.jpg)
History of Film
Modality: In-Person
Lectures: Wednesdays 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
North Campus, Room 2147
Professor Agustin Gonzalez
Office: North Campus Room 2235
Best way to reach me: Agonza29@mdc.edu *
*If you reach me with a question answered in the syllabus, I will reply with a link to the syllabus.
Office Hours
Mondays 12 PM - 3 PM (In-Person North or Remote)
Tuesday 5 PM - 8 PM (Remote Only)
Wednesday 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM (In-Person North or Remote)
Thursday 12 PM - 3 PM (In-Person Kendall or Remote)
Office hours help students seek clarification and support on assignments, discussions, lectures, and projects. Office hours are not, however, a substitute for missed classes. Though these are my official office hours, the remote environment affords me much additional flexibility throughout the week; if these hours do not work, please contact me, and I would be happy to accommodate you at a different time.
You can schedule an appointment using the following Calendly link: Schedule an appointment
I am here to help you and support you. Please talk to me should you have problems keeping up with the class.
Course Description and Competencies
An introductory level course in the history of the narrative feature-length motion picture, emphasizing American and European films.
Competency 1: The student will be able to identify and discuss major films in the medium's history.
Competency 2: The student will be able to identify and discuss major film movements in the U.S. and Europe.
Competency 3: The student will be able to critique films within their historical and cultural contexts.
Through the academic disciplines and co-curricular activities, MDC provides multiple, varied, and intentional learning experiences to facilitate the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and skills. MDC's Ten Learning Outcomes foster effective citizenship and life-long learning.
In addition to the competencies listed above, this class will require that you:
Learning Outcome 1: Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Learning Outcome 5: Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
Learning Outcome 9: Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
Textbook
A History of Film by Agustin Gonzalez
Our textbook for this class is an online learning resource, and it is mandatory. The reading and in-book exercises are part of your grade and weekly assignments. You will have three weeks to purchase the book before you have weekly deadlines for reading and in-book exercises. The faster you purchase it, the sooner you can catch yourself up with the material.
There are two ways to purchase the textbook.
You can purchase the access code directly from the MDC bookstore.
Or
You can purchase access directly from the publisher.
OPTION 1: Purchase Access Code From MDC Bookstore (North or Kendall).
Once you have a code from the bookstore, visit the publishers website: GRL Content
On the landing page you can register your code at the prompt pictured.
You will then be prompted to create an account. Make sure that you select the correct course section. To remind you, this course meets: Wednesdays 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
This option is more expensive, but it is covered by Financial Aid if you qualify.
OPTION 2: Purchase Book Directly from the Publisher.
Visit the publishers website: GRL Content
On the landing page you can begin the purchasing process at the prompt pictured.
You will then be prompted to create an account. Make sure that you select the correct course section. To remind you, this course meets: Wednesdays 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
This option is cheaper, but Financial Aid will not cover the purchase.
OPTION 3: You Are Repeating This Course.
If you have previously purchased the textbook and are repeating the course, please follow the instructions in the pdf at this link: PDF Instruction Link
Technology
For this class you are required to have a computer with an internet connection in order to access Canvas and your textbook.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. This class is in person with blended elements. We will meet weekly on campus for lectures and you will watch films at your convenience during the week.
Generally, absences in 3 or more classes result in a course failure.
Course Withdrawal
It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course. However, I reserve the right to withdraw students from the course if:
-
They are absent more than three times before the last day to withdraw from courses with a “W” grade per the Academic Calendar
-
They have not completed the majority of the required work before before the last day to withdraw from courses with a “W” grade per the Academic Calendar
Students who meet the above criteria will receive an email stating that they will be withdrawn from the course.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If students are suspected of classroom cheating, plagiarism, or otherwise misrepresenting their work, they will be subject to procedural due process as laid out in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• cheating on an examination;
• receiving help from others in work to be submitted, if contrary to the stated rules of the course;
• plagiarizing; that is, the taking and claiming as one's own the ideas, writings, or work of another, without citing the sources;
• submitting work from another course unless permitted by the instructor;
• stealing examinations or course materials;
• falsifying records;
• assisting anyone to do any of the above.
