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Syllabus

International Cinema

TCF 340 Section 001

Fall 2016, Lecture

Dr. Jeremy Butler

Office Hours and Contact Information

Jeremy Butler
Office: 486B Phifer
Office hours: TT 3:15-5:00, & by appt. 348-8659

Outline of Topics or Tentative Schedule

Please browse to the online course schedule for assignments, illustrations and other resources: http://goo.gl/um4WxP

Exams and Major Assignments

Your progress will be assessed through:

  1. An analytical exercise using basic film criticism techniques.
  2. Midterm and final exams. Early exams will not be given.
  3. One take-home essay, which will synthesize concepts presented over the course of the entire semester. Essay topics will be distributed at the last class meeting. It must be word-processed and, if necessary, properly footnoted.
  4. Reading/viewing quizzes (each discussion class, four lowest scores deleted).

Final Grade Determination

Exam/Assignment Point Values

  1. Analytical exercise: 10 points.
  2. Midterm and final exams: 35 points each, for a total of 70.
  3. One take-home essay: 15 points.
  4. Reading/viewing quizzes: 5 points (total; 4 lower scores deleted).

Grading scale:

A+ 97-100   C+ 77-79    F  59 and below
A  93-96    C  73-76
A- 90-92    C- 70-72
B+ 87-89    D+ 67-69
B  83-86    D  63-66
B- 80-82    D- 60-62

Extra Credit Opportunities

Students may earn up to 10 extra credit points by attending Thursday evening screenings.

Update: Because most students did not attend Thursday screenings at the start of the semester (e.g., only 2 our of 23 attended one night), this option was canceled.

Policy on Missed Exams & Coursework

Make-up tests/exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor. No tests/exams will be given before their scheduled dates.

Attendance Policy

Each absence beyond four for the semester will result in one point being deducted from your final total. (Up to five points may be deducted.)

Grading Policy

Grades will be posted on Blackboard Learn.

Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

[[requiredTexts]]

Required course readings are available at the Supe Store, in the Phifer Hall Reading Room and on Blackboard Learn.

In alphabetical order, not the order in which they are assigned.

  1. Armes, Roy. French Cinema. NY: Oxford University, 1985. 
  2. Bazin, André. "The Era of the Popular Front." In Jean Renoir, pp. 36-52. Edited and with an introduction by Francois Truffaut. Translated by W. W. Halsey II and William H. Simon. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1973. 
  3. Bazin, André. "The Evolution of Film Language." In The New Wave, pp. 24-51. Edited and translated by Peter Graham. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1968. 
  4. Brecht, Bertolt. "The Modern Theatre is the Epic Theatre." In Brecht on Theatre, pp. 33-42. Edited and translated by John Willett. New York: Hill and Wang, 1964. 
  5. Bresson, Robert. Notes on Cinematography. Translated by Jonathan Griffin. NY: Urizen, 1977. 
  6. Crisp, C. G. Eric Rohmer: Realist and Moralist. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1988. 
  7. Fofi, Goffredo. "The Cinema of the Popular Front in France (1934-38)." In Screen Reader I, pp. 172-224. London: SEFT, 1977.
  8. Kuhn, Annette. Women's Pictures: Feminism and Cinema. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982. 
  9. Hughes, Robert. The Shock of the New. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980. 
  10. MacCabe, Colin. Godard: Images, Sounds, Politics. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, 1980. 
  11. MacCabe, Colin. Godard: A Portrait of the Artist at Seventy. New York: Faber & Faber, 2003.
  12. Mayne, Judith. Claire Denis (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2005), pp. 33-48.
  13. Monaco, James. Alain Resnais. NY: Oxford University, 1979. 
  14. Monaco, James. The New Wave. NY: Oxford University, 1976. 
  15. Penley, Constance. "Les Enfants de la Patrie." Camera Obscura, 8-9-10, pp. 32-59. 
  16. Wollen, Peter. "Godard and Counter Cinema: VENT D'EST." In Readings and Writings: Semiotic Counter-Strategies. London: Verso, 1982. 

Additional Course Specific Policies

Digital Devices Policy

Cell phones/tablets/laptops or other digital devices may be used for reference to class texts or for online research, but they may not be used during screenings. Text messaging is not permitted at any time during class. Any use of digital devices during exams will be considered academic misconduct.

Course Description

UA Course Catalog Information

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Student Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Chart the history of the cinema of one particular country.
  2. Understand the shaping of film history and the impact of diverse groups on that history;
  3. Write correctly and clearly (evaluating their work for accuracy and fairness, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness);
  4. Evaluate concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and narratives; and
  5. Think critically, creatively, and independently about the cinema.

Prerequisites

UA Course Catalog Prerequisites

Prerequisite(s): TCF 112

Cultural Diversity Statement

The University of Alabama values the diversity of its student body and is committed to providing a classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students. Patterns of interaction between the faculty member and students and among the students themselves may inadvertently communicate preconceptions about student abilities based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, class, regionalism and/or sexual orientation. These patterns are due in part to the differences the students themselves bring to the classroom. Instructors should be particularly sensitive to being equitable in the opportunities they provide students to answer questions in class, to contribute their own ideas, and to participate fully in projects in and outside of the classroom. As an institution of higher learning, The University of Alabama attaches great value to freedom of speech and open debate, but it also attaches great importance to the principles of civility and respect which govern an academic community.  Harassment or other illegal discrimination against individuals or groups not only is a violation of University Policy and subject to disciplinary action, but also is inconsistent with the values and ideals of the University.

Values and Competencies for Accreditation

Severe Weather Guidelines

The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.

The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

  • Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
  • Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
  • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
  • Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
  • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvua23.com/weather. 

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”

See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.

If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 1000 Houser Hall to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 1000 Houser Hall, before receiving academic adjustments.

UAct: Ethical Community Statement

The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility.  The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides a list of reporting channels that can be used to report incidences of illegal discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, retaliation, threat assessment  or fraud.

UAct: Ethical Community Statement

The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.