Syllabus

MUSIC IN FILM
Music 103/308 
Fall 2008

COURSE CONTENT/OBJECTIVES

Film is one of our most prominent art forms. In many ways, it is a reflection of our culture, as it is a primary means of entertainment and diversion for our society. Noted film composer Bernard Herrmann once said that the cinema is the art form that will define our culture for the people of the 21st century. The study of film has often centered on the visual aspects of the medium, with little attention given to the important role that music plays. The purpose of this course will be to obtain an increased awareness of the many functions of film music and learn about its prominent role in the cinema. We will survey film music from its silent film era origins to the present. Along the way, we will study the works of many prominent film composers as well as some of the lesser known ones. In addition, we will explore the elements of music, musical forms, and style periods. Combining an increased knowledge about music with an understanding of the functions of the film score will enhance our awareness of the not so hidden dimension of film, its music.

FORMAT

The class will consist primarily of lecture and discussion. There will be in-class viewing of films, combined with listening. Since this is a hybrid class (the class meets two hours a week), there will be significant work outside of class. This will consist of readings from class texts, listening to excerpts of film scores, viewing of films in the IMC and readings that are found on the World Wide Web. In addition, you will have a series of discussion assignments and film cue critiques that you will submit to the class D2L folder.

EXAMS AND GRADING POLICY
Music 103/Music 308
There will be three non-cumulative exams, totaling 30% of your grade. The exams will cover both readings and lecture material.  20% of your grade will come from two exercises where you will analyze a short film music cue. The first will be done with assigned groups in D2L and the second will be an individual "paper" that you will submit to the D2L Drop Box.  A D2L Discussion will count for 25% of your grade. The remaining 25% will come from quizzes that you will take in D2L.  Exam 3 will take place on May 16th:8-10AM -Alternate  exams will not be given! Requests such as "my ride is leaving" or "I've had a plane reservation since January" will not be honored. Students Enrolled in Music 308 will have extra discussion assignments, additional essay questions on the three exams and an in-class group project.

LISTENING

Each exam will have a listening component.  Historically, 90% of students in Music 103/308 do well on the listening component. In order to achieve this goal you need to start listening early and regularly. On the exams you will need to identify the composer and the title of the film that the music is from. 

FILM MUSIC CUE REVIEWS

The requirements for these reviews will be described in the first few weeks of class

ATTENDANCE

I do not formally take attendance. However, a bulk of the material that will be on your examinations and quizzes will come from class lecture. It is highly unlikely that you will do well on exams if you miss class. 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

See Below for the Official University Policy on Academic Misconduct. I'm pretty web savvy and can generally summon up suspicious phrases in a quick Google search.  In the event that I discover  you have extensively used the work of others it will result in an automatic grade of F on your paper! So.....the message here is-stick to your own ideas for public folder postings and papers.

According to the UWSP community rights and responsibilities document, chapter 14, Academic misconduct is an act in which a student (a) Seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation; (b) Uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise; (c) Forges or falsifies academic documents or records; (d) Intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others; (e) Engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a students academic performance; or (f) Assists other students in any of these acts. (g) Violates electronic communication policies or standards as agreed upon when logging on initially (See uwsp.edu/it/policy). These offences are punishable by one or more of the following: (a) An oral reprimand; (b) A written reprimand presented only to the student; (c) An assignment to repeat the work, to be graded on its merits; (d) A lower or failing grade on the particular assignment or test; (e) A lower grade in the course; (f) A failing grade in the course; (g) Removal of the student from the course in progress; (h) A written reprimand to be included in the students disciplinary file; (i) Disciplinary probation; or (j) Suspension or expulsion from the university.
 

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