12/27/2024 12:55:39 AM	MEDIA 14 Course Outline as of Fall 2012	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  MEDIA 14	Title:  EARLY FILM HISTORY
Full Title:  Early Film History
Last Reviewed:12/9/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	4.00	Lecture Scheduled	4.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	70.00
Minimum	4.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	4.00			Contact Total	70.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  140.00

Total 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: 

Catalog Description:

A survey of international film history from pre-cinema machines to the 1950s with emphasis upon D.W. Griffith, German Expressionism, Soviet Montage, film genres, and the Hollywood Studio System.  The course will also cover the historical evolution of the narrative form, as well as the development of formal devices such as the shot, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound design.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for Engl 1A or equivalent, Completion of MEDIA 10

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

A survey of international film history from pre-cinema machines to the 1950s with emphasis upon D.W. Griffith, German Expressionism, Soviet Montage, film genres, and the Hollywood Studio System.  The course will also cover the historical evolution of the narrative form, as well as the development of formal devices such as the shot, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound design.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for Engl 1A or equivalent, Completion of MEDIA 10
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:
	C1	Arts		Fall 2012
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3A	Arts		Fall 2012
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2012	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2012	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

1.  Demonstrate a working knowledge of American and international film history from the

      silent era to the 1950s.

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

I.   The Birth of Motion Pictures

    A. Technological inventions and evolution

    B. Rise of studio system and industry

    C. Aesthetic evolution from documentary to fictional film

II.  Development of Film Grammar

    A. Beginnings of film narrative

    B. Use of separate shots, camera angles

    C. Storytelling without sound

III. International Contributions to Early Film History

    A. French -- Lumiere Brothers, Georges Melies: reality vs. fantasy

    B. D.W. Griffith -- maturing technique and narrative

IV. Early U.S. Film Industry

    A. Star system

    B. Feature film

    C. Business Practices

    D. Women in the industry

    E. Evolution as entertainment and cultural force

V. German Expressionism/Soviet Montage

    A. The influence of German mis-en-scene on American art film, horror, film noir

    B. The Soviet experiments in montage: Kuleshov, Pudhovin, Eisenstein

         1. Cinema as propaganda

         2. The Kuleshov effect

VI. Hollywood in the 30s and 40s

    A. Major/minor studios

    B. Genres

         1. Musicals

         2. Comedies

         3. Westerns

         4. Women's Pictures

         5. Film Noir

    C. Star system evolution

    D. Importance of production technique

    E. Coming of sound -- technology and aesthetics

VII.  Film during World War II

    A. Leni Riefenstahl and German propaganda

    B. The American "Why We Fight" Series

    C. Hollywood involvement in the War effort

VIII. Hollywood in the 50s

    A. House Unamerican Activities Committee

    B. Supreme Court rulings -- Paramount Decrees

    C. Impact of TV

    D. Impact of wide-screen, color

    E. Production Code

IX. International Film

    A. Japanese Cinema

    B. Italian Neo-Realism

    C. Emergence of Third World Cinema

Assignments:

1.  Weekly reading assignments from 40-60 pages

2.  2-4 critical essays, totaling 10 to 20 pages, one requiring research

3.  2-3 exams including final exam

4.  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 or essay
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:

A History of Film (7th ed.).  Wexman, V. W.  Allyn & Bacon, 2009

A Short History of the Movies  (11th ed.).  Mast, G. & Kawin, B.  Longman, 2010

Film History, An Introduction  (3rd ed.).  Thompson, K. & Bordwell, D.  McGraw-Hill, 2009

Flashback, A Brief History of Film (6th ed.)  Giannetti, L. & Eyman, S.  Prentice Hall,  2009

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