{"id":548,"date":"2019-06-29T15:16:35","date_gmt":"2019-06-29T15:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/220.jcdelama.info\/?page_id=548"},"modified":"2026-05-22T01:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T01:59:09","slug":"welcome-message","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/220.jcdelama.info\/?page_id=548","title":{"rendered":"Welcome Message"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Welcome to the Course<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Welcome to the course COMM 220 Introduction to History of Film<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this brief introduction, I will discuss the contents of the course, the learning material (readings and audiovisual material), and the grading elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Personal Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My name is Jose Carlos del Ama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although I originally come from Spain, I have spent the most important part of my life and academic career in Germany. I received my PhD from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I came to the United States in 2003, I had been teaching and researching in Spain at the Universidad de Navarra (Pamplona) and in Germany at the above mentioned university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My emphasis areas of teaching and research are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

public opinion,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

persuasive communication,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

film history,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

filmic narrative,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

new communication technologies and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information about the instructor, you can become in this link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J<\/a>os\u00e9 Carlos del Ama<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this background and vital experience, you can expect a cocktail of accents when I speak in English. I have recorded some brief audio material to introduce some of the concepts of the course or discuss stylistic and thematic elements of the genres and filmmakers this history of film covers. If you have any difficulty understanding the audio material, please, contact me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Material<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We will not have any particular textbook in this course. Instead of that, I have created learning units with different contents: online lectures, audio files, book chapters, journal articles and audiovisual material. Again, this is a reading intensive course. You need to know the readings in order to success in this course. You will find the mandatory readings at the beginning of every learning unit. See the example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the end of the lecture, I have added a list of suggested literature about the subjects covered by the course. These books are for your reference only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main goal of this course is to help you gain an idea of the historial development of cinematographic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to history of film, like any other historical survey, starts with the origins of cinema. The course discusses the first attempts to find expressive ways with the aid of the new technology in European and American silent movies. The, the course focuses of the development of the film industry on the basis of the most popular genres during Hollywood\u2019s Golden Age. In the last part of the course, we move to Europe to analyze the most important stylistic trends in European Cinema after World War II and the avant-garde movements during the seventies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Modules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The learning modules you will find in the course contents folders are the key to success in this course. Thus, it is important that you are using them properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every learning module contains three basic types of material:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Online Lectures<\/li>
  • Audio files<\/li>
  • Book Chapters and Journal Articles<\/li>
  • Audiovisual Material<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Please , be aware that I have added some learning units that WILL NOT BE COVERED by the exams. My goal with this Web-site was to offer you learning material not only to success in this course but also to help you explore different areas and authors that are relevant in the history of film. Specifically, the learning units that midterm and final exam WILL NOT COVER <\/strong>are the ones dedicated to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • the film musical genre, <\/li>
    • Alfred Hitchcock,<\/li>
    • Billy Wilder,<\/li>
    • and the American college generation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Mandatory Movies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      You will have to watch a series of mandatory movies. Those movies are mentioned in each learning unit \u2013 and also in the film collection. Some of them, the older ones, are available for free in online platforms, such as YouTube. In those cases, I have streamed them into the course\u2019s Website, so that you can find them in the different learning units. In other cases, you will not be able to find them online for free. Most of the those films are available in the public libraries of the area. You can also rent them in any of the popular video platforms (iTunes or Amazon Video) for a moderate price (around $3). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Grading Elements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      • Midterm Exam 35%<\/li>
      • Final Exam 45%<\/li>
      • Participation 20%<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        The midterm and the final exam will have the same format: Multiple choice and short essay questions. You can perfectly answer each essay question in 250 words. The final exam covers the contents of the whole course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the Midterm and 3 hours for the final exam. All the examinations will be available the whole day scheduled for the exam. Please, be aware that time starts running when you begin the assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        I will post the examinations following dates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • Midterm \u2013 Friday, June 12<\/em><\/strong><\/li>
        • Final Exam \u2013 Friday, June 26<\/em><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          The participation grade will be based on the discussions forums and the quality and quantity of your entries. Every week, I will post discussion questions related to the mandatory movies in this course. The forums will be open Monday through Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Interaction with the Instructor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          I will be answering your questions every day. Contact me immediately if you have any questions. If you use the messaging system within Blackboard Ultra, make sure that you check the box to send an email to the recipient:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          I can also schedule individual virtual meetings for students who want a more personal interaction with the instructor.\u00a0Please contact me via Email to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Good luck!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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