Celluloid Summer

Course Evaluations

2004-07-20T18:11:00.001-04:00

I forgot to mention that course evaluations are now available online. Go to the following URL to fill out evaluations: http://www.coursesurvey.gatech.edu/student_login.cfm

Thanks!

Final Terms

2004-07-20T18:11:00.000-04:00

Here are the terms from teh student presentations. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and terms may come from the textbook or from my lectures.

Technicolor
Rosie the Riveter
Vincente Minnelli
RKO studios
William Randolph Hearst
Works Progress Administration
Gregg Toland
Errol Morris
Philip Glass
Interrotron
"Dr. Death"
Film Noir
1948 Paramount Decision
Philip K. Dick
Postmodernism
Blaxploitation
Oscar Micheaux
Julie Dash
Chris Marker

The Last Angel of History

2004-07-16T16:55:00.000-04:00

This might be too little too late, but The Eyedrum is showing The Last Angel of History, an important new film about "the hitherto unexplored relationships between Pan-African culture, science fiction, intergalactic travel, and rapidly progressing computer technology."

The screening takes place tonight (Friday night) at 9 PM.

Do the Right Thing Lecture Notes

2004-07-15T10:55:00.000-04:00

Here are some very helpful lecture notes from another instructor on Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. You might scan through them to have another perspective on Lee's craftsmanship in this film.

Do the Right Thing

2004-07-12T18:28:00.000-04:00

This week's film is Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. In addition to the film, I'll inlcude one reading on electronic reserve, but I'd also like you to take a look at this poem by Ai, "Riot Act, April 29, 1992," which speaks to some of the issues in Lee's film.

Errol Morris Interview

2004-07-08T13:44:00.000-04:00

Those students writing on Errol Morris might be interested in this interview (PDF file) from Cineaste.

Blade Runner

2004-07-06T22:10:00.000-04:00

Have been having Blogger issues, but here's a chance to comment on Blade Runner.

Be sure to read the essays on Blade Runner available on electronic reserve.

Weekend Movies

2004-07-05T12:34:00.001-04:00

Did anyone see Spiderman 2? Fahrenheit 9/11? Any other movies? Leave comments and tell us what you thought.

New York Times Article on Documentary Film

2004-07-05T12:34:00.000-04:00

Here's a New York Times article on documentary (or nonfiction) film featuring an interview with Errol Morris.

David Harris News

2004-06-30T22:39:00.000-04:00

After our discussion of The Thin Blue Line this week, I thought you all migt be interested to know that David Harris, now 43 years old, faces execution Wednesday for the murder he committed a couple of years after killing the police officer in Dallas.

The Lady from Shanghai

2004-06-29T22:07:00.000-04:00

Comments and questions about The Lady from Shanghai can go here.

Linda Williams Essay

2004-06-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

I've just submitted Linda Williams' essay, "Mirrors without Memories" to electronic reserve. It should be available no later than Wednesday. Wiliams provides even more background into the film and the decisions Morris made in constructing the plot of the film.

Fahrenheit 9/11

2004-06-21T22:46:00.001-04:00

Speaking of documentaries, Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 hits theaters on Friday. If anyone happens to see the film, I'd like to know what you think of it.

The Thin Blue Line

2004-06-21T22:46:00.000-04:00

This week's film is Errol Morris's The Thin Blue Line (1988). Morris recently won teh Academy Award for best documentary film for The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara. Comments are welcome about either film.

Also, The Thin Blue Line may not be as easy to find as Citizen Kane, so be sure to attend one of the screenings.

Some trivia on Morris: he often directs commercials between documentary projects, and recently directed some of teh commercials for Apple's "Switch" campaign.

Sans Soleil Article

2004-06-18T00:11:00.000-04:00

This is certainly not required reading, but as promised, here's a link to my article on Sans Soleil.

Citizen Kane

2004-06-14T21:18:00.001-04:00

This week's film will be Citizen Kane. Make sure that you read the materials I've placed on electronic reserve, selections from Robert Carringer's The Making of Citizen Kane ~~and from James Naremore's The Magic World of Orson Welles.~~

Comments, questions, or observations can go here.

Weekend Movie Experiences

2004-06-14T21:18:00.000-04:00

So, did anyone catch any movies this weekend? Feel free to read (or not) my reviews of Reconstruction and Everyday People, both of which I highly recommend. I'll be catching Control Room Tuesday night. What movies did you see?

Note: if you don't have access to the syllabus, email me and I'll send you another copy. If you need any of the other handouts, also let me know, and I'll be happy to send them along.

Iron Jawed Angels

2004-06-13T14:48:00.002-04:00

I received an email about a film screening on Monday, at Ashtons, a coffehouse and restaurant near downtown Decatur and thought I'd pass it along. I'd also encourage you all to consider catching some of the films in this week's Atlanta Film Festival. So far, both of the films I've seen have been outstanding.