Disability Statement
Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services in confidence as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please inform me during the first week of classes if you need special accommodations due to a disability that might otherwise affect your performance in our class.
Success In This Class
Book Checkpoints and Quizzes: Complete all exercises and quizzes every week. It will help you study for the exams, and it will help you accumulate points to buffer your grade.
Tests: Do not underestimate them. Reading and being prepared is essential, even when they are at home and open book. Please do not leave them for the last minute.
Watching screenings: Be curious! You will be challenged to watch films you probably have not in this class. Watch and learn. It is the easiest thing that will be asked of you and what will add the most value.
Being on time for the lecture: Taking notes is essential. My lectures are outlines of the material you will need to know. I start lectures at class start time, and I tend to go off-book.
Assignment Philosophy
The assignments for this semester are designed to be accessible but will demand consistency and effort. Your success in the highly competitive entertainment industry, where over 2 million Visual & Performing Arts graduates emerge annually in the United States, depends on these principles.
Understanding the Competition:
-
Among these graduates, around 60,000 specifically pursue degrees in Film, with many more in hybrid Film & Television programs.
-
Your education is an integral part of your preparation for this competitive landscape.
Keys to Success in the Field:
Over your time as a student in this program, you will need to:
-
Develop High Literacy: This includes both written and verbal skills in the medium.
-
Appreciate All Movies: Cultivate a broad and deep understanding of the genre.
-
Build Industry Friendships: Network with peers and professionals for future collaboration.
-
Cultivate Impeccable Work Ethic: Be diligent and committed in all endeavors.
-
Establish a Reliable Reputation: Prove yourself as someone who consistently delivers quality work.
These foundational qualities will enable you to compete in the industry. While they may not guarantee success, they will pave the way for your pursuit of it.
Course Expectations and Policies:
-
No Late Work: Assignments must be submitted on time.
I view your work as a reflection of how you're building these essential skills, and as a testament to your ambition for success. I expect the best from you, and I'm here to support you. If life's challenges interfere with your work, please reach out so we can find a way to accommodate your situation.
Your success is our shared goal, and these guidelines are a roadmap to help you achieve it.
Weekly Assignment #1: Screenings
This term, we'll be exploring films on a weekly basis. I will provide access to these films through Canvas, and you can view them via the Kanopy or Swank library databases. To log into the library, simply use the same information you use to access your school email account. If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Weekly Assignment #2: Textbook Activities
Each chapter in your textbook contains activities and quizzes that must be completed by class start time every week. (The first three chapters will have a grace period.) Please be aware that some activities are short answers and will require time.
These activities are crucial to your preparation for course examinations. Quizzes will give you a total of three chances to answer questions correctly. You must answer the questions correctly to receive points.
Throughout the term, you can accumulate a maximum of 149 points for these assignments.
120 points come from quizzes.
29 points come from checkpoints.
Only your quizzes will count towards your grade. 120/120 = 100%
The checkpoints are this course's extra credit and can amount to 10% of your final class grade. The percentage extra credit will be based on correctness and completion. 29/29 = 100% of 10% Extra Credit.
However, you are advised that the checkpoints and the quizzes are an important tool at your disposal to review for the midterm and the final and I strongly suggest that you complete them all.
Exams: A Midterm and a Final
During the course, you'll be taking both a midterm and a final exam. These assessments will cover material from your textbook and lectures and will be administered through Blackboard. Note that the final exam will not include cumulative content from the entire course.
Exam Timing and Completion:
-
Duration: Each exam is timed at 2 hours and includes an auto-complete feature. Once you begin the exam, it must be completed within this time frame.
-
Availability: The exams will be accessible on a specific day. Please refer to the schedule below for specifics.
