Fall 2022 - CA 316 E100
Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4)
Class Number: 7068
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Tue, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Joseph Clark
jec10@sfu.ca
Office: GCA 3355
Office Hours: Students are encouraged to visit me during my office hours or by appointment. The best way to reach me is always via email
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Prerequisites:
Nine units in CA (or FPA) courses including CA (or FPA) 136 or 137.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An intermediate course in critical studies in cinema addressing a variety of topics. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Students with credit for CA (or FPA) 337 may take this course for further credit if the topic is different.
COURSE DETAILS:
Since the industrial revolution, human activity has altered the conditions of life on earth so profoundly that scientists have begun to refer to this epoch of planetary history as the Anthropocene. The beginning of this era in earth history coincides almost exactly with the history of cinema. This course examines the relationship between cinema and humanity's impact on the natural world. We will look at how cinema has reflected and shaped human relations with our environment. How has cinema been used a means to discover and better understand the natural world? How has cinema been used to imagine the landscape and to create alternate landscapes? And in an age of climate crisis how does film represent and address that crisis? To address these questions we'll examine a variety of genres and cinematic modes from blockbuster films like Mad Max Fury Road to the slapstick comedies of Buster Keaton, from environmental documentaries to science fiction.
Grading
- Weekly Film Journal 20%
- Travelogue research project 20%
- Midterm Exam 20%
- Final Essay 30%
- Participation 10%
NOTES:
216 vs 316
It is very important that students understand whether they are enrolled in CA216 or CA316. Some weeks we will break into discussion groups based on your enrollment and students registered in CA316 will need to complete additional research and other requirements for course assignments.
Film Journal
Students will submit a weekly journal based on the screening and readings for that week. These journal entries are an opportunity to reflect on and react to the films we watch. Entries should be about 200 words. They will be graded pass/fail (10%) and the lowest 2 grades will be dropped at the end of the semester (so if you miss a class due to illness etc you do not need to make them up).
Journal entries can be about any aspects of the films and readings – they do not need to be formal essays. There are no rules for these journals, but the best entries will be ones that demonstrate reflection on both the readings and screenings.
Twice during the semester (February 1 and April 5) students select (and, if you choose, rewrite) one of their journal entries and submit it for formal evaluation (5% each).
Final essay
Students will have the opportunity to choose their own topic for their final essay. For students in CA216 your topic should be primarily based on the films we have watched for class and concepts from course readings. Students in CA316 will write a research paper and be required to submit a bibliography with at least 10 academic sources in addition to course readings. Additional guidelines for the final essay will be provided later in the semester.
Assignments
All assignments should be submitted on the day they are due. Extensions will be granted only in advance and under exceptional circumstances. Unless you have negotiated an extension with me, late assignments will be graded down each day (i.e. B+ becomes a B, etc). Students must complete all exams and assignments in order to pass the course.
Attendance and Participation
As discussion is a big part of the course, attendance and participation in lecture, screenings, and discussion will be crucial to your success and the success of the class overall. Come to class having completed all the readings and prepared to discuss them and the films thoughtfully with your classmates. If for any reason you miss a class, you are responsible for seeing the film on your own. Most -- not all – films will be on reserve or available online.
Academic integrity and dishonesty
Students are responsible for understanding and following SFU’s standards of academic integrity. You are strongly encouraged to complete the plagiarism tutorial on Canvas in the first week of the semester.
Students are encouraged to consult the following websites for more information and for links to the policies that govern academic integrity at SFU:
http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/academic-integrity/plagiarism
https://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html
Writing assistance
It is difficult to provide all the support necessary for learning to write well in this course. Feel free to see me or Yani during office hours to discuss your papers. We don't however have time to edit your papers or provide help with serious problems with writing, grammar or usage. All students can benefit from seeking assistance at the Learning Commons in the library. You can make an appointment to discuss your papers there. Visit http://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc for more information.
Additional resources – especially useful for those who speak/write English as an additional language – can be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
A final note on computer use in class: In this class we will be watching lots of films – during film screenings the use of illuminated screens is very distracting to other students. For this reason, students must put away all electronic devices whenever the lights are lowered for film screenings. Laptops and other devices may be used for note taking or other class related uses during lectures only when the lights are on.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Jennifer Fay, Inhospitable World: Cinema in the Time of the Anthropocene (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2018)
ISBN: 9780190696788
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html