Free screening of Iron Jawed Angels, a film about the fight for the right to vote. It is inspiring and should generate good conversation and renewed interest in voting. There
will also be individual made to order gourmet pizzas, so come early and enjoy. Iron Jawed Angels recounts for a modern audience a key chapter in U.S. history: the story of suffragists who fought for the right to vote. The movie focuses on two young women, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, and their fight to build on the previous work of the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

Monday June 14th at 7:30 pm
Ashton's
314 E Howard Ave Decatur, GA
Decatur, GA 30030
404-378-6310

Textbook Website

2004-06-12T16:15:00.000-04:00

I just received an email announcing the launch of a companion website for Corrigan and White's textbook. Take a look around and let me know what you think.

Imperial Dogs

2004-06-10T15:28:00.000-04:00

For entertainment purposes only: Quentin Tarantino and Star Wars fans may appreciate this. Here's a link to Imperial Dogs, a mashup of Reservoir Dogs and Star Wars (via Boing Boing). Some cool songs and animation.

Atlanta Film Festival

2004-06-08T17:04:00.000-04:00

Here's some information about the Atlanta Film Festival, including a screening schedule. Here are the films I'm planning to watch, but I can also recommend Badassss!, especially if you like blaxploitation films, and Jonathan Demme's The Agronomist, a documentary about a Haitian journalist and freedom fighter, Jean Dominique.

If you get a chance to see any of the films at the festival, let us know.

Meet Me in St. Louis

2004-06-08T17:01:00.000-04:00

Observations? Questions? How do you read the film's use of mise-en-scene? Cinematography? Sound?

Also, a reminder: be sure to read the Beth Genne essay on electronic reserve. It's a valuabe reading of the film's opening sequence.

Partial Term List

2004-06-02T15:05:00.000-04:00

Here are the promised terms from student presentations. Keep in mind that this list does not include all of the possible terms that might be included in the identification section.

MPAA/CARA
High-Concept Film
Surrealism
Hays Code
Marlene Dietrich
VistaVision
Alfred Hitchcock
Male Gaze/Laura Mulvey

Bonnie and Clyde

2004-06-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

Discuss you reactions to Bonnie and Clyde here. If you're not sure what to address, take a look at the "Perspectives" questions and address one of the ideas there.

Hitchcock Cameos

2004-06-01T17:31:00.000-04:00

The Cameos of Alfred Hitchcock: In honor of our class discussion of Vertigo, I've linked to this website which has film stills showing 37 of the 41 Hitchcock cameos in his films. Via Rashomon.

I'll publish a list of major terms tonight (Tuesday) around 8 PM, including terms from class presentations. This list is not exhaustive (other terms may appear on the midterm).

Vertigo Film Stills

2004-06-01T00:14:00.000-04:00

Here a few film stills from Vertigo. We may have an opportunity to take a look at these stills during class discussion Tuesday.

Weekend Movie Experiences

2004-05-31T22:11:00.000-04:00

I went to see Coffee and Cigarettes and Lost Boys of Sudan this weekend. What films did you see? What did you notice about the films you watched? How did the mise-en-scene or cinematography function within the film?

Here's a free entry if you haven't been commenting lately (or even if you have).

Midterm News

2004-05-29T17:54:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I'll be posting the midterm questions here on Sunday afternoon for students who are interested.

I will not be providing you with the full midterm study guide until class on Tuesday, but I do want to alert you to the fact that you should know the names of the directors of all teh films and their dates of production. You should also know the names of key figures associated with each of the films, as well as prominent cultural, social, and political factors that may have informed the production of each of the films we have watched.

Stay tuned for more information on the midterm.

Finally, I'm still finding that students are falling behind on contributing comments to the blog. If you do not participate in the comments section, it will negatively affect your class participation grade. The entries below are still open for further comments on the films we've seen.

Cindy Sherman

2004-05-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

Several articles we've discussed have mentioned Cindy Sherman's project, "Untitled Film Stills." Sherman is major contemporary photographer, and this project has often been mentioned because of the way it calls atention to the ways in which gender identity is constructed in film.

Here's a short post about Sherman from Feministing.

Vertigo Comments

2004-05-25T20:20:00.000-04:00

Comment here on Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

Some Maya Deren Notes

2004-05-25T00:20:00.000-04:00

I've done a little digging, and it turns out that one of the music videos that uses visual elements based on Meshes of the Afternoon is Milla Jovovich's "Men Who Fell." Here's the story. For one very insightful interpretation of Deren's film, take a look at Wendy Halsem's essay from "Senses of Cinema."

