Film Genres: Science Fiction Film
FST368-003, Fall 2005
Instructor: Dr. Nicholas Laudadio
Office: Morton 105D
Office Hours: w 12-3 and by appt.
E-mail: laudadion@uncw.edu
http://people.uncw.edu/laudadion/368.html

Course Description
This course will be a chronological and thematic survey of science fiction film that will serve as a comprehensive introduction to the madness and methods of the genre. Such a survey will necessarily include a focused discussion of film technology, history, and theory as science fiction film has, from the very beginning of things, been central to our understanding of western cinema. So for every film screened, you will be reading examples of film criticism, history and theory in order to better understand not just the workings of SF as a genre, but the crucial role it plays in defining some of the most basic aesthetic and technical features of modern film.

Required texts
• Course reserves available from the library and on the course site.
• Telotte, JP. Science Fiction Film, Cambridge University Press, 2001.
• The Science Fiction Film Reader. Rickman, Greg, ed. Limelight Editions. 2004.
These books are available from the university bookstore as well as the Seahawk bookstore, but feel free to buy them used from amazon.com or bookfinder.com if you would prefer. Just make sure you have all your books by the time we discuss them.

Supplies
• Folder with pockets for your responses; paper for taking notes; drive/disk for backing up your computer work.
• Save all writing you do this semester in at least two locations (i.e on disk and in hard copy). Keep all work that I hand back to you.
NB: Always save repeatedly and backup regularly as important documents have a tendency to disappear--crashes/losses are not an acceptable excuse for late/missing assignments.

Film Screenings
As you might expect, nearly every week you will be watching a film. In addition to the in-class screenings, I will put these films on reserve in the library, but given that the books for this course are relatively inexpensive and much of your reading is online, I would recommend that you buy some of the films. This will help take the pressure off the library reserve.

Class requirements and assignments
• You will be required to write a final paper (7-10 pgs), short (2 page) responses to the films, take a midterm, participate in class discussions, and attend class regularly (see attendance policy below).
• Each assignment (including film responses) should be typed in a standard 10 or 12 point serifed font (Times or Times New Roman) in MLA style (refer to the website for more info). Hand in all versions of the paper with your final drafts.
• Late assignments will be reduced by one-third of a grade per class day. (Absence from class on the date due (as well as computer problems) does not excuse the lateness of your assignment.)

Response Papers
This semester you will be writing two page response papers that discuss/analyze/criticize/meditate on either the film you’ve watched or a review/article you’ve read. Unless I say otherwise, it will be up to you to come up with topics—I won’t be reminding you. You will be expected to have these with you the day following the screening of the film and different students will be called on to read them aloud in each and every class discussion. These responses will be picked up and graded at various times through the semester, so you should have them with you at all times.
NB: Your responses should NOT be the sort that begin "This film was really good/bad..." or "I really love/hate this movie because..." You need to center your discussion on tangible and specific aspects of the film you are discussing, not on your emotions. When you “run out of things to say,” you’re probably not being specific enough. Since these entries are short, don’t try to tackle the entire film; rather, spend time on specific moments/scenes.

Breakdown of grades
Final essay (35%), midterm (35%)
Film responses: (20%) (all work must be in order, titled, dated, and typed)
Participation: includes group work, class participation, attendance, and general attitude (10%)

Attendance
You are allowed to miss two classes before you are penalized. Use these wisely (i.e. save them for when you are really sick). After three missed classes, your participation grade drops a level. After four missed classes, your final grade drops by a third. After five missed classes, you will receive a failing grade. The class depends upon your presence.
• If you miss more than one class, you must contact me in person; otherwise, I will assume you have dropped the class.
• Do not schedule meetings with your advisor, doctor’s appointments or anything else during this class time. (Having a doctor’s note does not gain you a “free” absence.)
• Don’t leave class early.

Lateness
If you are late to class three times (that is, if you come in after I have taken attendance), you will receive one absence. If you are late, please make sure that I have marked you present. If you find that parking is a problem on the first day (and it almost always is) come earlier.

Incompletes
The incomplete grade may be given only to students who have 1) fulfilled the attendance requirement for the course and 2) completed all but one of the written assignments.

Academic Dishonesty
Almost every semester I am forced to fail a student for turning in a plagiarized paper. Do not be this person, as it is a terrible experience for everyone involved.

As a reminder: plagiarism is using another person’s words (even just a few words and even if they are from some old website) and/or ideas as if they were your own. To avoid plagiarism, simply put the material you have taken in quotation marks and cite the person’s name and publication information in your paper. Please note that turning in an assignment that you wrote for another class also falls under the heading of academic dishonesty and is prohibited. If you turn in any such assignments, you will receive an “F” for the course and I will notify the Dean.

Writer’s Block
Feel free to stop in during office hours for any reason; as paper time draws near, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment if you’re desperate for additional feedback. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so; I cannot (as you can probably imagine) schedule time for very many students two days before the deadline. If you need additional assistance on your paper draft beyond this meeting, please seek out the Writing Place; the staff are there to provide feedback on papers. (Please keep in mind, however, that merely having someone on the staff read your paper does not ensure you a higher grade. http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/writingplace/ 962-7155 (appointments are recommended) Hours: M-Th 10-9; Friday 10-3; Sun 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Disabilities
If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation, you should inform me of this fact in writing within the first week of class. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then schedule an appointment with me to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations in your letter.