FILM AS LITERATURE CP (UC/CSU)) (h.s. general elective) (Semester Course – Elective)

 This is an exciting semester long course in which students will approach film similarly to the way novels are studied.

Students will be viewing (not watching), discussing, and writing about films in a literary fashion. Class members will view

clips from various films as well as view several films in their entirety. Students will be taught to "read" films with an eye

toward symbolism, themes, social and historical context, bias, points of view, plot development, and character development.

Because there is NO HOMEWORK for this course, class attendance and participation is crucial. 

Prerequisites:

None Grades 10-12

This course qualifies as a University of California "g" elective

Week 1

Jan 7: Course introduction. 

In class: What are your five favorite movies?  What are the 5 best movies you have ever seen?  What are the five worst movies you have ever seen? Submit to Turnitin.com.

Week 2

Jan 12: 

In class:  Watch The Shared Wonder of Film. 

Answer:  What is the best movie going experience you have ever had?  Relate it to the TED talk.  Submit to Turnitin.com.

Opening to Dances With Wolves and Opening continued

Jan 14:  

Week 3

Jan. 20: 

In class:  Due to possible power outages, today will be a reading day. Follow directions below:

Check into class (if possible -- yesterday, I lost all power at 10:20).

Finish watching Field of Dreams.

Answer:  What were the life issues facing each of the following characters and what were their resolutions?  Submit to Turnitin.com

Ray Kinsella

Terrance Mann

Joe Jackson

Moonlight/Doc/Archie Graham

Mark

Week 4

Jan. 25: Begin Forrest Gump.

Jan 27: Finish Forrest Gump.

Week 5 

Feb 1: Begin Pleasantille

Feb 3: Finish Pleasantville

Week 6

Feb. 8: Review for in class essay

Feb. 10: In class essay.  Submit to Turnitin.com when finished.

Compare and contrast the films we watched and explain what each film says about Traditional American Values.  How does each film portray Traditional American Values, how and why do various characters rebel or reject TAVs, and how and why is there some sort of reconciliation?  What is the socio-political message of each film?  Which film’s message do you disagree with most?  Why? Which film’s message do you agree with most?  Why?

Week 7

Feb. 16: Begin the documentary on the history of cinematography, Visions of Light

Take notes for the following topic:

How did technological advances in filmmaking spur various artistic styles and movements?  Who were the major innovators and what were their impacts?

Feb. 18: Finish Visions of Light.  

Buster Keaton - The Art of the Gag

Sherlock Jr. -- Buster Keaton

Week 8

Feb. 23:  Modern Times -- Charlie Chaplin

Feb. 25: Finish Modern Times. Watch Chaplin Today -- Modern Times

Week 9

March 2: Begin  A Night at the Opera -- SWANK 

March 4: Finish A Night at the Opera   Watch The Making of A Night At The Opera

Relate various scenes from A Night at the Opera with the myth of Prometheus.  Submit to Turnitin.com

Week 10

March 9: Begin East Side Sushi

March 11: Finish East Side Sushi

Week 11

March 16: How Green was My Valley

March 18: In-class Social Class Unit Essay

Compare and contrast the films we watched and explain what each film says about the struggle between the social classes.  How does each film portray the conflicts involving the social classes? How and why do various characters respond to the oppression of the lower classes?  What is the socio-political message of each film?  In other words, where do the filmmakers place the blame for these conflicts?  What are the issues?  What are the solutions suggested by each film?  Which film’s message do you disagree with most?  Why? Which film’s message do you agree with most?  Why?

Week 12

March 23: In class watch Why you should define your fears instead of your goals and The hidden power of not (always) fitting in..  What are your goals in life and what are the internal and external conflicts you need to overcome?  Explain.  

Three paragraphs

I.  Goals

II.  External Conflicts/Barriers

III.  Internal Conflicts/Barriers

March 25: Begin On The Waterfront

Week 13

March 30: Finish On The Waterfront

April 1: Begin Rocky

Week 14 Spring Break

Week 15

April 13:  Finish Rocky

April 15:  Begin The Truman Show

Week 16

April 20: Finish The Truman Show

April 22: Begin The Apartment Watch up to 1:06 by next class.

Week 17

April 27: Finish The Apartment

April 29: Begin WALL-E

Week 18:

May 4: Finish WALL-E

May 6:  In class essay:

Triumph of the Common Person

Which film’s message did you agree with most?  Why?  Which film’s message did you disagree with most?  Why?  With which of the following characters do you most closely identify:  Terry, Rocky, Adrian, Truman, Baxter, Fran, Wall-E, EVE, or the captain?  Why?  What are your most important life aspirations?  What internal AND external conflicts do you need to overcome in order to achieve your own personal triumphs?

Week 19

May 11:  Introduce Citizen Kane

In class: Watch 1941: Citizen Kane: What Makes A Masterpiece? The Making of Citizen Kane

May 13: Citizen Kane

Week 20

May 18: Finish Citizen Kane

In class: Watch Why filmmakers steal from Citizen Kane Welles vs. Hearst: The Story Behind Citizen Kane,  Citizen Kane: Crash Course Film Criticism #1 (10:39), 1941: Citizen Kane: What Makes A Masterpiece?

May 20:  Final Exam (due by the end of the period).

Explain in detail why Citizen Kane is widely considered the greatest American film of all time?  How does Citizen Kane stylistically and thematically relate to our other films and film units?  Overall, which film did you like best this semester?  Why?  Which film did you like least?  Why?  What was the best film you saw this semester?  Why?

Week 21

May 25:  Study Hall

May 27:  Study Hall

Each unit will be evaluated with an in-class essay (100 points each) and a journal check (50 points each unit check).

The semester is broken up into the following units:

Introduction to Film as Literature  

Clips from Lawrence of Arabia, Dances With Wolves, Much Ado About Nothing

Unit 1:  Traditional American Values

Field of Dreams, Forrest Gump, Pleasantville

Unit 2: Struggle of the Lower Classes

Visions of Light (documentary on cinematography), The Kid, Modern Times, A Night at the Opera, The Grapes of Wrath

Unit 3: Triumph of the Common Man 

On the Waterfront, Rocky, Casablanca, The Truman Show, The Apartment

Unit 4: Teen Issues

Rebel Without a Cause, American Graffiti, The Breakfast Club

Unit 5: What constitutes Greatness?

Citizen Kane