I'll refresh your memory on Deren's film in class, but we'll spend most of our discussion talking about elements of mise-en-scene.

Marlene Dietrich Images

2004-05-25T00:04:00.000-04:00

Here are a few sites with film stills, promotional pictures, and posters of Marlene Dietrich. Blonde Venus must be understood in part through the star system that constructed Dietrich's image (as well as MD's own ability to manipulate her image within that system).

Weekend Viewing Experiences

2004-05-24T14:44:00.000-04:00

I went to see Morgan Spurlock's documentary, Super Size Me, this weekend. What movies did you see? What did you think? How did the promotional or advertising materials affect your viewing experience? Did anyone else see Super Size?

What other film topics (Cannes Film Festival, Michael Moore's new film) have you been following this weekend?

Note: For comments you can use basic HTML (italics, hyperlinks, bold, etc.).

Peidmont Film Series

2004-05-22T12:37:00.000-04:00

Crit Bennett left a comment mentioning the Peidmont Film Series. Just thought I'd put it up front. Comments on these films/the film series are welcome.

Hey, I wanted to let the class know about the summer film screenings at Peidmont this summer. No, they're not doing 'Dark Side of the Rainbow', but Turner Classic Movies is showing free screenings in the park. Starting June 3 and continuing every Thursday at sunset.

June 3 - Young Frankenstein

June 10 - Barefoot in the Park (with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda on-hand to introduce the film)

June 17 - The Sound of Music

June 24 - Psycho

July 1 - The Wizard of Oz (I'm gonna bring 'Dark Side of the Moon' on CD and listen to it during the film)

If anyone wants to come on out, bring a cooler with your favorite beverage(s) and a blanket.

Info at http://www.piedmontpark.org/do/SOG_EVENT.html

Blonde Venus Comments

2004-05-18T16:59:00.000-04:00

Open discussion on Blonde Venus. Observations, questions, and comments all welcome.

Also a quick reminder for students who didn't attend the class screening: there are several versions of Blonde Venus, and the opening sequence, with the women swimming in the lake was not on the film as it appeared in Hollywood.

Meshes Discussion Forum

2004-05-18T16:57:00.000-04:00

Offer your comments, questions, or observations about Meshes of the Afternoon here.

Blonde Venus and Meshes

2004-05-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that we will be viewing Blonde Venus and Meshes of the Afternoon this week in film class. These films may be harder to find, especially at chain video stores. I'll try to make a copy of each film available on reserve in the library, but I may have to wait until Thursday to do that.

I will also place on electronic reserve the Peter Baxter essay on Blonde Venus as well as a short collection of materials on Meshes. This material isn't required, but it might help you to negotiate a somewhat challenging experimental film. You should also be prepared to discuss the chapter on mise-en-scene on Thursday.

From now on, you are encouraged to include any observations about the films in the comments below each entry.

Open Discussion

2004-05-17T12:12:00.000-04:00

Here's an open thread where you can discuss any movies that you might have seen this weekend.

Also note that I've fixed the comments section so that you don't have to register to use them.

Film Screenings

2004-05-13T13:57:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to mention that Deborah Stoner has offered to host alternate screenings of the films for class. The screenings will usually be held on Tuesday or Wednesday night. You can contact her at gtg320r[at]mail[dot]gatech[dot]edu for more information.

Readings for Tuesday

2004-05-13T11:29:00.000-04:00

If you haven't read this week's reading assignments, you should do so by Tuesday of next week. On Tuesday, we will be discussing Chapter 1 of Timothy Corrigan and Patricia White's The Film Experience: An Introduction (FE, from now on) and Jon Lewis's essay, "Those Who Disagree Can Kiss Jack Valenti's Ass."

As you read both texts, try to keep track of some of the key terms from the chapters. Corrigan and White are especially valuable in introducing the effects of distribution, advertising, and publicity in shaping our interpretation of a film. One of the concepts to consider while you read: Think about films that you have seen recently (or plan to see). How was that film promoted? How did you become aware of it? What information did you get from the trailers? How was the film publicized in magazines? On television? When you're ready, respond to some of these questions (or to previous comments) in the comments section below.

Responding in the comments is considered to be a component of your class participation. Comments can be relatively brief (100 words or so), and you should plan to comment approximately once a week.

First Post

2004-05-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

This is the first post in my course weblog for LCC 2500, Introduction to Film. In this blog I will make announcements about the course, refer to local film festivals and events, and mention articles relevant to English 2500. Students and visitors are encouraged to comment. Actually students will be required to comment occasionally, but that's another story.

This week's movie is Robert Altman's 1992 film, The Player, starring Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, and Peter Gallagher. Keep coming back for more updates and a complete set of links to the films we'll be watching this semester, as well as links to prominent film and media websites.