Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information

SYLLABUS FOR CS8119 Fictional Film: From Hollywood to Bollywood Semester 2, 2011/2012

General Information
Lecturer : William Phuan Contact : william.phuan@ntu.edu.sg Lectures : Tuesday 1730-2100 (LF-LT)

Assigned Text
Bordwell, D. & Thompson, K. (2010). Film art: An introduction, 9th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. The textbook is now available for purchase at the NTU Yunnan Bookstore, with some copies on reserve at the ACRC and ADM libraries.

Course Description and Objectives

scription & Objectives

This course aims to introduce students to the critical analysis of global fiction films through the study of film history, film form and film theory. The course will expose students to a wide range of international fiction films through the screening of significant examples, the discussion of the major episodes of film history, an exploration of film genres and an overview of important film trends. Students will be introduced to significant global cinemas and film genres with the goal of examining films critically within the wider institutional, economic and cultural contexts of production and reception. The key goals of this course are: 1. to familiarise students with basic critical terms, concepts, and frameworks for understanding and analysing fiction film; 2. to develop basic skills in film analysis (applicable to other visual and narrative media as well); 3. to familiarise students with some key aspects of the history of the fiction feature film, in particular of contemporary global film history; and 4. to familiarise students with some important international fiction films.

31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: +65 6790 4577, Fax: +65 6791 5214 www.ntu.edu.sg/sci

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Assignment Components

Course requirements include completion of assigned readings; punctual attendance at lectures and screenings; and proper classroom conduct and consideration of others in class. The course assessment is based 50% upon a closed-book final, and 50% upon continuous assessment (CA), broken down into 45% a midterm quiz and short paper, and 5% attendance. The CA grade will depend upon a multiple choice/short answer midterm exam to be administered during class time, as well as the short paper that may count for up to 20% of the 45% CA grade. Additionally, the instructor reserves the right, at his discretion, to round the final CA grade up one or two notches in instances of exceptional class participation (or down one or two notches in exceptional instances of class disruptiveness, lack of consideration for others in class, or lack of attendance and punctuality). Both exams must be completed in order to pass the course.

Course Policies

1. Assigned readings should be completed before the class to which they pertain. 2. Electronic communications (phone, sms, email) are forbidden during class and screening times; handphones and other electronic communication devices should be switched to off or silent modes. 3. Attendance is compulsory and will be taken during class. Exams will draw in part from the substance of lectures as well as from films screened in class. 4. It is understood that, in the normal course of things, a student may have to miss one or two lectures owing to unavoidable emergencies. Please be aware, however, that in such instances, it is not the instructors responsibility to recapitulate the substance of a given lecture or meeting on demand for a student who has missed it. Rather, a student in this situation should first ask to see the notes of a responsible classmate (it helps to have some email addresses or phone numbers), then come to see the instructor if any of the material covered is not clear.

Policy on Plagiarism

Students are expected to submit original work, giving full credit for any ideas or language borrowed from any source. Your work should not make use of any source, including the Internet, without appropriate citation. Any student caught presenting work which is not his or her own will face disciplinary action, which may include award of zero marks for the assignment, receiving a failing

31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: +65 6790 4577, Fax: +65 6791 5214 www.ntu.edu.sg/sci

Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information

grade for the class, or being expelled from the university. This policy applies to all work submitted, either through oral presentation, or written work, including outlines, briefings, group projects, selfevaluations, etc. You are encouraged to consult us if you have questions concerning the meaning of plagiarism or whether a particular use of sources constitutes plagiarism.

Screening and Reading Schedule

The listed readings on the next page are from the Bordwell & Thompson textbook. These should be completed before the class meeting for the week. The screening schedule may be adjusted somewhat as class needs and practical exigencies dictate.

31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: +65 6790 4577, Fax: +65 6791 5214 www.ntu.edu.sg/sci

Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information

CS8119 Fictional film: From Hollywood to Bollywood Course Outline & Assignments: Semester 2, 2011/2012 Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 Date 10/1 17/1 24/1 31/1 7/2 14/2 Topic Introduction Film form CHINESE NEW YEAR Narrative Mise-en-scne Cinematography Screening and Reading Centrestage (1992) -Ch. 1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -Ch. 2 No class Citizen Kane (1941)/ Memento (2000) -Ch. 3 Mon Oncle (1958)/ The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989) -Ch. 4 Psycho (1960)/ Peeping Tom (1960)/ Far From Heaven (2002)/ Halloween (1978) -Ch. 5 No Country For Old Men (2007)/ High and Low (1963)/ The Rules of the Game (1939)/ 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)/ Touch of Evil (1958) -Ch. 6 The Conversation (1974)/ Raging Bull (1980)/ Apocalypse Now (1979)/ Singing In The Rain (1952) -Ch. 7 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)/ Ashes of Time Redux (2008) -Chs. 8 + 9 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) Chungking Express (1994) -Ch. 11 Breathless (1960)/ The 400 Blows (1959) / The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)/ Monsoon Wedding (2001) -Ch. 12 & Review all readings

21/2

Editing

28/2 8 6/3

RECESS Sound + MIDTERM EXAM Film Style and Film Genres Screening week e-learning week Film analysis Film history & Course review

13/3

10 11 12 13

20/3 27/3 3/4 10/4

TBD

FINAL EXAM

31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: +65 6790 4577, Fax: +65 6791 5214 www.ntu.edu.sg/sci