We schedule a three-hour weekly film screening for "film studies"
classes, which consist of actual films (16mm mostly, sometimes 35mm)
being shown on an actual screen. I emphasize this because it is useful
for students to see something as close to the original exhibition format
as we can get...which sometimes isn't anywhere near close enough. In
addition, we show all manner of excerpts in class from 16mm film,
videocassette and videodisc sources.
 
We also assign "required viewing" and list "recommended viewing" of
videocassettes placed on reserve in the library. Generally 90 minutes of
required viewing per week, sometimes as much as 3 or 4 hours. The
reason, simply, is that students tend to come with a fairly limited film
culture, and they need to become conversant with a fair amount...Okay, I
confess, we still insist that they be familiar with, you should pardon
the expression, the "canon", previously known as "The Gospel According
to Iris Barry." The good news is that there's no such thing as too many
films.
 
-Henry Breitrose