DOCUMENTARY FILM Steve
Lipkin
COM 4410 217
Sprau Tower
Fall 2007 387-3153;
steven.lipkin@wmich.edu
Office
Hours: TR 8:30-9:30; W 2-3
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~lipkin
username: kubrick
password: camera
Documentary Film surveys the
development of the non-fiction film from the decades of the early 1920's and
1930's to present day. This survey will
focus on four key periods in the development of film as a document or record of
twentieth century life:
a. Flaherty
vs. Grierson:
basic philosophies inherent in
film style
b. Social
theorist documentarians contemporary and subsequent
to Grierson
c. "Direct"
cinema or cinema verite
d. Contemporary
film/tv documentary styles
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To define
and assess the functions of films that serve as social documents.
2. To study
the historical development of documentary film.
3. To relate
documentary film theory and practice in each major period of historical development.
4. To assess
the mutual influence of TV and film technology on
contemporary
documentary activity.
TEXTS: Ellis,
Jack, and McLane, B. A New History of Documentary
Film.
Nichols, Bill. Introduction to Documentary
REQUIREMENTS:
a. There
will be a mid-term (10/11 - 50 points) and a final exam
(12/10—10:15-12:15 pm -- 100 points)
b. Two (2) papers (50 points each) analyzing nonfiction
films. Due dates
to be announced.
c.
In-class writing (5-10 points each) covering readings and discussion
d. Attendance.
e. This
course involves an extensive amount of writing, including the
two film analysis
papers (average length of 5-7 pages) and two
essay examinations.
Because
this is a writing intensive course in accordance with the university's
baccalaureate-level writing policy, one objective is to improve the quality
of your writing. I expect writing
quality (grammar, clarity, organization, spelling, and punctuation) of senior
or graduate quality. The quality of
writing will determine the upper limit of any grade assigned to your papers.
ATTENDANCE:
Since much of the work of
this class is impossible to make up (e.g., film screenings; discussions) your
attendance is extremely important. After
one (1) unexcused absence, your final grade will be lowered ten (10) points for
each subsequent unexcused absence.
There will be a sign-in
sheet on the stage in front of the room--make sure you initial it when you come
in.
GRADING: EXAM POLICY:
The grading scale for this
course (both for individual assignments and for your final grades) is based on
the following percentages:
94-100 A 70-75 C
88- 93
BA 64-69 DC
82- 87 B 58-63 D
76- 81 CB
SCREENINGS SCHEDULE*:
9/6 Nanook of the North
9/11 Night Mail
9/13 Las Hurdes
9/18 Listen To
9/20 The River
9/25 The City
9/27 Triumph of the Will
10/2 Prelude to War
10/4
10/9 Night and Fog
10/11 Midterm
10/16 Thursday’s Children
1018 Point of Order
10/23 Harvest of Shame
10/25 Rosie the Riveter
10/30 Primary
11/1
11/6;
11/8 Hearts and Minds
11/13;
11/15 The Thin Blue Line
11/20 TBA (via class ballot)
11/27 TBA
11/29
12/4;
12/6 TBA
*Tentative: subject to change