Film History, Part 2 - Silicon Valley High School

FILM HISTORY, PART 2

Price: $125 | Credits: One Semester | Dept: Art | Course ID# 275-2

Using compelling videos and online materials, this film history course is designed to meet the National Core Arts Standards and the California Arts Standards for Visual Arts. Students discover the history of film and will create some films of their own. They will connect visual art to societal, cultural, and historical meaning through exploring their own artistic creations, as well as analyzing the impact of iconic actors, producers, and directors from the past.

The course combines analysis and evaluation of films with the appreciation of the history of film with practical assignments where students analyze different films for a variety of genres and produce their own creations, with the guidance and support of a credentialed teacher. Film History is approved by the University of California A-G as visual & performing arts (category F).

Credits & Study Hours
Upon completion of this course, the student is awarded 5 credits. Each credit corresponds to 15 hours of study. Of course, some students work more quickly than others, and some can devote more hours to study, so some students are able to complete the course in an accelerated rate.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By taking this course students will:

Learn the effect of cinematography on the film industry, identify the elements and themes of the film noir genre, understand the vocabulary of cinematography, explain the effects that different camera angles, movements, framing, etc. have on the audience, identify common elements found in film noir, recognize some key studios, directors and actors in that genre, and identify sub-genres such as Gangster, Crime, Sci-fi, etc. They will enjoy the history of film noir as described by “America Cinema; Film Noir” as well as watch “Sunset Blvd.,” and other movies of this genre.

Understand the role of the editing in storytelling, identify the elements and themes of the suspense genre, discuss the effect of editorial choices, discuss Hitchcock’s influence, identify common elements found in suspense films, recognize some landmark films and directors in that genre, identify sub-genres such as political thrillers, psychological thrillers, etc. They will learn about the art of editing as described by “The Cutting Edge” as well as “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” “North by Northwest,” and various Hitchcock scenes.

Learn about the role of the director, identify the elements and themes of the drama genre, discuss the validity of the auteur theory, discuss the evolution of the director’s influence, identify common elements found in dramatic films, recognize some landmark films and directors. They will learn about the art of directing as well as watch “Gone With the Wind,” and other movies in the drama genre.

Understand the role of the documentary film on the film industry, identify the elements and themes of the documentary genre, discuss the effect of director bias and objectivity in the documentary, identify documentary vs. docudramas, identify common elements found in documentary films, recognize some landmark films and directors in that genre, identify sub-genres such as bio-pics, Cinéma vérité, propaganda, etc. They will explore the history of documentaries as seen in “Paper Clips,” and watch different documentaries. The student will create their own short documentary.

Learn about the Hollywood takeover by the “Film School Generation,” identify the elements and themes of the blockbuster genre, discuss the effect of focus groups, discuss the importance of the release dates, identify common elements found in blockbuster films, recognize some landmark films and directors in the blockbuster genre. They will learn about the art of directing as described by “America Cinema; The Film School Generation,” as well as watch “Star Wars” and other blockbusters like “ET,” and “Back to the Future”.

TOPICS COVERED

This course covers the following topics:

  • Cinematography
  • Film Noir
  • Film Editing
  • The Suspense Film
  • Directing
  • The Drama Film
  • Bias in Cinema
  • The Documentary
  • The Film School Generation
  • The Blockbuster
Film History, Part 2, the Second Semester Course for $125
Course Details:
• One Semester Credit: $125
• Second Semester of Film History
Approvals
NCAA: No (NCAA only approves Core Courses)