Introduces the discipline of film studies. Analyzes a nations culture and social history through its film.

Assesses the impact

that historical events, and social, cultural and political movements had on a nations cinematic expression. Evaluates the work
of individual directors and explores the ways that they translated their perceptions and experiences into film.

3 CREDITS Semester: FALL, 2016

Instructor: Dr. Maria Enrico Phone: 212-220-1227

Borough of Manhattan Community College E-mail: menrico@bmcc.cuny.edu (Email is preferred)
Office: S610A Office Hours: by appointment.

Note: We will occasionally view sensitive material. If you object to or are uncomfortable with depictions of sex, drugs, violence,
profanities, and so on, you should drop the course. Your continued enrollment indicates your comfort with and responsibility for watching
these films.

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Flexible Core Area & Learning Outcomes-Creative Expression:
Students will:
1. Gather, interpret and assess information from a variety of sources
and points of view.
2. Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically.
3. Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to
support conclusions.
4. Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a
discipline or interdisciplinary field exploring creative expression,
Discipline-Specific Learning Objectives:
A. Define the characteristics of a specific nation in relation to its
geographical location and/or historical period of periods.
B. Analyze the visual, technical and symbolic components of film.
C. Evaluate how cinema documents historical and social change,
popular culture and aesthetic shifts in a specific nation.
Required Materials:
Text: The Oxford History of World Cinema
Publisher: Oxford University Press (February 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0198742428
ISBN-13: 978-0198742425
including, but not limited to, arts, communications, creative writing,
media arts, music and theater.
5. Analyze how arts from diverse cultures of the past serve as a
foundation for those of the present and describe the significance of
works of art in the societies that created them.
6. Articulate how meaning is created in the arts or communications
and how experience is interpreted and conveyed.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the skills involved in the creative
process.
8. Use appropriate technologies to conduct research and to
communicate.
This course will address Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8.
D. Demonstrate how a nations cinema conveys or fails to convey the
truth about that culture.
E. Recognize the films of selected directors or moments.
F. Create well-written and well-supported short scholarly papers on
film using the disciplinary standards of the field of film studies.
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There are multiple ways to watch the films for this course.

Please watch the films legally.

Title Kanopy/Baruch Amazon video, YouTube, I tunes

Library free
streaming

The Story of Film

Cinema Paradiso
YouTube, I tunes

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 X
Please Vote for Me

The Hedgehog
Amazon video, I tunes

The Crying Game

Amazon video, YouTube, I tunes

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Monsoon Wedding
Amazon video, YouTube, I tunes

Shall We Dance? Amazon video, YouTube, I tunes

Le Grad Chef2
X

The Sea Inside

Amazon video, I tunes

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 56 Up X

Mid August Lunch

Amazon Video

Amazon video, YouTube, I tunes

The Motorcycle Diaries

Assignments and grading:

Keep track of your progress by checking into Grade Center regularly.

Evaluation and Requirements of Students:

THE FINAL GRADE WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA

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 Discussion Board 40%
Analysis Papers (4) 40%
Final exam 20%
Total 100%

Grading

A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69
F Below 60

Activities

Unless otherwise noted school week for this course runs Monday through Sunday on Eastern Standard Time. Please see
the Course Schedule for specific due dates and times. Any updates will be posted in the Announcements section.

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 COURSE SCHEDULE
Posting is mandatory.
Missing assignments has direct impact on your ability to succeed in this course and will modify the percentage of your grade.
You should log in at least 3 times a week.

Abbreviations:

DB Discussion Board
AP Analysis Paper
FE Final Exam

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Weeks Topic Film Activities

DB Post an introduction to yourself on the

Introduction to the course. Introduce yourself
1 -2 8/25-9/4
In the text read intro. Pages xix-xxii and pages 463-
465 on Modern Cinema.

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 The power of cinema on the Cinema Paradiso Read text pages 586-96.
3-4 individual and society (Italy, 1988) DB Respond to DB 2.
PART I 9/5-9/11

The power of cinema on the AP Analysis paper #1. (See assignments)

4 individual and society Paper should include reference to one of the
PART II following episodes from The Story of Film-An
Odyssey (7, 8, 10,11,12,13 or 15).* and text.

Due 9/11
No late submissions accepted.

