CINE 18

American Cinema

CLASS ADD POLICY

CLASS ADD POLICY

I will not add anyone to the class who is not on the official wait list. Placement on the wait list does not guarantee a spot in the class. Please continue to look for other open CCSF classes and assume that you will not get into the class if you are on the wait list. If the course is full and any spots open up, I will only add students on the official wait / add request list in order of placement during Week 1 for this class (June 3-9). 

Before the class begins on June 3: Once the class is full, students are able to request placement on the wait list. The wait list has ten spots. If a spot opens up in the class before it begins, the registration system will contact the first person on the wait list via CCSF email to offer them the spot. Wait list students are given a window of time (24 hours) to add the class before their spot is offered to the next student on the wait list. You must check your CCSF email every day. If you are offered a spot in the class and you miss your window, you will be removed from the wait list and your spot will be offered to the next student on the list.

After the class begins: Once the class has begun, the wait list is no longer valid. After the course has begun, all students who were previously on the wait list need to add themselves to the “Class Add Request” list ASAP. Any student can add themselves to the “Class Add Request” list. If there are any open spots in the class after it begins, I will authorize adds for as many spots that are available from the “Class Add Request” list in order on the first day of class and throughout Week 1. You must check your CCSF email every day. If you are offered a spot in the class and you miss your window, you will be removed from the “Class Add Request” list and your spot will be offered to the next student on the list.

IMPORTANT: I will not add any students to the class after the first week. I will not give extensions on assignments due at the end of Week 1 for students adding the class late in Week 1. As soon as the class enters Week 2, the roster is set, and the class moves forward.

Placement on the wait list or “Class Add Request” list does not guarantee a spot in the class. Please continue to look for other open CCSF classes and assume that you will not get into the class. IMPORTANT: The registration system might indicate that spots are open in the class when in fact those spots are waiting to be claimed by those on the wait list or “Class Add Request” list.  Registration will contact you via CCSF email if any spots are available. 

Please do not email me about adding the class. Thank you.

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO

Cinema Department Summer 2024

Instructor: Denah Johnston

Time: Online Course/Canvas

Messaging for class related items: Canvas Inbox  only for enrolled students. 

Typical response time within 48 hours M-F, not including holiday or school closures.

Email: djohnston(at)ccsf.edu

Other Courses Taught By Professor Johnston in Summer 2024:

WGST 10 Women and Film

Canvas

RAM ID Portal/Canvas Login Help

Canvas Support Hotline (844) 592-2198 available 24/7

Cinema Department Website

Cinema Department Facebook

Cinema Department Twitter

Course Description:

American Cinema is an introductory course in film studies examining the history and development of Hollywood and the movie business and their sustained influence on American culture. The tools of cinematic grammar in creating a universal visual language are also explored.

Films:

All films for the class will be embedded in Canvas via streaming resources provided by the CCSF Library such as Films on Demand, Swank, InfoBase's Feature Films for Education Collection, and the BLC Library of Foreign Language Film Clips. Once you use your RAM ID to access Canvas you will be able to stream the films directly in each Module.

Cinema Research Guide for CCSF Libraries

Succeeding in Online Classes

Required Text:

American Film: A History (2nd Edition) by Jon Lewis

All material for the class comes from the 2nd edition. Use the older edition at your own risk.

Student Learning Outcomes:

*Define American cinema's history from the silent era to present day movies and identify its influence on changing cultural preferences.

*Compare how developing film technology influences aesthetics.

*Articulate how camera angles, lighting, editing, and sound create a universal cinematic grammar.

*Assess directing styles and popular genres employed by American filmmakers over the course of cinematic history.