FS121 – Dopcumentary Film (3.0 units): section 35574
Fall 2010
Room: A161
Day/time: TR 12:45-2:50 PM
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Handouts: (PDF files) *you may need Adobe Reader®
Syllabus
Term Paper
Film glossary
Click here to access Class Clips.
In class, you will receive the username and password to access the clips.
Email me if you have problems accessing the clips.
Resources on writing a film paper -- very helpful.
FINAL DAY AND TIME > A161 ON DEC. 9 FROM 11AM TO 1PM.
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Weekly Questions:
You should respond to the following questions and email them to filmst121@sbcc.edu by the due date, which you can find on the syllabus.
Be sure to follow the correct formatting for your emails or the email will be sent back to you:
When sending an email, the subject line of the email should read:
Subject: First Name Last Name, 35574, Unit #
(35574 is your CRN number for the class)
NO ATTACHMENTS! 500 words minimum > do not rewrite the questions, but number each question.
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Week 1:
-What was your reaction to Encounters at the End of the World?
-How does this film function as a documentary? Is it different than documentaries you are accustomed to?
-What is the function of Werner Herzog as the narrator/interviewer in the film? How does he affect your understanding of the film?
-Early documentaries like In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914), Nanook of the North (1922), and Grass (1925) represent untamed nature and those that inhabit it. How might -Encounters at the End of the World be connected and related to these films?
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Week 2:
-What was your reaction to Man on Wire?
-How does this film function as a documentary? Is it different than documentaries you are accustomed to? How is it different than Encounters at the End of the World? What claim about the world is it making?
-Is there a point-of-view in this film? What is it?
-Does the mystery aspect of this film make it more objective or more subjective? Why or why not? Explain.
-What are the characteristics of the 1920s City Symphonies discussed in this unit: Rain, Berlin, The Man with the Movie Camera? Do you see any relationship between these characteristics and Man on Wire? In terms of politics?
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Week 3:
-What was your reaction to The Cove?
-How would you describe the look and style of this film? How is this film different from Encounters at the End of the World and Man on Wire?
-What are some of the ethical concerns that might be raised by this film as a documentary? Not only the issues, but their representation in the film.
-In the class book, Bill Nichols gives the phrase, I speak about them to you. In this film, who is the I? Who is the them? Who is the you? Explain.
-What relation to you see between John Grierson's idea of a documentary and The Cove? Explain.
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Week 4:
-Explain how Triumph of the Will used mise-en-scene, cinematography, camera position, editing, music, etc. to affect the viewer and provide a point-of-view.
-What was your reaction to The Gleaners and I?
-Explain what this film is about. What is/are the theme(s)? Explain.
-What is this documentary trying to convey to its audience? How is the filmmaker doing this?
-What similarities/differences do you see between this film and the others viewed in this class?
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Week 5:
-What similarities and differences do you see between the films of John Grierson and the Pare Lorentz film: The River?
-What was your reaction to Food Inc.?
-Is this film making an argument? What is it?
-How would you describe the Voice of the Documentary? What is it telling the audience? What is the perspective of the documentary?
-How is the film trying to be Credible, Convincing, and Compelling?
-What kind of proofs are used in this film? Ethical? Emotional? Demonstrative? Explain using specific scenes from the film.
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Week 6:
-What was your reaction to Prelude to War and The Battle of Midway? How are they similar? Different?
-What was your reaction to The Fog of War?
-What is the Voice of the documentary? What argument is made? Explain.
-What kind of proofs are used?
-What kind of evidence is used in this film: Arguments from Source? Subject-centered arguments? Viewer-centered arguments?
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Week 7:
This week we are watching a different film than scheduled on the syllabus: Touching the Void.
-Why do you think that Let There Be Light was banned when it was made after the war? Explain.
-What was your reaction to Night and Fog?
-What is the effect of the color and black/white images? What is this film about? What is the Voice of this Documentary?
-What kind of proofs does it use?
-What was your reaction to Touching the Void?
-What is this film thematically about?
-How does it function as a documentary?
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Week 8:
-No weeky writing this week > Midterm on Thursday.
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Week 9:
-Explain the difference between Direct Cinema and Cinema Verite. How are they similar? How are they different?
-How is Direct Cinema stating that authenticity can be achieved in a documentary film? Provide an example.
-How is Cinema Verite stating that authenticity can be achieved in a documentary film? Provide an example.
-What was your reaction to Don't Look Back?
-Is this film more closely aligned with the characteristics of Direct Cinema or with those of Cinema Verite? Explain.
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Week 10:
-What are some of the issues related to Direct Cinema and its observational mode? When could this style of documentary be effective?
-What different issues are connected to Cinema Verite and its participatory mode? Who does the audience identify with and why would this be effective in convincing the audience of the film's point-of-view?
-What was your reaction to Sherman's March?
-What style of documentary filmmaking is this film using: Direct Cinema and/or Cinema Verite? What documentary mode is used? Explain.
-What ethical concerns might the audience have? The social actors? The filmmakers?
-What is this film about? What 'truth claim' is it making?
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Week 11:
-What was your reaction to Harlan County USA?
-What documentary mode(s) would you place this film in? Explain why you selected each mode for this film? And, what effects it might have on the meaning of the film for an audience?
-What characteristics of Direct Cinema and Cinema Verite are used in this film? What effect do they have for the audience?
-What about the music? How is it used here? What effect does it have?
-Do you see any relation between this film and The Cove or Food Inc.? Are they social crisis films? Do they all demand a reaction from an audience? Explain.
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Week 12:
-What was your reaction to Sicko?
-How does Michael Moore function in the film? Do you identify with him? Why? How?
-Is his character similar or different to Ross McElwee's character in Sherman's March? Explain.
-What is the point-of-view of the film? How is this proved? Emotional, Ethical, Demonstrative proofs? Explain.
-What modes does this belong to? Explain.
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Week 13:
-Questions this week are extra credit -- work on your paper.
-What was your reaction to The Thin Blue Line?
-What documentary mode(s) would you place this film in? Explain why you selected each mode for this film? And, what effects it might have on the meaning of the film for an audience?
-What effect do the reenactments have on this film? How are they used? Are they effective? Why? How?
-Do you see this film making a 'case', as a lawyer would in a court of law? Explain why.
-What about the music? How is it used here? Explain.
-What relation to you see between this film and The Fog of War? Both films are by Errol Morris: do you see similarities? What are they?
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Week 14:
-What was your reaction to Radio Bikini?
-What is the Voice of this Documentary?
-How is the archival footage re-contextualized? What is its function?
-Do you see any similarities between this film and Night and Fog in terms of the use of archival footage? Explain.
-How is the argument made in this film? What kinds of proofs (emotional, demonstrative, ethical) are used in this film? For what purpose?
-Would you consider the re-contextualization of the archival footage a form of activism?
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Week 15:
-No weekly writing this week > Study for the Final.