Read text pages 692-711 (China) or pages 576-586

(France).
Please Vote for Me
Childhood and Adolescence (China, 2007) DB Respond to DB 3.
Or
5-6
9/12-9/25
The Hedgehog
(France, 2009)

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 Love The Crying Game Read text pages 604-623 (UK) or pages 586-596
PART I (UK, 1992) (Italy).
7-8
Or DB Respond to DB 4.
LUltimo Bacio/Last Kiss
9/26-10/9
(Italy, 2001)
Italian version

AP Analysis paper #2. (See assignments)

Love Paper should include reference to one of the
9 PART II following episodes from The Story of Film-An
Odyssey (7, 8, 10,11,12,13 or 15).* and text.

Due 10/10-16
No late submissions accepted.

Monsoon Wedding
Marriage (India, 2001) Read text pages 678-689 (India) or pages 714-721
PART I (Japan).
10-11 Or
DB Respond to DB 5.
Shall We Dance?
(Japan, 1996) 10/17-10/30
Japanese version

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 AP Analysis paper #3. (See assignments)
Paper should include reference to one of the
12 Marriage following episodes from The Story of Film-An
PART II Odyssey (7, 8, 10,11,12,13 or 15).* and text.

Due 10/31-11/6
No late submissions accepted.

Le Grand Chef 2
(Korea, 2010)
Read text pages 596-603 (Spain) or pages 740-749
Or (Latin America) or
13-14 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Korea
Family Ties, Political The Sea Inside
Awakening and (Spain, 2004)
Disability DB Respond to DB 6.
Or
11/7-11/20
Motorcycle Diaries
(Argentina, 2004)

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 DB Respond to DB 7.
11/21-12/4
56 Up
(UK, 2012)

Or AP Analysis paper #4. (See assignments)

15 Middle Age and Old Age Make reference to an episode from The Story of
Mid August Lunch Film and the text.
(Italy, 2008)
Due 12/11
No late submissions accepted.

DB Respond to DB 8.

16
FE FINAL EXAM see assignments
Should include reference to one of the following
episodes from The Story of Film-An Odyssey (7,
8, 10,11,12,13 or 15) *. And the text.

12/12-18
No late submissions accepted.

*The History of Film An Odyssey

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Episode 7 Episode 11
1957-64 The Shock of the New Modern Film Making in Western 1970s and Onwards: Innovation in Popular Culture around the World
Europe Episode 12
Episode 8 The 1980s Moviemaking and Protest around the World
1965-69 Episode 13
New Waves Sweep around the World 1990-1998 The Last Days of Celluloid before the Coming of Digital
Episode 10 Episode 15
1969-79 Radical Directors in the 70s Make State of the Nation 2000 Onwards: Film Moves Full Circle and the Future of Movies.
Movies

Analysis papers:

Students will submit 4 formal analysis papers of 500-750 words over the course of the semester in order to develop disciplinary skills. In considering
film movements and theoretical discussions addressed in the course, students will write concise and precise critical analyses. Papers will be
evaluated on the quality of critical analysis and the interpretation of secondary research. APA format must be used. See
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource//560/01/ Make reference to an episode of the Story of Film and the text.

Format: Paper must be at 500 -750 words in length. It must have a title, your name, page numbering, and consistent use of citations/references.
Proofreading for grammatical errors is expected and plays a role in the evaluation of papers. Make sure that your paper is in the form of an essay
with an introduction, body and conclusion.

Procedure: Your paper should demonstrate comprehension of the assigned readings and films and contain a critical and thoughtful analysis.
There are a number of ways you might approach this task.

a. Focus on an aspect of the readings and films that pertains to some issue or idea we have discussed in class. Do the readings and films support,
undermine or come into tension with previous issues or concepts? Explain why it is significant.

b. Focus on a particular theme or issue raised by the readings and films. What are the strengths and the weaknesses of the main sides of the
issue?

What to Avoid: This is NOT a book report! You must give some brief summary of the films in order to write a good paper, but only summarize what
is necessary. It is also important to avoid vague impressions about the readings and films. Base everything you say in something specific in the
readings and films, such as a quote, or a concept or an argument. Dig into something solid. Make sure you make proper reference to specific details.

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 a. Make sure you include an introductory paragraph. d. The reaction paper must be typed and double-spaced.

b. Each paragraph must have a minimum of 3 sentences. This
is a must! You may have more than 3 sentences, but not
less than 3.
c. Write in third person- do not include personal opinions or the
use of personal nouns such as I, we or me. You, I, we,
us" belong in the critique section where you are relating
personal opinions, not in the summary.
e. Please avoid contractions. Spell out such words as
"can't"(cannot).
f. Inclusive language should be used in the reaction paper (for
example: gender references should be written as he/she
when the gender in unknown.

No late submissions accepted.

