Syllabus for Film Appreciation 


No Textbook is used for this class but there are handouts.

 "Whether our taste runs to A Day at the Races (Marx Bros.) or A Nightmare on Elm 
Street, when we become critical moviegoers, we find something to fall in love with every 
time the house lights go down. To understand cinema is to bask in the glory of human 
imagination.” 

Mary Elizabeth Williams (Critic for the New York Times) 

This class will be divided into units examining as much as we can of the history and 
aesthetics of the American (some foreign) film industry. The objective of this class is to 
give you, the student, an understanding of film and the ability to hone your interpretive 
skills when viewing film. You will be required to demonstrate your understanding and 
interpretation through various forms of written, oral, and other methods of 
communication as directed by the instructor. Since this class will have very little outside 
homework, your attendance in class will have an effect upon your ability to complete 
your assigned tasks. In other words, this class will be difficult to pass if you are not here 
or have the films available to you. I do not have extra copies of the films that will be 
studied and many of them cannot be found at the local video store since they are not new 
to the film rental market therefore I will not allow students to take films home to view. If 
you are absent from class on a day that we view a film or work on a project, you will 
need to make arrangements with the teacher to stay after school and make-up the material 
that you missed in class. 

The Syllabus 

The following are examples of the films that will be covered in this class: 

OVER THE EDGE (MATT DYLAN) 

I AM LEGEND (WILL SMITH) 

RED DAWN (CHARLIE SHEEN) 

THE LORDS OF DOGTOWN (HEATH LEDGER) 

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (JOHN CLEESE) 

BATMAN (HEATH LEDGER) 

THE BAD NEWS BEARS (WALTER MATHAU) 

PRETTY IN PINK (MOLLY RINGWALD) 


THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS 
FREEDOM WRITERS (HILLARY SWANK) 
PLANET OF THE APES (CHARLTON HESTON) 
THE ISLAND (SCARLETT JOHANSEN) 
THE MAKING OF LORDS OF DOGTOWN (TONY ALBA) 
Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom 

(Harrison Ford) 
The Natural (Robert Redford) 
Supplies: Since the student has notebook, he / she will be expected to take 
notes and to summarize the discussion and / or viewing of the day. From time 
to time, the instructor will check to see the writing and observations that the 
student is making for this class. Assignments will be collected following the 
presentation and discussion of a film unit. Sometimes (such as with the first 
two films) more than one film will make up a unit. 

As the instructor, I do reserve the right to change to a different film if I feel it 
warrants such an action. Students will be notified if this is to happen in plenty 
of time to adjust this syllabus. This syllabus should be discussed with the 
student’s parent or guardian with regard to your participation in this elective 
class. If the parent or guardian has any questions regarding this class, please 
contact me at the school 502-5654 or email: dmount@yumaed.org.