Updated for the Age of the Virus: This syllabus has been updated to reflect the switch to remote instruction. Please read this in full.

Course Description

This course surveys of the history of film from the advent of sound in the early 1930s, the years during and following World War II, and the emergence of the new wave cinemas through the 1960s. We will explore how the film of the prewar era and World War II–years reflected the nationalistic impulses of their countries of production. However, after World War II, there was a growing sense of internationalism that informed a new generation of filmmakers. These new-wave filmmakers inspired each other to create a new, modernist cinema that challenged established norms of filmmaking.

Remote Course

This course will be conducted remotely.

Most learning activities will be asynchronous, meaning that students will complete these on their own time during the assigned week.

In addition, there will be a certain number of synchronous activities, including a weekly discussion session on Google Meet. Office hours will also be held at a scheduled date and time on Google Meet.

Instructor

Juan Monroy

Office Hours:

Office Hours will be held remotely on Google Meet.

Log into a Google account, preferably not your QC Google Account, and sign up for an appointment at https://juanmonroy.com/qcofficehours

Appointments are available at the following times:

  • Wednesday: 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM
  • Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Writing Center

Note: In the Age of the Virus, there might not be in-person hours. Check with the Writing Center for options.

Would you like free in-person assistance with writing your papers?

The Writing Center at Queens College offers in-person tutoring with your writing assignments. You can schedule recurring weekly sessions or a one-time “drop-in.” You can also stop-by the Writing Center to consult with a tutor. Students can also submit work online via the Writing Center’s e-tutoring service.

  • Monday - Thursday: 10:00 AM–6:30 PM

The Writing Center is located in Kiely Hall, Room 229 and can be reached at 718–997–5676.

Assignments

Please complete all of the assignments by the date noted on this schedule.

Readings

Required readings, listed in the course schedule below, are available in the textbook:

Thompson, Kristin, and David Bordwell. Film History: An Introduction Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Live Discussion Sessions

All students must participate in the weekly discussion session. The session will be held each on the days listed below, at 2:00 PM, beginning on March 25. The session should last about an hour.

Join us on Google Meet from Google Classroom. This article describes how to Join a Video Meeting in Google Classroom for Computer, Android, and iPhone and iPad.

I recommend running Google Meet on a computer through a web browser or through the mobile apps, available for Android and iOS. As a last resort, you can join the session using a telephone number and a PIN.

Reading Quizzes

After reading the relevant section from the textbook, you will take a quiz on Google Classroom. Each quiz consists of a mix of true-false and multiple-choice questions. No late quizzes will be accepted.

  • Due Dates, 12:00 PM
    • Quiz 7: Apr 15
    • Quiz 8: Apr 22
    • Quiz 9: Apr 29
    • Quiz 10: May 6
    • Quiz 11: May 13
    • Quiz 12: May 20
  • Ten of twelve quizzes are required. Your two lowest scores are dropped
  • 40% of final grade

Film Screenings, Pre-Virus

Under each week’s class, you’ll see a list of films—or films—listed as “Reserve Screenings.” You should watch these films on your own time to further orient yourself with the history of film beyond what we can screen in class.

Some of these titles are available at some of the following locations: - Rosenthal Library at Queens College - Queens Public Library - New York Public Library - The Criterion Channel (subscription) - Amazon Prime Video (subscription and a-la-carte).

I’ve linked to these sources, where available.

Film Screenings, Post-Virus

On Google Classroom, you will find links to the screenings for each week’s class. I recommend watching the screenings using VLC Player, a multi-platform video player. Mobile versions are also available for iOS and Android. Most screenings have subtitles, but you might have to turn on/enable subtitles.

Some titles will be available on the Kanopy streaming service. You will need to create or log in to a Kanopy account. Then in your profile, Manage your Membership and Add a membership by searching for “CUNY Queens College.” See https://help.kanopy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004371213-Managing-your-memberships for assistance. Authenticate using your QC Library barcode—the number on the back of your Queens College ID card.

