Filmstudies 113

Department of Film Studies
http://www.sbcc.net/academic/film
Filmst 113-Intro to Experimental Film -Syllabus
Santa Barbara City College
Spring 2008

Instructor:
Stephen W. DaVega, MFA
Chair, Multimedia Arts and Technologies

E-Mail:              davega@sbcc.net
Voice Mail:       965-0581 ext. 3570
Office:          A175, SOMA Dac Lab
Office Hours:     30min Before/After Class- Friday 1-3 A175
Lab/Lecture     6:00-8:05   Tues/Thur   A160
Reader:     Linda Wallin- email: linda.wallin@hotmail.com

INTRO: This class is an introductory course on film, analyzing the stylistic and thematic tendencies of a wide range of representative cinema. We will examine techniques, theories, genres and the "language" of this art form. Emphasis will be on the relationship between cinematic techniques and thematic intentions, the form and function of the filmic space.

SITE: http://soma.sbcc.edu/users/davega/FILMST_113/

TEXT: A History of Experimental Film and Video, British Film Institute ( ISBN 0851706819)-
Experimental Film And Video: An Anthology, John Libbey & Company (ISBN-0861966643)

ASSIGMENTS/ TESTS: Class work will consist of:
1. Quizzes. 2 50pts per/[100pts]
2. Mid-term- Multiple choice, fill in the blank, short essay. [50pts]
3. 2 Short Analytical Papers- The analytical paper should be between 2-5 typed pages and be based on the films viewed during the course. Papers will be due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. 50pts per/[100pts per paper]
4. Final exam- Multiple choice, essay. 50pts
5. Participation/Attendance- Participation during class discussion/lecture is expected. [100pts]
6. Extra Credit- Organized/well kept note book on films/lectures [100pts]

TOTAL=500pts

GRADES: Grades will be based on attendance, participation and all the assigned written work (i.e. assignments, papers
midterms and final exam). The quizzes, midterms and final exams will be based on class lectures, assigned reading and the scheduled films. Poor attendance will result in being dropped from the class or a lowing of your grade.. If you miss 2 unexcused class meetings, your grade will be dropped an entire grade. To be counted present you must be here the ENTIRE class meeting. Late papers will NOT be accepted. Plagiarism will result in an automatic "F" grade..

EXTRA CREDIT: A learning log which records impression questions and interpretation of the assigned films as well as responses. The learning log should also contain summaries of all of the assigned reading and lecture notes. This should be legible or typed.

GRADES: Grades will be based on attendance and all of the assigned written work, i.e. exams and papers. Students with poor attendance will be dropped or have their grades lowered. 3 unexcused absences will equal 1 full letter grade. All textual reading are to be read by the assigned dates. Late papers will NOT be accepted. Plagiarism will result in an Automatic "F" grade.

Schedule of Films and Chapter Readings: (dates may change / films subject to change)

Week 1: Jan/Feb.
28
LECTURE: Introduction. Realism vs Formalism. Fillm
Terms/History
FILM: Dickson Experimental Sound Film/Baraka (Fricke 1992)
TEXT: Handouts on Dickson
30
LECTURE: Realism/ Image as Placeholder of Authority
Film Movements/ History
FILM: Baraka (Fricke 1992) / Chelovek s kinoapparatom (Vertov 1929)
TEXT: Handout Vertov Bio/Review

Week 2:Feb.
4
LECTURE: Film Mechanics/ Materials/ Gauges/ 3 Phases of Production/ 3 Phases of Business/ etc. How experimental sits outside the process and insideFILM: / Excerpts from Chelovek s kinoapparatom (Vertov, 1929)
TEXT: Handout on History of Experimental Cinema
6
LECTURE: France 1919-30/Man Ray, Léger & Murphy
FILM: Oskar Fischinger/Fantasia (Man Ray Movies/Doc)/Viking Eggling "Diagonale"
TEXT: Handouts on Fischinger

Week 3: Feb.
11
LECTURE: Dada (Perry) Duchamp, Clair
FILM: "Ballet Machanique", "Entre' Act "-Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry
TEXT: Handout on Ballet Mechanique
13
LECTURE: Impressionism Dulac, Kirsanoff, Epstein, Gance
FILM : In this World (Winterbottom 2002)/Zero de Conduite
TEXT: Handout on "In This World"
HANDOUT OF 1st Short PAPER SUBJECTS/Assigment

