As long as we're having this discussion, I wonder if I might ask for similar advice on introductory television studies textbooks? I used the Bignell book this year and both I and the students found it unsatisfactory. Many thanks, Roberta Pearson University of Nottingham -----Original Message----- From: Film and TV Studies Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of SCREEN-L automatic digest system Sent: 12 June 2007 06:00 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: SCREEN-L Digest - 9 Jun 2007 to 11 Jun 2007 (#2007-87) There are 4 messages totalling 206 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. textbook query (2) 2. SCREEN-L Digest - 7 Jun 2007 to 9 Jun 2007 (#2007-86) 3. call for papers - Receptions ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 09:48:22 -0500 From: "Larsson, Donald F" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: textbook query I piloted the Barsam text for a summer class just before its initial release and the student reaction seemed pretty favorable at the time. This year, I used it as my main text instead of FILM ART, in both fall and spring semesters. It does have particular strengths, and its ancillaries (CD-ROM, website) both have some very good features, if your students can access them. However, in the longer 15-week space of a full semester, I found it increasingly difficult for own way of dealing with film concepts, mainly in its discussion of "mise-en-scene," which has a more inclusive definition than Bordwell & Thompson. While there are good precedents for that definition, it dilutes and confuses the topic (for me, and I think for my students as well). For example, acting has a separate chapter and the main discussion of lighting is reserved for the chapter on cinematography. Some of the discussions and definitions tend to be more abstract than I care for. I expect that it's largely a matter of personal preference and training in the use of these terms, but I was planning to switch back to B&T this year while continuing to look at other options. I haven't done a close comparison of the new second edition of Barsam, however. Don Larsson ----------------------------------------------- "Nothing is ever the same as they said it was. It's what I've never seen before that I recognize." --Diane Arbus Donald F. Larsson Department of English, AH 230 Minnesota State University Mankato, MN 56001 [log in to unmask] Office Phone: 507-389-2368 ________________________________ From: Film and TV Studies Discussion List on behalf of Frank, Michael Sent: Thu 6/7/2007 6:52 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [SCREEN-L] textbook query after an extended hiatus, i will be teaching "into to cinema studies" again in the fall, and hope to enlist screen-L's help in reconsidering textbook options . . . i assume that bordwell & thompson' SCREEN ART is still the gold standard, but i suspect it's a bit much for non-specialist beginning students who will be taking the course simply to fulfill distribution requirements i've been examining richard barsam's LOOKING AT MOVIES; at first glance it seems to have a number of things going for it . . . unfortunately i don't have time to give it a careful reading before i need to place my book orders . . . so i'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with this book that they can share -- or, for that matter, other strong recommendations thanks in advance mike ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 08:45:28 -0400 From: Jason Mittell <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: textbook query Mike, I'd recommend taking a look at Chris Cagle's blog post comparing various intro books - you may not agree with his opinions, but he provides good info: http://categoryd.blogspot.com/2006/11/intro-textbook-comparison.html I'd ask what is the goal of the course - if it's understanding the formal system of film, then FILM ART is probably the best option (especially if you plan on using a global assortment of examples rather than Euro/US focus). If it's introducing a broader range of theoretical approaches to film, Corrigan & White's FILM EXPERIENCE is excellent. My other comment is not to undersell students with a textbook. I always prefer teaching books that err on the challenging side, encouraging students to rise to the material. The vast majority of textbooks I've looked at across fields talk down to readers & try to keep them entertained rather than actually conveying information & ideas. If you assign a challenging textbook, lectures avoid redundancy & build on the material, rather than just echo the book. Good luck! -Jason On 6/10/07 1:00 AM, "SCREEN-L automatic digest system" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 19:52:22 -0400 > From: "Frank, Michael" <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: textbook query > > after an extended hiatus, i will be teaching "into to cinema studies" > again in the fall, and hope to enlist screen-L's help in reconsidering > textbook options . . . i assume that bordwell & thompson' SCREEN ART is > still the gold standard, but i suspect it's a bit much for > non-specialist beginning students who will be taking the course simply > to fulfill distribution requirements > > i've been examining richard barsam's LOOKING AT MOVIES; at first > glance it seems to have a number of things going for it . . . > unfortunately i don't have time to give it a careful reading before i > need to place my book orders . . . so i'm wondering if anyone has had > any experience with this book that they can share -- or, for that > matter, other strong recommendations > > thanks in advance > > mike -- Jason Mittell, Assistant Professor of American Studies and Film & Media Culture Middlebury College 204 Adirondack House Middlebury, Vermont 05753 (802) 443-3435 / fax: (802) 443-5123 Homepage: http://seguecommunity.middlebury.edu/sites/jmittell Blog: http://justtv.wordpress.com ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:18:18 -0500 From: "Darnell, Amy L." <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: SCREEN-L Digest - 7 Jun 2007 to 9 Jun 2007 (#2007-86) In response to Professor Frank's question about textbooks, I have found = that Mast and Kawain's "Short History of the Movies" is more than up to = the task of teaching an introductory course. Combining it with = Corrigan's "Short Guide to Writing about Film" I find that students are = more than challenged with the level of insight and information. The = publishers have even created a 'shorter' history of the movies that = still comes in at well over 300 pages if you're trying to find a = streamlined, yet substantive history for an introductory class. ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:08:27 -0500 From: Janet Staiger <[log in to unmask]> Subject: call for papers - Receptions Call for papers: Receptions (11/01/2007: journal issue) The editors of Reception: Texts, Readers, Audiences, History, which is the journal of the Reception Study Society, invites submissions for its inaugural issue, which will appear in the spring 2008. This journal seeks to promote dialog and discussion among scholars in several related fields: reader-response criticism and pedagogy, reception study, history of reading and the book, audience and communication studies, and institutional studies and histories, as well as interpretive strategies related to feminism, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and postcolonial studies. The journal will publish theoretical and practical analyses in these fields, focusing mainly but not exclusively on the literature, culture, and media of England and the United States. The journal will be refereed and will appear once each year both on line and in paper. Essays submitted for publication will be evaluated by at least two members of the editorial board. Contributors can expect a response in a timely fashion. The deadline for proposed papers is November 1, 2007. Please submit proposals of 250-500 words to Philip Goldstein at <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] or at the University of Delaware, 333 Shipley St., Wilmington, DE 19801. For more information, visit the RSS webpage: <http://copland.udel.edu/~pgold/webpage/RSSsite/index.html>http://coplan d.udel.edu/~pgold/webpage/RSSsite/index.html Editorial Board: Tony Bennett, The Open University Temma Berg, Gettysburg University Amy Blair, Marquette University Barbara Hochman, Ben Gurion University Charles Johanningsmeier, University of Nebraska at Omaha Jim Machor, Kansas State U. Walter Metz, U of Montana Rhonda Petit, University of Cincinnati. Emily Satterwhite, Virginia Tech Patsy Schweikart, Purdue University Janet Staiger, University of Texas at Austen Charlotte Templin, University of Indianapolis. Gary Walton, Northern Kentucky University ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu ------------------------------ End of SCREEN-L Digest - 9 Jun 2007 to 11 Jun 2007 (#2007-87) ************************************************************* This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses, which could damage your computer system: you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation. ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html