Lectures

Each week, I will post a link to a video recording of my lecture of that week’s course material. The link will be available on this course schedule, below, and on the LMS.

Midterm Exam

The midterm exam is a take-home, open-book essay exam. The exam will cover the course material from the first half of the course.

Final Exam

The final exam is a take-home, open-book essay exam. The exam will cover the course material from the second half of the course.

  • Due May 22, on Google Classroom
  • Weight: 30%

Course Schedule, Pre-Virus

January 29 • Getting Started

Assignments
  1. Buy the textbook: Film History: An Introduction, either the third edition (2010) or the fourth edition (2019).
  2. Activate your QC G Suite account.
    • Students New to Queens College, Recently Transferred to QC, or Enrolled in another CUNY Campus: You must activate your email and Active Directory accounts before you can activate your G Suite for Education account. The process takes about three (3) business days so please start this process as soon as possible.
  3. Join our course on Google Classroom
    1. Go to Google Classroom
    2. Click on the “+” to join the course
    3. Enter the code I provided in class
  4. Review Goals for Student Writing published by Writing at Queens College.
  5. Complete the Welcome Survey on Google Classroom.

February 5 • Hollywood and the Great Depression

Assignments
In-Class Screening
Reserve Screening

February 19 • France 1930s

Assignments
In-Class Screening
  • A Nous La Liberté (René Clair, France, 1930, 84 min.)
  • Taris [La natation par Jean Taris, champion de France] (Jean Vigo, France, 1931, 9 min.)
Reserve Screening

February 26 • Prewar Germany

Assignments
In-Class Screening
  • M (Fritz Lang, Germany, 1931, excerpt)
  • The Blue Angel (Joseph von Sternberg, Germany, 1930, 100 min.)
  • General Adolph Takes Over, aka Lambeth Walk Nazi Style (Charles Ridley, UK, 1942, 2 min.)
Reserve Screening

March 4 • Prewar Documentary and Experimental Film

Assignments
In-Class Screenings
  • Manhatta (Paul Strand and Charles Sheeler, USA, 1921, excerpt)
  • Industrial Britain (Robert Flaherty and John Grierson, UK, 1931, 21 min.)
  • Night Mail (Harry Watt and Basil Wright, UK, 1936, 24 min.)
  • Native Land (Leo Hurwitz and Paul Strand, USA, 1942, 79 min.)
Reserve Screenings

March 11 • Postwar Hollywood

Assignments
In-Class Screening
  • Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 1958, 128 min.)
Reserve Screening

Course Schedule, Post-Virus

Please complete all of the assignments by the date noted on this schedule.

March 25 • Postwar Europe and Neorealism

Assignments

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Review

April 7 • Midterm Exam

The midterm exam, available on Google Classroom, is due today, 11:59 PM.

April 15 • Post War France and the New Wave

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments

April 22 • Latin American Cinema

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments
  • Read Thompson and Bordwell
  • Complete Quiz 8 on Google Classroom, due April 22
  • Watch Los Olvidados (Luis Buñuel, Mexico, 1950, 72 min.) Find where to stream online.
  • Watch Tire Dié (Fernando Birrí, Argentina, 1958, 33 min.) Available on Google Classroom.
  • Watch Memories of Underdevelopment (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Cuba, 1968, 97 min.) Find where to stream online.
  • Watch the recorded lecture on Google Classroom
  • Join the Live Discussion Session on April 22 at 2:00 PM on Google Meet. Join the Video Call from Google Classroom. See this article for help.

April 29 • Cinema Verité and Direct Cinema

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments

May 6 • West Germany and Eastern Europe

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments

May 13 • Art Cinema: Kurosawa and Bergman

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments

May 20 • New Hollywood

Links to these materials are available on Google Classroom.

Assignments

May 22 • Final Exam

The final exam, available on Google Classroom, is due today, 11:59 PM.