film music syllabus
DESCRIPTION
This is my syllabus for the film music class to be taught in the spring of 2012.TRANSCRIPT
The University of IowaCollege of Liberal Arts and SciencesSchool of Music
Introduction to Film MusicSpring 2012Course Number: 025:066/MUS:1066Class Meetings: 9:30-‐10:45 Tu/ThLocation: UCC Recital Hall
Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Allen jonathan-‐[email protected] ofOice: 319.335.1655
Teaching Assistant: Jessica Ducharme jessica-‐[email protected] ofOice: 319.XXX.XXXX
Required Materials:Hickman, Roger. Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005.
Course Objectives:This course will familiarize students with the major styles and composers of Oilm music from the early twentieth century to the present. Through a focus on case studies, students will gain an understanding of the different roles music can play in cinema. Several brief response papers will give students opportunities to employ critical thinking and listening skills to the analysis of particular Oilms or key scenes.
Grading Breakdown:
Exams (3) -‐ Exams will include a combination of listening and/or viewing questions, multiple choice questions, and short answer questions. Exam 1 -‐ 20% Exam 2 -‐ 20% Exam 3 -‐ 20% Response Papers (3) -‐ Response Papers will be two to three pages in length and will ask students to engage critically with a Oilm or selected scenes. SpeciOic assignments will be handed out in class. Assignment 1: Discussion Questions -‐ 10% Assignment 2: Essay 1 -‐ 15% Assignment 3: Essay 2 -‐ 15%
Attendance Policy -‐ You are allowed one unexcused absence from lecture. For each additional unexcused absence, your Oinal grade will be lowered by one point.
Class Schedule:
UNIT 1: Exploring Film and Music
Week 1: January 24 Syllabus; Introduction to course.
January 26 Chapter 1 -‐ Wagner’s Prelude. Chapter 2 -‐ Drama and Film.
Week 2: January 31 Chapter 3 -‐ Elements of Music. Chapter 4 -‐ Listening to Film Music.
February 2 Chapter 5 -‐ Birth of an Art Form, 1895-‐1907. Chapter 6 -‐ The Foundations of Modern Film, 1897-‐1919.
UNIT 2: The Silent Film Era -‐ 1895-‐1928
Week 3: February 7 Chapter 7 -‐ CASE STUDY: Birth of a Nation. Writing Assignment #1 (Discussion Questions) Due.
February 9 Chapter 8 -‐ The Golden Age of Silent Film, 1920-‐1928. Chapter 9 -‐ The Transition to Sound, 1926-‐1928.
UNIT 3: The Sound Era Begins -‐ 1928-‐1944
Week 4: February 14 Chapter 10 -‐ The Early Years of Sound, 1928-‐1933 Chapter 11 -‐ Entering a New Golden Age, 1934-‐1938.
February 16 Chapter 12 -‐ Hollywood’s Greatest Year: 1939. Chapter 13 -‐ Modern Voices, 1936-‐1944.
Week 5: February 21 Chapter 14 -‐ CASE STUDY: Casablanca Writing Assignment #2 (Essay 1) Due February 23 EXAM 1
UNIT 4: Entering a Cold War -‐ 1944-‐1959
Week 6: February 28 Chapter 15 -‐ Postwar Trends, 1944-‐1949. Chapter 16 -‐ Country, Rock, and All That Jazz, 1950-‐1956.
March 1 Chapter 17 -‐ Expanding Modern Styles, 1950-‐1956. Chapter 18 -‐ Close of the Decade, 1956-‐1959.
Week 7 March 6 Chapter 19 -‐ CASE STUDY: Scenes from Ben-‐Hur
UNIT 5: A New American Cinema -‐ 1960-‐1976
March 8 Chapter 20 -‐ CASE STUDY: Scenes from Psycho
Week 8
March 13, 15 SPRING BREAK -‐ NO CLASSES
Week 9 March 20 Chapter 21 -‐ Declining Traditions, 1960-‐1967.
Chapter 22 -‐ The Emerging New Era, 1960-‐1967.
March 22 Chapter 23 -‐ Crisis Years, 1968-‐1972. Chapter 24 -‐ The Postwar Years, 1973-‐1976.
Week 10 March 27 EXAM 2
UNIT 6: The Classic Revival, 1977-‐1988
March 29 Chapter 25 -‐ Star Wars and Postmodernism, 1977-‐1984.
Week 11 April 3 Chapter 26 -‐ CASE STUDY: E.T. the Extra-‐Terrestrial.
April 5 E.T. the Extra-‐Terrestrial continued.
Week 12 April 10 Chapter 27 -‐ In the Shadow of Star Wars, 1977-‐1984. Chapter 28 -‐ Settings Far and Near, 1982-‐1988. April 12 Chapter 29 -‐ New Box-‐OfOice Kings, 1984-‐1988.
UNIT 7: Fin de Siècle and the New Millennium, 1989-‐2004
Week 13 April 17 Chapter 30 -‐ Symphonic Scores, 1989-‐1996.
April 19 Chapter 31 -‐ Popular Music, Animation, and Realism, 1989-‐1996.
Week 14 April 24 Chapter 32 -‐ The Sinking Titanic, 1997-‐2000. Writing Assignment #3 Due (Essay #2)
April 26 Chapter 33 -‐ CASE STUDY: The Red Violin
Week 15 May 1 The Red Violin -‐ continued.
May 3 Chapter 34 -‐ The New Millennium, 2001-‐2004. Final exam review.
Week 16
TBA Exam 3 to be held during Final Exam time
Administrative Home The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-‐grade-‐only option, and other related issues. Different colleges may have different policies. Questions may be addressed to 120 Schaeffer Hall, or see the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.
Electronic Communication University policy speciOies that students are responsible for all ofOicial correspondences sent to their University of Iowa e-‐mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this account for correspondences. (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11.)
Accommodations for DisabilitiesA student seeking academic accommodations should Oirst register with Student Disability Services and then meet privately with the course instructor to make particular arrangements. See www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.
Academic HonestyThe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences expects all students to do their own work, as stated in the CLAS Code of Academic Honesty. Instructors fail any assignment that shows evidence of plagiarism or other forms of cheating, also reporting the student's name to the College. A student reported to the College for cheating is placed on disciplinary probation; a student reported twice is suspended or expelled.
CLAS Final Examination PoliciesFinal exams may be offered only during Oinals week. No exams of any kind are allowed during the last week of classes. Students should not ask their instructor to reschedule a Oinal exam since the College does not permit rescheduling of a Oinal exam once the semester has begun. Questions should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum.
Making a Suggestion or a ComplaintStudents with a suggestion or complaint should Oirst visit the instructor, then the course supervisor, and then the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident. See the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.
Understanding Sexual HarassmentSexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-‐being of students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, deOinitions, and the full University policy.Reacting Safely to Severe WeatherIn severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety web site.
*These CLAS policy and procedural statements have been summarized from the web pages of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The University of Iowa Operations Manual.