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Course Catalog 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Cinema Studies
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 Return to: College of Arts and Sciences
Rian Brown-Orso, Associate Professor of New Media & Cinema Studies; Director, Cinema Studies
EunJung Grace An, Assistant Professor of French and Cinema Studies
William Patrick Day, Professor of English and Cinema Studies
Brian Doan, Visiting Instructor in Cinema Studies
Daniel Goulding, Emeritus Professor of Film Studies and Theater Arts
Elizabeth Hamilton, Associate Professor of German and Cinema Studies
Brett Kashmere, Visiting Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies
Jeffrey Pence, Associate Professor of English & Cinema Studies
Geoff Pingree, Associate Professor of Cinema Studies and English
Cinema is both the primary art form of modern culture and the central component of the media industries that structure contemporary society. We cannot understand fully how music, painting, and literature, or other artistic practices have developed without seeing them in relation to cinema, and we cannot begin to comprehend the full significance of the media in our lives without first studying cinema. The major in Cinema Studies is designed to teach students to examine the meanings of cinema in the broadest, most interdisciplinary ways, considering movies as works of art, as cultural forms, and as industrial practices.
Cinema Studies offers the following types of courses: The General Interest Cinema Studies Course is CINE 110, What is Cinema? The Introductory Cinema Studies Core Course is CINE 298, Form/Style/Meaning/Media. The Intermediate Cinema Studies Core Course is CINE 299, Persistence of Vision: Approaches to Cinema Studies. CINE 298 and CINE 299 are required for the major. CINE 299 should be taken during the fourth or sixth semester at Oberlin (or the equivalent). It may not be taken in either of the final two semesters at Oberlin and still count toward the major. Cinematic Traditions Courses include all other courses taught by the Cinema Studies faculty at the 200 level, as well as the film courses from many College and Conservatory departments/programs in the list of cross-referenced courses below. Cinematic Traditions courses count as electives toward the major. CINE 110 or CINE 298 is suggested preparation for Cinematic Traditions courses. Courses cross-referenced with other departments may have different requirements noted in the catalog section of the listing department. Advanced Cinema Studies Courses are those courses taught by Cinema Studies faculty at the 300 level. Prerequisites may vary by course (see descriptions for details). In general, 300-level critical studies courses will require CINE 110, 298, or 299 or consent of the instructor as prerequisite. 300-level production courses will, in general, require CINE 298 or consent of the instructor. At least three Advanced Cinema Studies Courses are required of majors; at least one of these courses must be completed before the senior year. Finally, majors must successfully complete the Senior Project Sequence, which includes CINE 400: The Senior Project I, and CINE 401: The Senior Project II. This two-semester sequence is centered on the conception and development of a substantial independent project, typically either a film or critical work. CINE 298, 299, at least one Advanced Cinema Studies course, and consent of instructor are required before enrolling in CINE 400, The Senior Project I; CINE 400 and consent of instructor are prerequisites for CINE 401, The Senior Project II. Exceptional accomplishment in CINE 400 may result in an invitation to prepare for Honors evaluation during CINE 401. See below for details. No student is guaranteed Honors. The Senior Project Sequence does not count toward any other requirement for the major.
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Major
The Cinema Studies Major requires 30 hours in Cinema Studies courses, including
- CINE 298, Form/Style/Meaning/Media
- CINE 299, Persistence of Vision: Approaches to Cinema Studies (CINE 299 should be taken during the fourth or sixth semester at Oberlin,or the equivalent. It may not be taken in either of the final two semesters at Oberlin and still count toward the major.)
- At least three 300-level courses taught by the Cinema Studies faculty
- CINE 400: The Senior Project I
- CINE 401: The Senior Project II
- Electives chosen in consultation with advisor.
Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C- or received a grade of CR or P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.
Film Production: Curriculum Logistics, Costs
The Cinema Studies curriculum is based on integrating critical and production courses in order for students to fully understand the broad spectrum of media. All students are expected to do both critical studies and production work.
Our production facilities include a fully outfitted shooting studio with green screen and professional lighting capabilities, an equipment Depot that lends to students a wide range of digital video cameras (Sony PD170’s), HD cameras and 16mm film cameras (Bolex and Arriflex), tripods, digital audio recording tools, projectors and more. For post-production we have editing facilities fully equipped with Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Photoshop and ProTools. There is a vast collection of DVDs and films housed in the Oberlin Library system that are available to students for doing research.
Students in production courses are required to purchase their own external hard drives and A/V supplies, including tape stock and DVDs. In addition, for most production courses there will be a lab fee of no more than $100.
Fall Semester at Prague Film School, Prague, Czech Republic
The Cinema Studies Program has a consortial arrangement with the Prague Film School. Students interested in the fall semester at PFS should consult with the Director of the Cinema Studies Program. All film courses, including those in film production, offered at PFS count toward the Cinema Studies major at Oberlin.
Spring Semester at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts
The Cinema Studies Program has a consortial arrangement with the Film Program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Students interested in the spring semester at Tisch should consult with the Director of the Cinema Studies Program. All film courses, including those in film production, offered at Tisch count toward the Cinema Studies major at Oberlin.
