significant historical movements and filmmakers in shaping
     the history of motion pictures.
5. Relate the transformation of film technology to the evolution of film form, with particular
     attention to narrative and aesthetic developments.

Topics and Scope
Untitled document
I.   American Cinema in the 1950s
    A. The Hollywood studio system after the Paramount Decree
     B. TV competition, wide screens, and technical innovations
    C. The influence of theatre: Method acting
    D. The Red Scare
    E. Major American directors of the 1950s
II.  International Cinema in the 1950s and 1960s
    A. Politicization of mainstream narrative cinema
    B. Auteurism: postwar film theory and the international development of auteur cinema
         1. Rossellini, Visconti, Pasolini, Fellini
         2. Bresson, Godard, Truffaut
         3. Buñuel
         4. Polanski
         5. Dreyer
        6. Bergman
         7. Hitchcock, Welles
    C. Italian Neorealism, epics, and Spaghetti-Westerns
    D. French Nouvelle Vague
     E. Documentaries (ethnographic cinema, direct cinema, cinema vérité)
    F. British Free Cinema
    G. African Cinema
    H. New avant-gardes: abstract films, and underground cinema
III. The Fall and Rise of Hollywood (1960-1980)
    A. The crisis of the film industry
    B. The influence of the New Waves
    C. New trends
    D. The Vietnam-Watergate era
    E. The "New Hollywood" and independent directors (Altman, Allen)
    F. The Hollywood Brats (Coppola, Spielberg, Lucas) and the return of the Blockbuster
    G. The rebirth of the studio system
IV. 1980s to the Digital Age
    A. Blockbusters, sequels, franchises, marketing
    B. Sundance and the festival circuit
    C. New women and minority filmmakers
    D. Mainland China: The Fifth and Sixth Generation
    E. Dogme 95
    F. Multiplexexes and the rise of digital cinema
    G. Emerging cinemas and artists

Assignments:
Untitled document
1. Weekly reading assignments from 40 to 60 pages
2. Two to four critical essays, totaling 10 to 20 pages, one requiring research
3. Two to three exams including final exam
4. Optional individual or group presentation or final project
5. Other assignments may include journals, film reviews, quizzes, blogs, etc.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
35 - 65%
Written homework, Essays, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
35 - 65%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 20%
Class Participation, Group Projects, Presentations, Final Project


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
A History of Film. 8th ed. Wexman, Virginia. Allyn & Bacon. 2018
A Short History of the Movies. 11th ed. Mast, Gerald and Kawin, Bruce.  Pearson. 2011 (classic)
Film History, An Introduction. 3rd ed. Thompson, Kristin and Bordwell, David. McGraw-Hill. 2009 (classic)
Flashback, A Brief History of Film. 6th ed. Giannetti, Louis and Eyman, Scott.  Pearson. 2009 (classic)

Print PDF