FLF 201: FILMS & CULTURAL VIDEOS : Spring 2007

CALENDAR & MOVIES INFORMATION

GRADING RUBRIC

CALENDAR:

All of the following videos are on closed reserve at the Media Center. All videos will be shown on Monday and Tuesday (except the week of Labor Day) beginning at 4 PM in the Media Center of the Erdahl-Cloyd Wing of the Library. 

A. January 22-23: Edouard Manet: Painter of Modern Life (English, 27 minutes - MC)

     AND Berthe Morisot: The Forgotten Impressionist (English, 32 minutes - MC)

B. January 29-30: Memories of Monet (English, 29 minutes, - MC)

     AND Van Gogh Biography (English, 45 minutes – D)

C. February 5-6: The Biography of Picasso (English, 90 mins. - D)

NOTE:  For any of the above, you may substitute the full-length, feature film Camille Claudel.  It can be rented at most video rental stores and is also available for individual showing at the Media Center. The film is in French with English subtitles, 159 mins long -D

ONE VIDEO COMMENTARY on A, B, or C (IN ENGLISH) DUE:  F February 9

D. February 19-20: The Biography of Joan of Arc (English, 50 mins. - D)

E. February 26-27: Châteaux de la Loire (English, 60 minutes – D)

FILM  1:  March 12-16: Cyrano de Bergerac (French with English subtitles, 138 minutes -feature film - MC).  REQUIRED VIEWING BY ALL STUDENTS.

COMPOSITION 3 WILL BE BASED ON CYRANO AND WILL BE DUE Monday, March 19. Film will be shown in Media Center on Monday through Thursday at 4 PM and 7 PM, and on Friday at 3:30 PM only.

F. March 19-20: Edith Piaf: Non, je ne regrette rien (English with songs in French, 75 minutes - MC)

G. March 26-27: Chanel, Chanel: (English, 60 minutes - MC)

SECOND VIDEO COMMENTARY on D, E, F or G (IN ENGLISH) DUE: M April 9

FILM  2:  Monday, Arpil 16-Friday, April 20:  Au revoir, les Enfants.   (French with English subtitles -feature film - MC)  REQUIRED VIEWING BY ALL STUDENTS.

FILM SHEET IS DUE Monday, April 23.  Film will be shown in Media Center on Monday through Thursday at 4 PM and 7 PM, and on Friday at 3:30 PM only.

FOR INSTRUCTOR'S INFORMATION ONLY:

D =  Video to be returned to Debora Godfrey's office.

MC = Video is permanently housed at the Media Center.

MOVIES INFORMATION:

A. Edouard Manet: Painter of Modern Life (English, 27 minutes) “This visually powerful documentary presents the great French Impressionist as a daring observer of the 19th century urban scene.  It examines Manet’s major paintings using the artist’s own words and those of his contemporaries.”

Berthe Morisot:  The Forgotten Impressionist  (English, 32 minutes) Although she was at the center of the Parisian avant-garde painting and influenced Renoir, Manet, and Degas, when she died, her death certificate listed her as having "no profession".  An interesting biography of a painter whose talent was often overshadowed by her womanhood. (Read p. 61 before seeing the video.)

B. Memories of Monet   (In English, 29 minutes) This is an award-winning documentary that blends superb views of Monet’s gardens at Giverny with his paintings.  The story is told in the words of Lilla Cabot Perry, an American artist who was the friend of Monet.  It includes very interesting information on several lesser-known American Impressionist painters: Robinson, Breck, Butler and Frieseke.

Van Gogh Biography (English, 45 mins.) "The story of the mad genius of painting including his famed run-in with his ear! Though he is now world famous, he sold only one canvas in his lifetime.  Hear Van Gogh's own words - taken from his letters to his brother - as he explains his life and work." 

C. The Biography of Picasso (English, 90 mins.). A fascinating look at the life and work of the most influential artist of the 20th century. Intriguing parallels between his life and his art.