-
Preparation: While textbooks and notes are permissible during the exams, please be mindful of the time limit and prepare accordingly.
Responsibilities and Accommodations:
-
Timely Completion: It's your responsibility to complete the exams within the specified time and date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
-
Class Cancellation on Exam Days: There will be no class sessions on the days the exams are due.
-
Extra Time Accommodations: If you require additional time, please provide the necessary ACCESS services documentation, and arrangements can be made.
On my various syllabi you will find pictures and trailers for the films that defined my love of cinema. Hiroshima Mon Amour (1960) by Alain Resnais is the most beautiful film I have ever seen. It’s poetry. The most precious thing about it is that it speaks of collective and individual memory on the same scale. The question of how we live with the weight of memory is deeply personal. This film confronted me with this question, and though it took me some time to try and answer it, my journey to do so was as exhilarating as that portrayed by the characters.
Term Calendar
August 28 - Introduction to the course & Era of Discovery
Chapter 1 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 1 activities, including quiz. (Extended Deadline of September 18)
September 4 - Ending the Era of Discovery
Chapter 2 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 2 activities, including quiz. (Extended Deadline of September 18)
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Hugo.
September 11 - Two Visions of a Country
Chapter 3 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 3 Activities, including quiz. (Extended Deadline of September 18)
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Birth of a Movement.
September 18 - German Film from War to War
Chapter 4 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Metropolis
September 25 - Revolutionary Soviet Cinema
Chapter 5 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 5 Activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch The Cutting Edge
October 2 - Laughter is the Best Medicine
Chapter 6 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 6 Activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch City Lights
Midterm Opens
October 9 - Midterm due by 11:59 PM (No Class)
October 16 - A New Power Structure Emerges
Chapter 7 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 7 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Sunset Boulevard
October 23 - Warner Brothers and The Transition to Sound
Chapter 8 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 8 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Singing in the Rain
October 30 - Disney & Dali
Nothing Due
November 6 - The Minor Studios
Chapter 9 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 9 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
November 13 - The End of The Golden Age
Chapter 10 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 10 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Citizen Kane
November 20 - Oppositional Cinemas
Chapter 11 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 11 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch 400 Blows
November 27 - Hitchcock and Theory (No Class, Thanksgiving week)
Due by 11:59 PM: Watch North by Northwest
December 4 - The Modern Era
Chapter 12 Lecture
Due by Class Start Time: Read and complete Chapter 12 activities, including quiz.
Due by Class Start Time: Watch Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
December 11 - Final exam due by 11:59 PM
Grading
Textbook Quizzes 30%
Midterm 34%
Final 34%
Attendance 2%
Extra Credit textbook Checkpoints 10% Possible
Resources
Library: Nine libraries and several statewide resources comprise the Learning Resources at Miami Dade College, providing a stimulating learning environment that enhances the classroom experience through various services such as in-person tutoring, information literacy instruction, and informative workshops. Link to Library Website
Virtual Tutoring: Learning Resources offers students and faculty a wide array of supplemental assistance to ensure academic success Link to Virtual Tutoring.
Single Stop: Single Stop offers students a wide array of services, including public benefits screening, financial coaching, individual counseling, tax preparation, access to a food pantry, and various other services. All of our services are free to Miami Dade College students and their immediate family members. Link to Single Stop Website.
Mental Health Counseling: Counselors are available on campus during the day and after-hours throughout the week, including Saturdays. Students may receive up to 10 free hour-long sessions where they can speak confidentially with a licensed counselor. Sessions during the day may be held either in person (on campus), by phone, or virtually. When filling out the form, please select either daytime or after-hours counseling. Link to Mental Health Counseling Website.
SEDT Academic Advisors: Even as I am available to advise you on classes, SEDT offers in-depth academic planning through our two counselors.
James Van Voris: jvanvori@mdc.edu
He can also be reached at 305-237-1696