Course Description
This course will focus on learning how to watch films actively and critically. Through a study of American films, students will acquire a working knowledge of American film history from the silent era, recognize and use the basic technical and critical vocabulary of motion pictures, understand how the technology of the cinema relates to film art, and enhance their ability to think, speak, and write critically in an increasingly visual and technological culture. (3 credits)
Prerequisite
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Discuss visual strategies of film analysis and film making by focusing on the four categories of camera movement (cinematography), sound, editing, and mise-en-scene.
- Analzye the beginnings of Hollywood narratives, the contrasting work of the Film School Generation and counterculture of independent filmmaking in the United States.
- Define and discuss different traditions in American Cinema.
- Respond to movies in a more reflective and critical way after completing this course.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Points | Weights |
|---|
Discussion Board Postings (Weeks 1-8 @40 points) | 320 | 32% |
Short Responses (Weeks 1, 3, 4 & 5 @20 points) | 80 | 8% |
Research Paper Proposal (Week 2) | 20 | 2% |
Film Review Essay (Week 6) | 130 | 13% |
Research Paper (Week 7) | 200 | 20% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 250 | 25% |
Total | 1000 Pts | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak's online bookstore
- Belton, John (2022). American Cinema/ American Culture. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill. ISBN-10: 1-264-17730-5 or ISBN-13: 978-1-264-17730-1 [Looseleaf version]
Additional Resources
- Students are expected to watch at least two movies each week (except for week one). Students will be able to use the films from a specific week’s unit. Students are expected to seek access to films either via their public library, free streaming sites like Tubi, subscription services like Netflix, video stores, and/or pay for one-time rentals via Amazon.com, I-Tunes, or similar.
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|
1 | 1-4 | Topic: The Emergence of Cinema - How does Hollywood filmmaking work and how did it come into being? The Emergence of Cinema as an Institution.
Readings: - Belton - Preface, Introduction and Chapter 1
Videos: - The Invention of Cinema
- The Great Train Robbery (1903)
- Life of an American Fireman (1903)
- Trip to the Moon (1902)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch three movies
- Submit short response
|
2 | 1-4 | Topics: The Studio and the Star System - The mechanics of stardom. Stars and culture.
- Manufacturing of dreams. The majors and minors. The studio style.
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 4 and 5
- Watch Annenberg Learner Videos on the Studio & Star Systems
Videos: - Top Hat (1935)
- It Happened One Night (1934)
- Frankenstein (1931)
- The Public Enemy (1931)
- Scarface (1932)
- The Mummy (1932)
- Duck Soup (1933)
- Dinner at Eight (1933)
- King Kong (1933)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit paper topic proposal
|
3 | 1-4 | Topic: Classical Hollywood Cinema: Narration - Film form and character development. Ways to analysis film according to the mise-en-scene, camera work, sound and editing.
- What is the Hollywood style?
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 2 and 3
- Watch Annenberg Learner video on Hollywood Style
Videos: - His Girl Friday (1940)
- Casablanca (1942)
- Rear Window (1953)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit short response
|
4 | 1-4 | Topics: A Postwar History: Hollywood, The Cold War, and The Age of Television - Communism, Hollywood and the American Way.
- The big decline: Hollywood loses its audience.
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 12, 13 and 14
- The History of America and Russia’s Cinematic Cold War
- Watch Annenberg Learner video on Film in the Television Age
Videos: - Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)
- Oklahoma! (1955)
- Invaders from Mars (1954)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit short response
|
5 | 1-4 | Topic: The 1960’s and 70’s: The Counterculture Strikes Back and The Film School Generation - The mechanics of stardom. Stars and culture. Blockbusters.
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 15 and 16
- How Heaven’s Gate Killed 1970s Hollywood
- Watch Anenberg Learner video on The Film School Generation
Videos: - Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
- THX1138 (1981)
- American Grafitti (1973)
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- Easy Rider (1969)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- Jaws (1975)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit short response
|
6 | 1-4 | Topic: Film Noir: Somewhere in the Night and The American Comedy - Film Noir: genre, series or mode? Noir aesthetics. Noir and the production code. Women in film noir.
- Comedy, repression and cultural dreamwork. A short history of the America screen comedy.
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 8 and 10
- Notebook Primer essays on Noir / Screwball Comedy (depending your genre choice).
- Representation of Women in Film Noir (for students who choose Noir)
- Wath Annenberg Learner video associated with your genre choice
Videos: - Film Noir:
- Double Indemnity (1944)
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
- Chinatown (Neo-Noir; Polanski 1974)
- Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur, 1947)
- The Killing (Kubrick, 1956)
- Against all Odds (Hackford, 1984)
- Comedy:
- What's Up Doc? (1972)
- It Happened One Night (1934)
- Arthur (1981)
- Monkey Business (1952)
- Heaven Can Wait (1978)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit Film Review
|
7 | 1-4 | Topic: The Independent Film - Filmmakers working outside the studio. “Independent” films made by the studios
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 17 (pg. 379-387)
- Film Form and Narrative essay
- Watch Annenberg Learner video “Edge of Hollywood”
Videos: - Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
- She's Got to Have It (1986)
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
- Blood Simple (1984)
- Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash, 1991)
- Slacker (Richard Linklater, 1991)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Submit research paper
|
8 | 1-4 | Topic: Into the 21st Century - Film and social media.
- The digitization of cinema. Current film trends.
Readings: - Belton - Chapters 17 and review glossary of technical and other terms in the textbook
- Paranormal Activity: A Horror Phenomenon Are Digital Effects Ruining the Movies?
- Why Filmmakers Should Focus More on Storytelling, Not CGI
Videos: - Paranormal Activity (2007)
- Avatar (2009) (and/or the sequel)
- Timecode (2000)
- A Scanner Darkly (2006)
- Tron Legacy (2010)
- District 9 (2009)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Terminator 2 (1991)
- Mad Max Fury Road (2015)
| - Read assigned chapters
- Participate in the Discussions
- Watch two movies
- Complete Final Exam
- Complete Course Evaluation
|
Final Exam
SLOs 1-4 |
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.
