This paper highlights the results of a project, in which a group of students, who were enrolled in an African American film criticism course at a large university in Southern California, participated in a community engagement project that incorporated visual and media literacy skills acquired in the classroom setting. The parameters of the project…

Designed as an introduction to the intelligent and active appreciation of films, this book provides an anecdotal discussion of current and past movies. Among the subjects discussed are the origins of the industry, the process of filmmaking, the role of the spectator, the development of various film genres, the debate over sex and violence, and the…

The purpose of film study is defined here in the words of D. W. Griffiths: "My goal is above all to make you see." This book is intended to be used as a text in a film study course. It traces the development of films from a scientific curiosity through silent films to modern wide screen productions. A comic strip is used to demonstrate the effect…

Designed to encourage moviegoers to become film viewers, this book divides the various aspects of film into the following chapters: "The Most Popular Art Form,""The World of Film,""Viewing the Film: The First Level of Understanding,""The Language of Film,""From Script to Film: A case Study,""Evaluating Film: 'Does It Work?""Evaluating Film:…

A study of past and current definitions of documentary film, rejecting those as too superficial, offering as a better definition one that demands examination of the internal evidence of films and remains aware of the ontological limitations of the medium. (CH)

Based on the assumption that critical viewing can broaden the range of films one can respond to, increase understanding, and ultimately lead to an intensification of subjective response, this book offers a critical approach to experiencing movies. After explaining the critical method to be used, several films in the context of different aesthetic…

Reflecting the theories and practices of effective teachers who use a cross-disciplinary approach to enhance writing instruction, this collection of essays is designed to make writing teachers aware of the various possibilities for using film in their classrooms. The ten essays focus on the following topics: (1) combining essay reading and writing…

In this survey history of the documentary or nonfiction cinema, major emphasis is placed upon John Grierson and the British documentary movement as exemplary of the factual films with goals of social improvement and on Robert Flaherty, whose movement stressed poetic or humanistic nonfiction film treatment. Newsreels and current trends in…

Designed to be used as a companion book for a course in film study, this book contains chapters on: creating the shot, rhythm, sound, motion, light, color, the director, genre, documentary, animation, now-films, and do-it-yourself. The book features illustrations from films as examples of film making techniques. The 56 page teaching guide suggests…

Guiding the student to see for himself and extend his senses so that he is aware of his world, of others, and of himself should be a major goal in film study. This book describes a two semester film study course which was designed to accomplish this goal for high school and college students. The first chapter establishes a rationale for film…