Transfer of Credit
No more than 14 hours of transfer credit in Cinema Studies may be applied to the Oberlin Cinema Studies major. At least 12 hours in advanced courses (300-level courses and the Senior Project Sequence) must be taken within the program. To have transfer credit approval toward the major and/or toward meeting prerequisites for upper-level courses, students should consult the Director of the Cinema Studies Program (or his designate), preferably with syllabi in hand.
Winter Term
Winter Term projects sponsored by Cinema Studies faculty will be according to the interests and availability of staff. Students also are encouraged to propose group projects which, with an approved sponsor, they will direct.
Honors
Honors in Cinema Studies may be earned through exceptional performance in The Senior Project Sequence by seniors whose record both overall and in the major meet College-wide criteria of excellence. Students will be informed after completion of CINE 400 that they are eligible for review for Honors during CINE 401. Invited students will be advised throughout this process, leading up to a review of their work and an oral examination by the Cinema Studies faculty. Honors in Cinema Studies is not guaranteed to any student.
First-Year Seminar Program
First-year seminars do not count toward the Cinema Studies major, but are recommended as an introduction to deeper-level skills in reading, viewing, analysis, writing and discussion. The successful completion of a first-year seminar will serve as one of the ways to satisfy the prerequisite for Cinematic Traditions courses.
General Interest Cinema Studies Course
This course is mainly intended for students not planning to major in Cinema Studies. However, Cinema 110 may count towards the major as an elective. It will not replace other required courses, but can serve as entry into some Advanced Cinema Studies Courses. See Advanced Cinema Studies course descriptions for specifics.
Prerequisites: Cinema 110 has no prerequisites. Some spaces are reserved for first- and second-year students.
Introductory Cinema Studies Core Course
Those who declare the Cinema Studies major after July, 2009, are required to take CINE 298, Form/Style/Meaning/Media, which is the foundation for future study in the discipline. CINE 298 combines production and critical studies elements, and serves as a prerequisite for both sorts of courses. Students who are interested in majoring in Cinema Studies should take this course by the end of their sophomore year and before they declare the Cinema Studies major.
Prerequisites: CINE 298 has no prerequisites. Some spaces are reserved for first- and second-year students.
Intermediate Cinema Studies Core Course
Cinema Studies majors are required to take CINE 299, Persistence of Vision: Approaches to Cinema Studies. This course should be taken during the fourth or sixth semester at Oberlin (or the equivalent). It may not be taken in either of the final two semesters at Oberlin and still count toward the major.
Prerequisites: CINE 298 or consent of the instructor.
Cinematic Traditions Courses
Cinematic Traditions courses count as electives towards the major. They include any 200-level course taught by Cinema Studies faculty exclusive of Cinema Studies 298 and 299. They also include cross-referenced courses from other departments in the College and Conservatory (see the heading, “Cross-Referenced Courses” below).
Prerequisites: CINE 110 or CINE 298 is strongly recommended as preparation for Cinematic Traditions Courses. Unless otherwise noted, Cinematic Traditions courses are open to students who have completed any Writing Intensive (WRi) course, or have gained Writing Certification (WR) in any course in the Humanities. They are also open to those who have achieved a 5 on the AP exam in English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition, or a score of 710 or better on the SAT II writing test. Other students may be admitted by consent of the instructor, with the understanding that students should be able to demonstrate the ability to handle writing, discussion, and analysis in ways typically taught in Writing Intensive classes.
Advanced Cinema Studies Courses
Advanced Cinema Studies Courses are those courses taught by Cinema Studies faculty at the 300 level. At least three Advanced Cinema Studies Courses are required of majors; at least one of these courses must be completed before the senior year.
Prerequisite: Unless otherwise indicated, these 300-level courses require as prerequisites CINE 110, 298, or 299 or consent of the instructor.
The Senior Project Sequence
Cinema Studies majors must complete CINE 400, The Senior Project I and CINE 401, The Senior Project II in their final two semesters at Oberlin respectively. This two-semester sequence of courses centers on developing and bringing to completion a substantial independent project, which will be publicly presented or exhibited. CINE 298, 299, at least one Advanced Cinema Studies course, and consent of instructor are required before enrolling in CINE 400, The Senior Project I; CINE 400 and consent of instructor are prerequisites for CINE 401, The Senior Project II. Honors in Cinema Studies grows out of the work done in The Senior Project courses (see below).
Prerequisite for CINE 400: CINE 298, 299, at least one 300-level course, AND consent of instructor.
Prerequisite for CINE 401: CINE 400 AND consent of instructor.
Honors
Students who meet College-wide requirements for their records in the major and overall, who are also judged to be have performed work of particular excellence in CINE 400, The Senior Project I, may be invited to try for Honors in Cinema Studies during their final term, while enrolled in CINE 401, The Senior Project II. Students to be considered for Honors will be closely advised in preparation for a review of their Project and an oral examination by the Cinema Studies Faculty. Honors in Cinema Studies is not guaranteed to any student.
Private Readings
Private Readings are available to students who have completed introductory coursework in the department.
Cross-Referenced Courses
These courses count towards the Cinema Studies major as elective Cinematic Traditions Courses. Students should register for these courses using the number in the department or program of origin. For course descriptions and prerequisites, please see the department or program in this catalog.
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