Final exam:

The final exam will take place on Blackboard and will consist of a two- three page double-spaced paper comparing at least two of the films viewed.
Your analysis should focus on how the historical and artistic culture of the nation/s in question influenced the films chosen.
Should include reference to one of the following episodes from The Story of Film-An Odyssey (7, 8, 10,11,12,13 or 15) and the text.

Format: Paper must be at 500 -750 words in length. It must have a title, your name, page numbering, and consistent use of citations/references.
Proofreading for grammatical errors is expected and plays a role in the evaluation of papers. Make sure that your paper is in the form of an essay
with an introduction, body and conclusion.

Procedure: Your paper should demonstrate comprehension of the assigned readings and films and contain a critical and thoughtful analysis.
There are a number of ways you might approach this task.

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a. Focus on an aspect of the readings and films that pertains to some issue or idea we have discussed in class. Do the readings and films support,
undermine or come into tension with previous issues or concepts? Explain why it is significant.

b. Focus on a particular theme or issue raised by the readings and films. What are the strengths and the weaknesses of the main sides of the
issue?

What to Avoid: This is NOT a book report! You must give some brief summary of the films in order to write a good paper, but only summarize what
is necessary. It is also important to avoid vague impressions about the readings and films. Base everything you say in something specific in the
readings and films, such as a quote, or a concept or an argument. Dig into something solid. Make sure you make proper reference to the specific
details, an episode of The Story of Film and the text.

a. Make sure you include an introductory paragraph. d. The reaction paper must be typed and double-spaced.

b. Each paragraph must have a minimum of 3 sentences. This
is a must! You may have more than 3 sentences, but not
less than 3.
c. Write in third person- do not include personal opinions or the
use of personal nouns such as I, we or me. You, I, we,
us" belong in the critique section where you are relating
personal opinions, not in the summary.
e. Please avoid contractions. Spell out such words as
"can't"(cannot).
f. Inclusive language should be used in the reaction paper (for
example: gender references should be written as he/she
when the gender in unknown.

No late submissions accepted.

Discussion Board:

Students are expected to participate regularly and meaningfully on the class discussion boards. Students will address open-ended prompts covering
major points about each film or specific topics related to a particular group of films while engage with their classmates. Students should provide

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original, analytical and critical response that avoids summaries or restating what classmates, the instructor or the readings have already said.
Students should cite examples from the films and refer to secondary scholarship and detail connections to other films or readings.

Your postings will be graded in the following manner:

0 No response posted
1 Irrelevant response: comments such as I agree do not reflect critical thinking
2 Sufficient response: relevant comments that do not add value to the discussion since they repeat previously posted points, lack support, or are
unfocused.
3 Good response: significant messages that address closely discussed points.
4 Excellent response: messages with original analysis, thoughtful responses, and good textual support.

Posting is mandatory.

Missing assignments has direct impact on your ability to succeed in this course and will modify the percentage of your grade.

You should log in at least 3 times a week. Please do not fall behind.

Discussion Board topics:

DB 1 everyone a little about yourself: where you live, your major, how long
you've been enrolled about SPS, why you decided to take this
Week 1 course and what you hope to get out of it, what you do for a living,
Create a new topic thread with your name on this forum and tell your hobbies, anything interesting you want to share about yourself.

