Motion Photography Syllabus

The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Radio-Television-Film
RTF 314: Development of the Motion Picture
Unique # 08160 / Spring 2013

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., BMC 2.106
Screenings: Monday, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., BUR 106

Professor:
Caroline Frick, PhD
Office: CMA 5.112
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 9am to 12pm and by appointment
Email: [e-mail]

Teaching Assistants:
Paul Gansky: [e-mail]
Colleen Montgomery: [e-mail]
Mike O’Brien: [e-mail]
Office Hours: TBA

Discussion Sections: Tuesday (according to the following schedule)
08160 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., BMC 3.206 (O’Brien)
08165 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., BMC 4.206 (Montgomery)
We will explore how film has developed from novelty to industry as well as how cinema can be understood and evaluated as a socio-cultural, technological, aesthetic and economic artifact. RTF 314 will examine a number of key film movements, filmmakers and genres – both mainstream and alternative. Although a special emphasis will be placed upon the development of the Hollywood narrative film, discussion will focus upon a number of national cinemas from other parts of the world. This class is geared for the student who has not taken previous work in the history of the motion
14 (M): Introduction to course, syllabus, schedule Screening: Bowfinger (1999, USA)

Jan. 16 (W): Origins and Invention of Cinema

Jan. 18 (F): Origins and Invention of Cinema

Readings: Textbook Preface, Ch. 1: pp. 8-22

Week 2
Jan. 21 (M): NO CLASS / NO SCREENING

Jan. 23 (W): Filmmaking becomes BIG BUSINESS

Jan. 25 (F): Filmmaking becomes BIG BUSINESS

Readings: Text, Ch. 1: pp. 23-33; Packet: “The Nickel Madness” Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc7wWOmEGGY Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cJlddQ7TKg

Week 3
Jan. 28 (M): Filmmaking becomes BIG BUSINESS Screening: Beyond the Rocks (1922, USA)

Jan. 30 (W): Filmmaking becomes BIG BUSINESS / Hollywood and the 1920s

Feb. 1 (F): Hollywood and the 1920s

Readings: Text Ch. 2: pp. 36-50; Packet: “Discourses of Gender and Ethnicity: The Construction and De(con)struction of Rudolph Valentino as Other”

Week 4
Feb. 4 (M): Silent German Cinema Screening: Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari/The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, Germany)

Feb. 6 (W): Silent German Cinema/ Griffith and Micheaux – Racist and Race