1 Lecture 1: Lecture 1: Taking an Online Course and Course Introduction Professor Aaron Baker

Associate Professor, Film and Media Studies, Arizona State University I teach courses in Film Studies, Film History and Cultural Theory. I have written books on sports films and director Steven Soderbergh. Currently, I am editing a collection of essays on filmmaker Martin Scorsese. 2

3 In This Lesson What kind of distance learning course is this? How can you succeed? Assignments What do we study in this course?

4 Part I: What kind of distance learning course is this? It’s Not an Automated Course It’s Not a Self-Paced Course This Course Emphasizes Interactivity –Asynchronous Participation is Fundamental to the Success of Our Course Discussion Board Hint: Take the Self-Evaluation of Online Students. It’ll help you better understand how your learning style meets the demand of this environment.

5 The Advantages of this Course Flexibility… Not Limited by Time,Space Study Materials Available 24/7 – Lectures (streaming audio w/ PowerPoint) – Media Clips – Interactive discussion board But Structured Like a Traditional Course (Lectures, Readings, Films, Essays, Exam) Complements Multiple Learning Styles (Auditory, Visual, Independent, Collaborative)

6 How to succeed (get an “A”) in this course Taking An Online Class: Part II Take

7 Course Organization Each lesson contains: Assigned Reading Screening of Film Website Lecture Clips Interactivity (Discussion Board) 7

Forms of Interactivity Threaded Discussions on the eBoard Two Posts for Each Lesson: -Answer Question -Dialogue 8

9 Keys To Success: Go through the Website, or Virtual Classroom. Get to Know It Well Keep up with All Lesson Tasks Do Assignments Carefully, Thoroughly, and Turn Them in on Time Get to Know Your Classmates Discuss with Rigor & Respect

10Assignments Taking An Online Class: Part III

11Participation Participation is 25% of Your Final Grade Participation Grade is Based On: – Keeping Up with Two Discussion Board Posts per Lesson – Quality of Posts - how rigorous, critical and original they are; also how well they engage lesson materials such as the screening, readings, lecture and clips. – Being on time with the Posts

12 Critical Papers You will write two critical papers in this course that will count as 50% of your grade. Descriptions of these two essays (due after Lessons 6 and 12) will be sent to you via e mail and be posted on the eboard. They are also available under Graded Work on the course site.

13Exam There is also a cumulative exam for the course which total 25% of your grade. It will cover: –Readings, lectures, assigned films –Be a combination of fill in the blank, identification, short answer & essay questions –Be due to me via –No late exams!

14Exam You will do well on the exam if you take good notes during the lectures, keep up with the readings, watch the films and participate on the eBoard. It will be very difficult for you to do well if you get behind!

15 What Do We Study in This Class? Taking An Online Class: Part IV Matewan (1987) directed by John Sayles

16 Two Aspects in Every Film: Content and Form Content – What the story is about Form – How the film tells its story The two are inextricable in film as in any art form – you can’t have one without the other. 16

17 Film Content What the film is about, its story. All films are created by people and are therefore historical, subjective & political. Even if unintended, everyone tells stories from their experience, their perspective. 17

18 Film Form Narrative Structure Mise-en-scene Cinematography Editing Sound These are the tools of film; the techniques that are used to tell the story in the movie. 18

International and American Films Using the Form and Content Distinction We’ll Analyze Both American and International Films 19

Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum: “Foreign movies have important things to teach us.... They’re proof positive that Americans aren’t the only human beings and that the decisions we make about how to live our lives aren’t the only options available.” Movie Wars, page

21 Six Things to Remember Go through the Website, or Virtual Classroom, with Care; Know it Well Keep up with all Lesson Tasks Turn Assignments in on Time, Written at a College Level Get to Know Your Classmates Discuss with Rigor & Respect Enjoy yourself! It’s film, after all.

Next Time: What is Film?, How Are Movies Made and Seen? 22 Starting Point Define Our Subject Film as Business and as Art 22

23 End of Lecture 1 Chris Cooper in Matewan