This Course at MIT

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Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 21L.011 The Film Experience as it was taught by Professor David Thorburn in Fall 2013.

This course concentrates on close analysis and criticism of a wide range of films, from the early silent period, classic Hollywood genres including musicals, thrillers and westerns, and European and Japanese art cinema. It explores the work of Griffith, Chaplin, Keaton, Capra, Hawks, Hitchcock, Altman, Renoir, DeSica, and Kurosawa. Through comparative reading of films from different eras and countries, students develop the skills to turn their in-depth analyses into interpretations and explore theoretical issues related to spectatorship.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

  • Understand the historical and cultural significance of movies
  • Explore classic films as works of art and as anthropological and historical artifacts that articulate the values and assumptions of particular societies and eras
  • Augment one’s analytical, writing, and oral expression skills

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

None

Requirements Satisfied

  • CI-H subject requirement
  • GIR

Offered

Every fall and spring semester

 

Instructor Insights

A photo of course instructor Professor David Thorburn seated in his office as he discusses the course. There are shelves behind him cluttered with assorted VHS tapes and books.

In the following videos, Professor David Thorburn describes various aspects of how teaches 21L.011 The Film Experience.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by tests. 40% Tests
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by essays. 50% Essays
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by oral expression. 10% Oral expression
 

Student Information

56 students took this class when it was offered in Fall 2013.

Breakdown by Year

Undergraduates

Breakdown by Major

Variety of majors

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

Lecture

2 hours per week
  • Met 2 times per day (afternoon and evening) 1 day a week for 1 hour per session; 13 sessions total.
  • Eight video lectures were assigned. During weeks in which the video lectures were assigned, there were no evening lectures.
 

Recitation

1 hours per week
  • Met 1 day a week for 1 hour per session; 13 sessions total.
  • A central goal of the recitation hour was to strengthen students’ powers of oral expression. Students were expected to participate actively in discussion and were required to give a short presentation.
 

Film Screenings

3 hours per week

Screenings of the required film(s) were held once a week in the evenings. 

 

Out of Class

6 hours per week
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
2 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
4 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
5 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled; paper due date. No session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
7 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled; quiz held. No session scheduled.
8 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled; paper due date. No session scheduled.
9 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
10 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
11 No classes throughout MIT. Lecture session and film screening scheduled; exam held. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
12 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled; paper due date. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
14 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. Lecture session and film screening scheduled. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held. Lecture session
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when recitation sessions are held. Recitation session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when quizzes are held. Quiz
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when film screenings are held. Film screening
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when papers are due. Paper due date
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held. Exam