Camille Claudel  (French with subtitles, 150 mins.- a feature-length film): "A historically accurate depiction of two great sculptors of modern art: Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin.  Both an inspiring saga of artistic vision and the haunting story of a doomed romance, it offers a brilliant study of the thin line separating creativity, passion, and madness."  (Several scenes of nude models.) (Read p. 65 before viewing the video.)

D. The Biography of Joan of Arc (English, 90 mins.):  The complete story of the "Maid of Orleans" who was burned as a heretic and became a saint. (Read pp.106-107 before seeing the video.)

E. Châteaux de la Loire (English, 60 mins.) “For many centuries, the Loire Valley was the setting for the French kings’ itinerant capital, with each individual château as court headquarters during a given season.  It was here in this garden spot of France that the monarchy discovered the Renaissance.”  Includes views and history of Chambord, Amboise, Chenonceaux, Chaumont, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Cheverny & many more. (Read pp. 140-147 before seeing the video.)

F. Edith Piaf: Non, je ne regrette rien (English with songs in French, 75 mins.):  Marvelous biography of the beloved French singer, Edith Piaf.  Contains many of her most memorable songs with background information supplied by her famous friends. Copious archival footage of her fascinating life and times. (Read p. 177 before seeing the video.)

G. Chanel, Chanel  (English, 60 mins.): "The world of fashion has produced no more charismatic figure than Coco Chanel, the famous fashion designer whose sense of style, and simplicity and ease of clothing became her hallmarks. Using rare archival footage, this program explores the course of her career as well as the fascinating story of her personal life.”

GRADING RUBRIC FOR VIDEO COMMENTARIES:

This activity is meant to have you focus on the culture and observe, compare and comment on what you have learned about France and how it is different from American culture. You can lose points for a commentary that is too short, or is written poorly. However, the grade for the video commentary is based principally on your comments, feelings, reactions, comparisons of the CULTURAL CONTENT of the video.

DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE FILM.

A:  Commentary contains insightful observations of the cultural content based on details from the video. Comparisons are made between the cultural content of the video and American culture/history/literature. Student comments on what surprised or intrigued him/her about the cultural content, and on how the cultural content "fitted" or did not "fit' with his/her knowledge of the culture.

B: Commentary contains some observations of the cultural content based on details from the video. Commentary contains some of the following: comparisons with another culture/history/literature, comments on what surprised or intrigued him/her about the cultural content, discussion of how this "fitted" or did not "fit" with previous ideas about the culture.

C: Commentary contains too much summarization of the video and not enough commentary on the culture. Some cultural comments are made but not enough. May be too short. Some grammar or vocabulary errors.

D: Commentary is all/mostly summary of the video. Instructor cannot tell whether or not the students actually saw the video since the comments are too vague. May be too short. Many grammar or vocabulary errors.

F: Poorly written. Shows little insight. Cultural content not addressed at all. Student cannot prove he/she saw the video or learned anything from its content. May be too short with excessive margins and/or spacing to make it appear longer.

If you are not sure what to write about the cultural content, the following information may be helpful:

An Introduction to Some Basic Ideas about Intercultural Communication
by Dean Hipple, Elena Choquet, Grant Douglas

CULTURE incorporates or shapes virtually all aspects of human life, including:

• THE WAY OF LIFE for a particular group of people
• THE ARTS: arts, music, dance, theatre, literature, architecture
• HISTORY/HERITAGE: the roots and longevity of a people or society
• BEHAVIOR: how people act and interact in various situations
• VALUES AND BELIEFS about the way the world is ordered
• CUSTOMS: ceremonies, rituals, traditions, morals, manners
• SENSORY DATA: everything seen, heard, felt, touched, or tasted
• LANGUAGE: thinking processes & philosophies; communication styles

• A WAY TO ORGANIZE THE WORLD and to make sense of our environment
• A LEARNED SYSTEM OF FUNCTIONING, which we are born into but which we FORGET WE HAVE LEARNED.
• A SOCIAL SYSTEM: government, education, religion, laws, etc.