The Art of the Film
Honors Junior Seminar / Fall 1998
Instructor: Terry Wright
Office: Irby 105E
Office Phone: 450-5108
Email: terryw@mail.uca.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.uca.edu/terry.wright/

Office Hours:
TBA

Course Description:
The course is designed to explore and examine film as an artistic medium. Some time and attention will be paid to the following attributes: film structure, cinematography, production design, performance style, screenwriting, directing, film criticism and theory, screen reality, film genres, film editing and sound, film narrative, film space and image, film subtext, the Hollywood "star," film and literature, and other aspects of cinematic technique.

Rather than taking up class time showing films in their entirety, much of class time will be spent analyzing selected scenes. Although one can sensibly argue that such an approach strips films of their content and context, a course term is (sadly) very finite, and I would prefer to cover and to actually "see" more material. Besides, watching and deconstructing film scenes is a sound pedagogical way to break aesthetic distance and emotional involvement. In the end, a more detached, objective viewing should result in better understanding of film art.

The following is a broad outline of the topics to be explored in upcoming class meetings. A more detailed syllabus is forthcoming.

How to Make a Movie
The Silent Era
Classics-Drama
Classics-Comedy
The Movie "Star"
Auteur 1
Auteur 2
The Documentary
Sex
Violence
Literature into Film
Gender and Race
Horror
Science Fiction
Animation / Video
Japanese Anime
Psychotronic Cinema
Scuzz Cinema

Texts and Materials:
The text for the class is Movies and Meaning: An Introduction to Film by Stephen Prince (Allyn and Bacon, 1997). Other readings will be in the form of hand-outs. Considerable class time will be spent viewing and discussing selected film scenes. I also suggest you buy and maintain a pocket folder, and, throughout the semester, keep all essays, hand-outs, rough drafts, and the like in this folder
.
Course Policies:
Your grade will be determined by several written response papers and by a final paper.

Your regular attendance and reasonable class participation are both non-negotiable criteria for successfully completing the course. It should go without saying that all work must be completed to pass the course, and that assigned papers must be turned in on time.

Other Expectations and Qualifiers:
When typing assigned papers, please double-space and leave adequate margins. These considerations leave ample room for your last-minute revisions and for my comments.

I expect you to read the assignments, and I hope you will show up for class prepared to discuss, praise, swoon over, rebuke, trash, or challenge the material at hand. The course functions best as an open forum, and the more ideas we can generate, the more alternatives and strategies we can use when contemplating and composing writing assignments. I prefer not to be the equivalent of a television set that exists for your passive entertainment.

Since nearly all of the written work we do will be in essay form, I cannot grade and return your papers as quickly as I could if they were "objective" tests, if they were computer-gradable, or if I had an assistant to do the grading. I personally read each paper you write, and I work steadily to grade and return papers within a reasonable amount of time.

Inclement Weather Policy: If getting to class involves a reasonable risk of personal injury or damage to property, you should use your own discretion about the feasibility of attending classes under such conditions. I commute to work and have a child in elementary school; therefore, if the public schools and the roads are not passable, you can reasonably assume I will not be having class.

Special Accommodations: The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.

Special Problems: If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your coursework, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Contact the University Counseling Center (Bernard Hall 313) at 450-3138.