TFM 160: INTRODUCTION TO CINEMA

FALL 2014
Instructor: Bob Jordan
e-mail: sdsufilmguy@yahoo.com
Office Hours: 3:30-4:00 Monday (before class) in classroom, not office (there isnt enough
room in my office for 500 of you).
An appreciative survey of cinema in its diverse forms. Historical and stylistic influences on
the aesthetic values and social implications of cinema. Illustrated by screen examples.
REQUIRED TEXTS: It is extremely important for you to purchase the books
The Way I See It by Robert Jordan (second edition new) do not plan to borrow an old
copy
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In general, the course sections will include lecture and film
material. Often times, we will be able to show a complete feature film in class these are
not optional or just filler. They have been selected because they illustrate the days topic.
Two exams will be given (a midterm and a final). Each exam is open book and open note,
so you will want to bring your books the days of the exams. Each exam is worth 30% of
your course grade. The remaining 40% will be based on homework worksheets. More on
this in class.
COURSE GOALS: Our goal in this course is not to memorize the dates of the films
screened, or to be able to recite the entire cast of The Last Samurai. Film is an
entertainment and art form that has directly influenced the life of virtually every person in
this country, but rarely do we pay attention to that influence. In this course we will study
films rather than just watch them. We will look at some artistic qualities, show how they
are produced and consider how they reflect the culture in which they were produced.
Read and take notes with this goal in mind. You are not going to be tested on dates and
character names, but will need to know general plot information. More important,
consider how the films we see together exemplify the various topics we study. After taking
this course you will most likely watch films differently for the rest of your life.
Technology in Class: Due to the subject matter of this course, it is absolutely essential
that no cell phones be turned on at any time during the class, especially during the films. I
reserve the right to remove you from the class if this rule is not followed. Laptop
computers are okay, but use them in the back of the class and keep them off during all
film screenings.
Improper Behavior: Cheating on exams, plagiarism and other forms of academic
dishonesty are completely unacceptable. The first incident will cause the student to
receive a zero on that assignment. It is possible in summer session that a zero on one test
will cause the student to receive a failing grade for the course. The incident will then be
referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Disruptive behavior or
violence will be referred to the dean or campus security.
Learning Challenges: If you are dyslexic or have another type of learning challenge, see
instructor immediately to discuss how we can work together.

Note: Some of the films screened in this class are rated R. If you have a problem viewing
this type of material, please see me.
On a more personal note, I had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Fortunately, the surgery went
well, functions such as speech and reasoning continue to work well, other functions/skills have not
returned to normal, so I will be teaching some parts of the class from a chair.
I still intend for this class to be a good learning experience, however I want it to be fun for all of us.
Please be patient with me. Feel free to use the e-mail address listed above to contact me, but it
may be a day or so before I can reply. Thank you again for your help!!