Hu 300

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Hu 300

• Unit 8

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• Unit 8 Overview
• Cinema
• Whether its a sci-fi thriller or a documentary,
  films employ many humanities elements. In this
  unit well discover how film uses the elements of
  art, literature, music, myth, morality, and
  happiness in order to communicate its messages.

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• Before we start though I want to share my Upper
  Michigan slides for this weeks class
  introduction .

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Northern Michigan Slide of the Week
Sunset at Indian Lake Manistique, Michigan
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Northern Michigan Slide of the Week
Tranquility at Indian Lake Manistique, Michigan
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• Now we are going to get into our class topics
  for this week about Cinema.
• We will read about genres and examples of
  filmmaking, and study the impact upon audiences
  of this powerful medium of expression.

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• This week you will read about genres and examples
  of filmmaking, and study the impact upon
  audiences of this powerful medium of expression.
• Read the chapter "Cinema" in The Art of Being
  Human. Students can access PDF copies of the
  textbook in Doc Sharing.
• Also refer to the Web resources for this unit.

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• Additional Resources for Cinema
• A resource for short online films with various
  points of view POV
• Independent films that you can stream online
• An Oscar nominated cinematographer, Christian
  Berger, shows a series of images and discusses
  why a modern filmmaker might choose to work in
  Black and White, instead of in color.

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• Reading Read the chapter Cinema in your
  textbook.
• Web Resources View the Cinema resources.
• Discussion Participate in this week's
  Discussion. 50 points
• Seminar Participate in a synchronous discussion
  of unit concepts.

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• Question 1
• Watch the 20-minute short film Plastic Bag.
  http//futurestates.tv/episodes/plastic-bag
• As you watch, evaluate how the film demonstrates
  elements from (at least two other units in) this
  course. For example, are there mythic elements?
  How are images used as art? What is the story and
  can you relate to it? Does the film offer a moral
  dilemma? How does music function in the film? How
  is happiness is addressed?

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• Question 2
• You have been hired as a film critic. Choose a
  movie you have seen that either reinforces
  stereotypes about groups of people, or works to
  break down those stereotypes. For example, what
  is the films portrayal of soldiers, nurses,
  minority groups, or members of certain religions?
  You do not need to discuss these groups, but use
  this as a list to get you thinking. Take a
  critical view and discuss what evidence is
  presented that leads us to conclusions about one
  group of people in the film. It may be helpful to
  refer to Notes on Critical Viewing at the end
  of this weeks reading.

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• Write a brief review of this movie, including a
  summary of the plot, discussion of the treatment
  of groups in the film, an assessment of the
  overall message, and a star rating (1 out of 5,
  with 1 meaning Do not watch this film and 5
  meaning the film is strongly recommended). There
  is not a set length, but you must give the reader
  a clear understanding of your point, the
  connections, and what you believe they
  communicate.

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• The chapter discusses a variety of genres in
  film. In seminar, we will discuss these genres,
  as well as the purpose of film and its
  techniques.

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• Which genres appeal most to you? Are there some
  film genres that you have not seen? Why do some
  genres appeal while others do not?

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• What do you think the purpose of film is? Should
  it communicate a moral lesson? Should it merely
  entertain?

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• What impact do special effects have on a film? Do
  you need a strong plot and characters, or can
  special effects be sufficient?

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• Your Final Project for this course will be a
  virtual time capsule. A time capsule is a
  grouping of items for future discovery. For our
  purposes, we will imagine that our time capsule
  will be buried at the end of the course and
  opened 100 years later.

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• The goal of our capsule is to provide an overview
  of what you believe future generations should
  remember about the twentieth and early
  twenty-first centuries. The project can be
  composed in Microsoft Word or Powerpoint. It can
  include multimedia if you wish. It should include
  the following eight parts

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• A letter of introduction to tell someone in the
  future about your day-to-day life. What is your
  daily experience? Tell this person about your
  habits, your customs, your feelings about our
  present time, and your dreams for the future.
• An example of morality and decision-making in
  current culture in 100 words or more.

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• Your definition of happiness in 100 words or
  more, including how you came to this view. Next,
  you will also choose an artifact for each of the
  following areas (4-8). You will explain the item
  in one paragraph, giving it context, and
  describing it. Then spend at least one paragraph
  justifying its inclusion in the time capsule

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• Why is this item worth preserving for the future,
  and what does it communicate about our culture
  today? Why this object above all the other
  possibilities?

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• A significant literary work (poem, short story,
  play, or novel.)
• A significant example of art or architecture.
• A significant song or group of songs.
• A significant film.
• A significant item from popular culture (a toy,
  gadget, fad, etc.)

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• Your final project must be original work written
  for this class. This means that you must be the
  author (turning in a project written by someone
  else is plagiarism and will not be tolerated) and
  you must not have turned in your project (or
  another version of it) for a grade in another
  class.
• The final project will be due at the end of Unit
  9.

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• Are there any questions for me?

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• The End