TCF 340 Section 001: International Cinema

Jeremy Butler Office: 486B Phifer Office hours: TT 3:15-5:00, & by appt. 348-6350

jbutler@ua.edu www.tcf.ua.edu/jbutler

Study of motion pictures produced throughout the world. Subjects may change each time course is offered.

Or permission of instructor.

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.

Your progress will be assessed through:

1. An analytical exercise based upon the principles discussed in Bordwell and Thompson's Film Art. Worth 15 points.
2. Midterm and final exams. Early exams will not be given. Each is worth 35 points, for a total of 70.
3. Participation in class discussions and exercises. Worth 5 points.
4. 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 and the essay will be due at the final exam period. It must be word-processed and, if necessary, properly footnoted. Worth 10 points.

Students may earn 3 extra credit points by providing frames for Shot Logger. For the latter, follow this VLC media player tutorial and then submit your files to Dr. Butler by the Friday of Study Week.

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

Grades will be posted on eLearning.

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

Please browse to the online course schedule.

All films will be shown on DVD and Blu-Ray disc in class. There will be no other class screenings of the programs, but copies of most films will be placed on reserve in the CIS Reading Room. Also, local video stores do carry a few of the titles, many are available through NetFlix, and two or three of them are included in the audio-visual section of the Gorgas Library.

Credits are available from the Internet Movie Database. Follow the links below to find credits.

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

Cell phones must be turned off during classtime--especially during screenings. Text messaging is not permitted during class. Any use of cell phones during exams will be considered academic misconduct.

College of Communication & Information Sciences majors must earn a "C" or better in all required and elective courses in their major. A "C" or better is required in all external courses required by the major whether they serve as a prerequisite to a major course or are simply required by the major. This means a "C" of any kind.

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 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East 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, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

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 expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

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