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Also, I always enjoy asking students about the last film they saw
(theater/DVD/TV), so let us know that, too.
Week 2
Since we'll be talking about cinema all semester, I'd like to hear
about your favorite film and why you love it.
DB 2 The power of cinema on the individual and society.
Week 3
Discuss the role of cinema (movies, movie theaters etc.) in society
as portrayed in "Cinema Paradiso" and in the light of Italian "neo-
realism."
Week 4
The main themes of Italian political cinema are: the south;
war/Fascism; justice and history. Choose one theme and discuss
how it is reflected in "Cinema Paradiso."
DB 3 Childhood and Adolescence.
Week 5
Depending on the film you chose to view what new insights into
childhood/adolescence in another culture did it offer you?
Week 6
How did the culture or history of the country in question influence a
movie? Would "Please Vote for Me" have been possible under
Mao? Is "The Hedgehog" a "New Wave" or "mainstream" movie?
Answer one question.
DB 4 Love.
Week 7
Depending on the film you chose to view how were the conflicts in
play (politics, sexual identity, religion, family ties etc.) portrayed?
Week 8
How did the culture or history of the country in question influence a
movie? How is the IRA viewed in "Crying Game?" Why doesn't
"Crying Game" belong to the "heritage film" genre? In the case of
"L'Ultimo Bacio" what does the movie say about the state of
"traditional" values in contemporary Italy? Can "L'Ultimo Bacio" be
considered a typical Italian comedy? Answer one question.
DB 5 Marriage.
Week 9
Depending on the film you chose to view how is marriage
portrayed?
Week 10
How did the culture or history of the country in question influence a
movie? Does "Monsoon Wedding" contain elements of Bollywood
movies? How does "Shall We Dance" deal with Japan's post World
War II love-hate relationship with the US? Answer one question.
DB 6 Family Ties, Political Awakening and Disability.
Week 12
Depending on the film you chose to view, how were the conflicts in
play (politics, religion, family ties etc.) portrayed?
Week 13
How did the culture or history of the country in question influence a
movie? In the case of "Le Grand Chef 2" what is the historical
background for Japan/Korea tensions? For "The Sea Inside" what
is the role of the Catholic Church in Spanish society and how was it
cemented after Spain's Civil War? For "Motorcycle Diaries" what are
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some of the causes of revolutionary movements in Latin America? How did the perceived culture or history of the country in
Answer one question. question influence the movie? For "56 UP" how important is a
person's "social class" in determining his or her future? For
DB 7 Middle Age and Old Age.
"Mid August Lunch" how important are family obligations in
Week 14 Italy and how do they influence daily life? Answer one
Depending on the film you chose to view how are these stages in question.
life portrayed?
DB 8 Reflections

What did you like the most about this course? And the least?
Week 15 Why?

Policies:

Communication:
I will try to respond to your questions on the Q&A DB or sent via email within 24 hours

E Mail:
I receive a lot of email, so please include your name, course number (FLM 307) and topic of your message in the subject line.

Sending files:
Whenever possible please copy and paste into space provided. If attaching, please use word.

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 SUCCESS ON LINE
Time Management:

Taking an online course requires self-discipline, responsibility, and dedication. Many students mistakenly believe that taking an on-line course is
easier than taking a face-to-face course; in fact, the opposite is true. You should expect to spend more time preparing and studying than for a face-
to-face course.

Posting is mandatory.

Missing assignments has direct impact on your ability to succeed in this course and will modify the percentage of your grade.
You should log in at least 3 times a week. Please do not fall behind.
Late submissions WILL not BE accepted.

The syllabus clearly states when assignments and discussion postings are due. If your work is late because of a matter beyond
your control, you must contact me via in course email with an explanation.

Print out a copy of the course map for ready reference.

The instructor will reply to and grade postings within 48 hours of cut-off date.

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 Additional Resources
Accessibility & accommodations:
SPS is firmly committed to making higher education accessible to students with disabilities by removing architectural barriers and providing programs
and support services necessary for them to benefit from the instruction and resources of the University. Early planning is essential for many of the
resources and accommodations provided. Please see: http://www.sps.cuny.edu/student_services/disabilityservices.html

Online etiquette & anti-harassment policy:

CUNY strictly prohibits the use of university online resources or facilities, including Blackboard, for the purpose of harassment of any individual or
for the posting of any material that is scandalous, libelous, offensive or otherwise against university policies. Please see:
http://www.sps.cuny.edu/student_services/pdf/Netiquette,pdf

Academic integrity:
Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the
educational mission of CUNY and of students personal and intellectual growth. By submitting someone elses work as your own (whether purchased,
copied or written by a friend or from another source) or failing to cite the source of ideas that are not your own, you are plagiarizing. Plagiarized
assignments are automatically graded F with no option for revision and may lead to further disciplinary action. If you need clarification about what
plagiarism is, please contact me before submitting your work. For more information, please see: http://www.sps.cuny.edu/acad_policies/index.html

Student support:
If you need additional help, please visit the Student Services site: http://www.sps.cuny.edu/student_resources/index.html

SPS resources:
Writing assistance: SPS offers advice and tutoring for students who want help on any aspect of writing, from developing thesis statements to citing
sources to revision. For more information, contact the SPS Writing Fellows: http://bacwritingfellows.commons.gc.cuny.edu/
Library resources: Baruchs Newman Library is SPSs home library. For the library catalog, research databases and librarian help, visit:
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/library/sps/

Help Desk:
If you have individual technical problems with Blackboard please contact SPSs Help Desk. It is available Monday through Friday 10 AM to 6 PM
by email (helpdesk@sps.cuny.edu) or phone (212-652-2888). For more information, see: http://sps.cuny.edu/student_services/help_desk.html).

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