Course Outline for Art History 3
Film History and Appreciation

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 09/12/2021
Catalog Description:

ARTH 3 - Film History and Appreciation

3.00 Units

This course aims to immerse students in three key foundations of film: its history; its artistry; and its interpretation. For the history portion we cover the invention of film through the first widespread use of color (1878 to 1939). For the artistry portion we cover essential technical and formal elements of film-making. For the interpretation portion we cover the conventions and social functions of different film genres. These topics are presented through slide-illustrated lectures and screenings of films (and film clips) from many countries of origin, providing lessons in global approaches to the artform. ARTH 3 is especially appropriate for visual learners.
1002.00 - Art
Optional
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. recount the history of film's invention;
  2. describe film scenes using the correct technical and formal vocabulary;
  3. name the genre conventions used in feature films and explain the social function of those genres;
  4. interpret film as an informed observer using correct critical, genre-specific vocabulary.
Course Content:

1.    Introduction

A.  3-part organization of the course

a.  history of film

b.  film as an artform

c.  appreciating and interpreting film

B.  What’s in a name: film, cinema, or movies?


2.    History Part I:  Invention of film

A.  state of basic photographic technology, c. 1875

B.  Eadweard Muybridge, Leland Stanford, Sallie Gardner

C.  zoetrope

D.  Persistence of Vision


3.    History Part II: Early Development of Film

A.  zoopraxiscope

B.  Animal Locomotion

C.  L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat, 1895

D.  George Eastman, celluloid film

E.  Thomas Edison, W.K.L. Dickson, Kinetoscope

F.  cinematograph


4.    History Part III: Later Developments in Film

A.  sound

a.  how to watch and appreciate silent film

b.  early sound technologies: Kinetophone to Movietone

c.  The Jazz Singer, 1927

B.  color

a.  1895 - 1902 = tint and hand-color

b.  1903 – 1932 = additive color process

c.  1932 to present = subtractive color process (technicolor)

d.  The Wizard of Oz, 1939

C.  editing

a.  film as narrative and the power of storytelling

b.  Kuleshov Effect

c.  Voyage Dans La Lune, 1902

d.  Birth of a Nation, 1915:  icon of American film and icon of racist America


5.    Artistry Part I: Formal Elements

A.  time

a.  run time

b.  story time

c.  internal structural time

B.  space

a.  frame

b.  cinematic illusion

c.  spatial continuity

C.  sound

a.  score

b.  soundtrack

c.  Foley

D.  camera

a.  shot types

b.  placement

c.  position

d.  movement

E.  lens

a.  framing

b.  depth of field                   


6.    Artistry Part II: Film Genres

A.  the collective experience of film

B.  social function of genres

C.  major genres

D.  subgenres and hybrids


7.    Appreciation/Interpretation Part I: Suspense/Thriller

A.  fundamental conventions of suspense/thrillers

B.  social function/role of the suspense/thriller


8.    Appreciation/Interpretation Part II: War

A.  fundamental conventions of the war film

B.  social function/role of the war film


9.    Appreciation/Interpretation Part III: Western

A.  fundamental conventions of the Western

B.  social function/role of the Western


10.  Appreciation/Interpretation Part IV: Horror

A.  fundamental conventions of horror films

B.  social function/role of the suspense/thriller


11.  Appreciation/Interpretation Part V: Fantasy

A.  fundamental conventions of the fantasy film

B.  social function/role of fantasy


12.  Appreciation/Interpretation Part VI: Science Fiction

A.  fundamental conventions of science fiction films

B.  social function/role of science fiction


13.  Appreciation/Interpretation Part VII: Drama

A.  fundamental conventions of drama

B.  social function/role of dramas

Methods of Instruction:
  1. Distance Education
  2. Film screenings
  3. Slide-illustrated lecture/discussion
  4. Video and film-clip illustrated lecture/discussion
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Keep an annotated film journal
  2. Identify the shot types in a sample film clip
  3. Find and identify the genre conventions used in a feature film
  4. Tie an interpretation of a film's message or meaning to its formal elements
  1. Class Participation
  2. Journals
  3. Written assignments
  4. Exams/Tests
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. recount the history of film's invention;
  2. describe film scenes using the correct technical and formal vocabulary;
  3. find and identify the genre conventions used in a feature film;
  4. interpret film as an informed observer using correct genre-specific vocabularies.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Thompson, Kristin; Bordwell, David; Smith, Jeff (2022). Film History: An Introduction McGraw-Hill.
  • If course is taken online, students must have a computer with internet access, they must be registered for the Canvas MLS, and they must also register for the Kanopy film streaming service through the Chabot College library. Both Canvas and Kanopy are available at no cost to students.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course aims to immerse students in three key foundations of film: its history; its artistry; and its interpretation. For the history portion we cover the invention of film through the first widespread use of color (1878 to 1939). For the artistry portion we cover essential technical and formal elements of film-making. For the interpretation portion we cover the conventions and social functions of different film genres. These topics are presented through slide-illustrated lectures and screenings of films (and film clips) from many countries of origin, providing lessons in global approaches to the artform. ARTH 3 is especially appropriate for visual learners.