Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CA 135 OL01

Introduction to Cinema (3)

Class Number: 6212

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to the techniques, styles and forms of cinema in order to develop the skills with which to analyze films of all genres. Through lectures and screenings, it will provide an overview of the social, aesthetic and technical development of motion pictures, introducing tools for the formal analysis of the elements of cinema: cinematography and lighting, art direction, performance, editing, sound and the screenplay. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course introduces students to the foundations of cinema studies through an historical survey of the moving image from the nineteenth century to the present. By examining a diverse range of films across genres, movements, and national cinemas, students will develop a critical understanding of film form, aesthetics, and historical context. In its approach to the art of film, the course emphasizes close technical and critical analysis, historical and theoretical engagement, and cultural critique. Each weekly module will be structured around a core focus or concept and anchored by one or more case study films. Among the filmmakers we will study: George Miller, Robert Wiene, Alice-Guy Blaché, Akira Kurosawa, Vittorio de Sica, Wong Kar-wai, Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, Jane Campion, Coralie Fargeat, Chris Marker, Trinh T. Minh-ha, Sarah Polley, Marie Clements, Alfred Hitchcock, and Chantal Akerman.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students will:

  • Have an understanding of key concepts in film analysis, including cinematography, editing, mise-en-scè€ne, and sound.
  • Be able to analyze films in relation to their historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts.
  • Develop skills in written and multimedia-based film criticism.

Grading

  • Weekly Pre-Module Reading Quizzes 30%
  • Weekly Post-Module Lecture and Viewing Quizzes 30%
  • Midterm Audiovisual Essay Assignment: Shot-by-Shot Analysis 20%
  • Final Audiovisual Essay Assignment: Critical Analysis 20%

NOTES:

Course Format:

This course will be conducted online, using a mix of asynchronous video lectures, readings, and assignments. Excluding the introductory lecture and the week 7 midterm assignment, each weekly module will be accompanied by two forms of assessment: 1) a preliminary quiz related to the readings; and 2) a secondary quiz related to the lecture content and the case study films. These quizzes will be open for a specific window of time on Canvas, so please be sure to stay on top of the material; missed quizzes cannot be made up. The midterm and final assignments will be uploaded to Canvas as multimodal audiovisual essays and will be assessed through a process of peer review. Please note that this course will be piloting a new version of Canvas Cloud, accessible through a different web address than normal Canvas courses at SFU; instructions for accessing the material will be sent to students before the start of classes.

In preparation for each class, students are expected to have completed the assigned readings and viewed the assigned film(s) before accessing the week’s lectures and other recordings/materials.

Most films are available to screen for free through two SFU Library streaming services: Criterion on Demand (COD); or Kanopy. Where films are not accessible via SFU Lib, I will indicate alternative platforms, some of them completely open access (e.g., NFB), some of them available through a free trial period.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Timothy Corrigan and Patricia White, The Film Experience: An Introduction, sixth edition (New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020).

The e-book version of this text will be available for purchase through the SFU Bookstore.
ISBN: 9781319324216

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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.