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Lecture 1:Lecture 1:Taking an Online Course and

Course Introduction

Professor Aaron Baker

Professor Aaron BakerProfessor 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.

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In This LessonIn This Lesson• What kind of

distance learning course is this?

• How can you succeed?

• Assignments• What do we study

in this course?

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Part I: What kind of distance Part I: What kind of distance learning course is this?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.

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The Advantages of this CourseThe 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)

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How to succeed (get an “A”) in How to succeed (get an “A”) in this coursethis course

Taking An Online Class: Part II

Take Take

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Course OrganizationCourse Organization

Each lesson contains:Each lesson contains:

• Assigned Reading• Screening of Film• Website• Lecture• Clips• Interactivity (Discussion Board)

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Forms of Interactivity Forms of Interactivity

• Threaded Discussions onthe eBoard

• Two Posts for Each Lesson:

-Answer Question

-Dialogue• E-mail

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Keys To Success: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

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AssignmentsAssignments

Taking An Online Class: Part III

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Participation Participation

• 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

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Critical PapersCritical 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.

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ExamExam• 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 e-mail– No late exams!

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ExamExam• 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!

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What Do We Study in This What Do We Study in This Class?Class?

Taking An Online Class: Part IV

Matewan (1987) directed by John Sayles

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Two Aspects in Every Film: Two Aspects in Every Film: Content and FormContent 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.

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Film ContentFilm 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.

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Film FormFilm 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.

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International and American International and American FilmsFilms

• Using the Form and Content Distinction

• We’ll Analyze

Both American and

International

Films1919

Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum: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 108

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Six Things to Remember 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?, Next Time: What is Film?, How Are Movies Made and How Are Movies Made and

Seen?Seen?

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• Starting Point • Define Our

Subject• Film as

Business and as Art

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End of Lecture 1End of Lecture 1

Chris Cooper in Matewan