Course Expectations 1. You must attend at least 11 films (or 10 films and one make-up). Less than that will result in an automatic "No Credit" (although if you were to have been a graduating senior, you should see me). If you need to do a make-up, there are two options, and you must note at the top of the front page of on your final paper which film it is that you saw. Option One is to see any of the films in this series that you otherwise missed. Option Two is to see an additional film agreed upon with the professor.
2. Pet peeves: I've seen most of the films several times. a) PLEASE do not tell me that you have seen the film before. Another viewing is an opportunity to see it again and study it more closely. b) PLEASE do not ask to watch it later on your own (unless it is the one make-up film). Some of my goals for this course are social. I want you to see the films with a Seaver College audience. c) Unlike the movie theatres I will start the movies precisely at the scheduled start of class time. Be on time! Better yet, be early! Usually the issues of the movie are set up at the very beginning of the film. If you come late, you are welcome to stay, but please respect my judgment on whether you have already missed too much to receive credit for having seen that film. After all, you only have to attend class for a total of ten films. d) Because there is no custodial service between our class and the Monday morning classes, please be extra careful that you leave no mess. The worst offenses to date have been sunflower seed shells and cups of tobacco juice. This may be a long list of pet peeves, and it is somewhat true I am getting old and cranky, but tobacco juice left in cups in the aisles? e) Newest addition to the list: if you come to a darkened film class and turn on your computer so that you can work on another class, please go directly to Jail and do not collect $200 and once you are out of jail and $200 poorer, please drop the film class at your earliest convenience.
3. Because attendance is a requirement of this class, please realize that any falsification of attendance records is an infringement of the Academic Code of Ethics and will be handled accordingly. When you are signing your attendance slips, use your official signature. If your signature is generally illegible, also print your name above or below your signature.
4. I am willing to have "guests" in "our" class, but I would like you to remind them that it is a class.
5. Because of the Holidays, there will be no class on Sundays January 20th and February 24th. The Superbowl is February 3rd and Easter Sunday is March 31st (but we will have class). The last regularly shown film will be April 21st . This means that it may be more difficult than usual to make the required number of classes. (Those of you in sections 1 and 3, with the International Films, may attend either or both sections of the Sunday night class, one starts at 6 p.m., the other at 8 p.m.) Please plan accordingly.
6. Please carefully consider the opening night remarks on taste, censorship, Christian perspective, and Milton's "Areopagitica". There may be some movie situations you will choose to avoid.
7. You should be prepared to see an entire film whatever its length. Also, I am committed to taking no more than ten minutes to introduce the film, and occasionally a few minutes at the end of the film to offer a final commentary. For those of you in sections 3 and 4, some of the films run longer than two hours. I recognize your need to get out in a timely fashion to prepare for other classes. I respect that pressure, but I also need up to the fifteen minutes asked of you to insure the educational frame that makes this course a viable academic experience. This means that I will need you to be especially attentive to the course e-mails and assignments.
8. For what is only a one unit course, I cannot reasonably expect to break you into discussion groups. I do hope you will have discussions with other students about the films after their screenings. I have been assured by former students that the films have been the stimulus for both new friendships and lively discussions.
9. You may take this course twice whether as GSGS 111 or GSGS 311.
10. Beyond the attendance requirement, there is a written assignment due by Friday, April 12th , but which will be accepted through 9 p.m. Sunday, April 14th. The assignment will be given out separately. The assignment may be turned in earlier than that time to me during class time, to my box in the Humanities Office, or under my door at CAC 311. I do read all these papers personally, and in fact look forward to them. Because it is a large class, and because the papers may be turned in at a number of times and places, be sure to keep a copy of your paper in case there is an inadvertent problem.
11. If your paper is turned in after 9 p.m. April 14th, you MUST take a final exam in class on Sunday, April 21st.
12. You will need to access your Pepperdine e-mail account to access material about the film class, to read my comments on the respective films, and to receive any additional course updates.
An activity course in college is expected to require about 30 hours of work. I believe that the eleven films, reading, and short paper, will take about this much time. You are, of course, welcome to spend more time than this.
Finally, I conclude that if you've read this far, you must bring a similar enthusiasm to this endeavor. I like to make my work fun and my fun rigorous. This should prove to be a time for both.