History of Film as Art: ART 130/TELE 113
Wednesday 6:30-9:20, Room 751
Instructor: Katherine Sweetman
me@katherinesweetman.com

Course Description and Objectives:
This course is designed to provide students with a survey of film history and cinematic techniques. The course will facilitate an understanding for the art and history of film and help position contemporary American and international cinema in its broader historical and cultural contexts. The course is structured chronologically beginning with the inception of film as a medium and ending with films made within the last few years.

Each class session will involve screening one film in its entirety preceded or followed by a lecture and other in-class activities.

Screening Issues:
We will be looking at global and historical cinema from an academic perspective.  Students are required to attend screening even if they seen/will see the film outside of the class. Also, students are required to pay close attention to all the film screenings and will be tested on the material. Please refrain from behavior that will detract from anyone viewing the film including talking, texting, and using your laptop.

Text Books and Required Materials:
One blank, bound book is required. This will be your film journal, and it must be brought to every class. No textbooks are required. Handouts and readings will be given by the instructor. Please staple them into your journals after reading. 

Grading:
Journals: 50%
Group presentation: 15%
Midterm: 15%
Final: 20%

Journals:
Your journal is required by the second class. You will be required to complete:
14 in-class writing assignments, 6 outside writing assignments, + possible other small in-class assignments

Journals will be used every class session and will be handed in 4 times throughout the class. DO NOT FORGET YOUR JOURNALS!

Writing Assignments:
After each of the film screenings students will be ask to write in his/her film journal. The writing may be a short critique of the film, a short film analysis, a scene analysis, or other short assignment (14 in-class assignments).

Students are also required to watch and write about at least six films outside of class (6 outside writing assignments).

All writing assignments can be completed by hand in the film journals. Detailed information on writing assignments will be given during the second lecture.

Group Presentations:
11/18 – 12/09 Small group presentations will be assigned on specific films.
More information will be provided in class on the third week of the semester.

Midterm & Final Exam:
Tests will be in the form of short answer questions, matching questions, and short essay questions.

Final Grades will be assigned as follows:
A (90-100)
B (80-89)
C (70-79)
D (60-69)
F (59 and under)

Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be taken at the beginning AND end of each class. Missing any of the sign-in sheets will result in one tardiness. 3 tardiness = 1 absence. More than three absences your lower your grade by one full letter. More than 5 absences will result in a failing grade.

Every single absence you obtain will lower your ability to answer the midterm and final questions. Materials missed will be the student’s responsibility to make up.

Students with Disabilities:
Southwestern College recommends that students with disabilities discuss academic accommodations with the professor during the first two weeks of class.

Please notify the instructor ASAP with any special needs.

Academic Success Center:
An Academic Success Center is available on campus offers students tutoring services and academic help upon request and appointment.

Services are located in the ASC (420), the Writing Center (420D), the Reading Center (420), Math Center (426), the Library/LRC Interdisciplinary Tutoring Lab, MESA, specialized on-campus School tutoring labs, the Higher Education Center at National City, and the San Ysidro Education Center.  Online learning materials and Online Writing Lab (OWL) are available at www.swccd.edu/~asc.

Frequently Asked Questions:
What happens if I am late to class or have to leave early?
Attendance will be taken two times during each class. If you arrive after attendance sheet has gone around the class or leave before the second attendance you will be considered tardy. Three tardy arrivals will count as one absence.

What kind of breaks do I have?
We will take one 15-minute break during the class.

What if I can’t make the mid-term or the final exam?
Make-up tests will only be available for serious, documented emergencies. Please contact the instructor about individual problems.

Academic Honesty and Courtesy Standards:
Plagiarism and cheating, perpetuated actively or passively, constitute violations of academic honesty. Disregard for written or verbal instructions regarding course work may, at the discretion of the instructor, represent academic cheating. All violations and suspected violations of academic honesty will result in action against the party or parties involved, and will be documented in writing with the Dean of Student Activities and the Dean of the School of Arts and Communication. Sanctions may include no-credit or formal charges of student misconduct. Formal charges can result in academic probation, suspension or expulsion.

Disruptive behavior constitutes any activity that disrupts classroom instruction or learning. Examples of disruptive behavior include talking during instruction, constant interruptions that are irrelevant to course or current topic, and the like. The instructor has the right to excuse anyone who is being disruptive. In extreme cases, a student may be dropped from the course at the instructor's discretion. For more information see the SWC Catalog and/or Student Handbook.