Film Appreciation is an overview of American film history and cinematography. Class time will comprise of viewing and discussing films that as an art form. Topics of discussion will cover a wide range of Academy Awarded films, educational themes and film-making tactics. This course is designed as an introductory and advanced level of film appreciation, consisting of: history of film and film-making, inventions, genres, film critique and analysis, design, music, current film trends, directors, actors, and public response. All concepts will be illustrated through film clips comprising scenes from over 100 different movies. Throughout this process, we will view, analyze, and discuss a number of short scenes complete films representing the highest achievement of the art form.
Course Objectives:
To understand what makes a film bad or good, and what makes a film great
To understand the effect technological advances have had on the development of movies
To analyze films from a technical, literary, and aesthetic perspective
To understand film's place as a unique narrative art form
To understand the history of the movies, and major film movements of the twentieth century
To understand the concept of a film genre
To write critically and analytically about a film
Course Outline
Unit One - Film History
Animation
Silent Era
Talkies
Technicolor
Unit Two - Film Genres
Drama
Epics
Comedy
Action/Adventure
Western*
Unit Three - Film Sub-Genres
Fantasy
Thriller/Suspense
Foreign*
Unit Four - Directors
Hitchcock
Spielberg
Nolan
Unit Five - Book vs Film
What makes a good adaptation film
Pros and cons
Unit Six - Blockbusters/Popular in Cinema
*Western and Foreign to alternate with Documentary and Superhero genre.