ENGL 1723: Introduction to Film Study

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Subject:
English
Credit hours: 3 Lecture hours: 3 Lab hours: 0
PCS code (Local ID):
Baccalaureate/Transfer
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Course Description

This course explores the world of film, emphasizing aesthetics, film theory, and critical analysis. Students will examine film as a medium for communication, as an art form, and as a form of entertainment.

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s)

Appropriate assessment score or completion/concurrent enrollment in ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better

IAI Number
F2-908
IAI Title
Film Appreciation
Topical Outline
  1. The Purposes of Film: Art, Entertainment, and Medium
    1. Identifying and proving one primary purpose
  2. Narrative
    1. Aristotle's Three Act Structure and variances on the 3-act structure
    2. Narrative elements: diegetic and non-diegetic elements, fabula and syuzhet
    3. Common Narrative Conventions
      1. Unity, Clarity, Characters, Closure, Unobtrusive Craftmanship
      2. Violations of Common Narrative Conventions and Effect on Meaning
  3. 3. Visuals of Film: Cinematography
    1. Elements of cinematography: distance, height, angle, movement, focus
    2. Shots: close-ups, establishing shots, long shots, pov shots, etc.
    3. Angles: high angle, low angle, canted or Dutch angle
    4. Movement: pan, tilt, tracking, dolly shot, crane shot, zoom, handheld
    5. Focus: deep focus, shallow focus, rack focus
  4. Visuals of Film: Mise-en-scene
    1. Elements of MES: settings, props, acting and blocking, lighting, costumes, line composition and shapes, use of color
  5. Visuals of Film: Building Blocks of Film
    1. Frame, shot, scene, sequence, film
    2. How each building block works together to create the whole
  6. Film Theory
    1. Genre Theory
    2. At least two other film theories
    3. Analyzing from the perspective of a particular theory
    4. How to write using a film theory methodology
  7. Film Criticism
    1. Evaluation of film's effectiveness
    2. How to write film criticism
  8. Film Reviews
    1. A. Evaluation of enjoyment of a film
    2. B. How to write film reviews
  9. Film History
    1. Origins of film
    2. The Persistence of Vision
    3. The Phi Phenomenon
    4. Technological Advancements: zoetrope, camera obscura, kinetograph, cinematographe, etc.
    5. Big names in Cinema: Edison, Dickson, Daguerre, Muybridge, Lumiere, etc.
    6. Staged performances
    7. Actualites
    8. Evolution of film

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Critically analyze film as entertainment, art, and medium
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the aesthetic and production elements of film
  • Summarize the origins and progression of film
  • Identify and analyze the narrative structure of film
  • Identify and analyze the use cinematography and mise-en-scene in films
  • Determine how the elements of film work together to create meaning
  • Situate individual films and genres within the context of ideology
  • Analyze and evaluate an individual film, auteur, or genre