Week 4: Feb.
18
LECTURE: USSR 1925-30 (Tsivian) Dziga Vertov, Eisenstein
FILM: "Odessa Steps" /Nevsky/Rose Hobard
TEXT:
20
LECTURE: Germany 1919-30 P 2 (Kaes) Expressionism, Wiene German Expressionism/Film Noir, Musicals, Sound
FILM: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene 1920) w/commentary)
TEXT: NONE

Week 5: Feb.
25     LECTURE: Surrealism/Man Ray, Cocteau
(Andrew) Buñuel & Dalí
FILM: Excerpts from Un Chien Andalou (Dali and Bunuel 1929)/Dada
TEXT:
27
LECTURE: Eggeling, Richter, Fischinger, Ruttmann
FILM: TBA
TEXT: None

Week 6: Mar.
3
LECTURE: 1920s-1930s O 5 Watson & Webber,           Steiner, Cornell FILM: Casablanca (Curtiz, 1943)
TEXT: None
5
LECTURE: Abstract Film
FILM: Jordon Belson Compilation
TEXT: Handouts on Jordon Belson

Week 7: Mar.
10
LECTURE: Animation: Lye, McLaren
FILM: Films Comp of McClaren "Neibors", "Paux de Dues"
Canadian National Film Board Animation (Norman McLaren)
TEXT: Handouts on Lye and Mclaren
12
LECTURE: U.S. 1940s (Pruitt) Deren Maya Deren and legacy of Surrealism
FILM: Meshes of The Afternoon (Maya Deren, 1943)
TEXT: None
1st PAPER DUE

Week 8: Mar.
17
LECTURE: Experimental Narrative
FILM: "The Red Ballon", "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
TEXT: Handouts on Red Ballon and Owl Creek
HANDOUT of PAPER TOPICS 2nd Paper
19
MIDTERM /Quiz

Week 9: Mar.
24
LECTURE: Chris Maker/French Newwave
FILM: La Jetee (Marker, 1963), Discussion of La Jetee
French New Wave
TEXT: On Goddard
26
LECTURE: Andy Warhol
FILM: "Blowjob", "Empire", "Bikeboy", "Chelsea Girls"
TEXT:Handouts on Warhol and Structurlism

Week 10: Mar/Apriil
31     SPRING BREAK (March 31st- April 5th)
2      SPRING BREAK (March 31st- April 5th)

Week 11: April.
7
LECTURE: Flux Group, Ant Farm Group
FILM: Fluxus Films, Ant Farm "Cadillac Ranch", "Media Burn"
TEXT: Handouts on Fluxus and Ant Farm
9
LECTURE: American New Wave
FILM: "Decade Under the Influence" The 400 Blows (Traffaut, 1959), discussion of The 400 Blows Excerpts from Shadows (Cassevettes 1961)
TEXT: None

Week 12: April.
14
LECTURE: Stan Brakage and Filmstudies/Academia
FILM: Moth Light, Dogstarman and other films (Stan Brakage, 1963)
Excerpts from Triumph des Willens (1934, Riefenstahl )
TEXT:
16
LECTURE: TBA
FILM: Swimming to Cambodia, Naim June Paik
TEXT: None

Week 13: April.
21
LECTURE: TBA
FILM: Sans Solei (Chris Marker), Bill Viola
TEXT: None
23
LECTURE: TBA
FILM: Poto and Cabango (J.P Gorin), Laurie Anderson
TEXT: None

Week 14: April.
28
LECTURE: TBA
FILM: The Brothers Quay
TEXT: None
30
LECTURE: TBA
FILM: Gummo,
TEXT:

Week 15 May.
5
LECTURE:
FILM: Matthew Barney
7
LECTURE: Post-Moderism/ Blade Runner as Filmstudies   Playground/
FILM: Powaquasi
2nd PAPER DUE

Week 16 May
12     TBA
14      REVIEW FINAL

Week 17 May.
19        FINAL A160- 6:00pm-8:30/Turn in Notebook
(Bring small blue book)