|
|
MUS 424: Music of the Twentieth Century Topic for Fall 2003: Film Music Instructor: Eric Hung
SYLLABUS
This syllabus is subject to change.
Course Description The main goals of this course are:
Meetings Class: Wednesdays, 7:10 – 9:00pm [MUS 105] Screenings: Thursdays, 7:10 – 9:00pm (approx.) [SS 344] If you have a conflicting rehearsal or concert on selected Thursday evenings, you may still take this course, but you MUST watch the assigned films on your own.
Instructor's Contact Information Course E-mail: film@mandi-eric.com Office Phone: 406-243-6892 Office Hours: Mondays 1-2pm, Wednesdays 1:30-3pm, or By Appointment
General Class Format This is a discussion and research seminar. For this reason, class participation is worth 20% of the final grade. Each student is expected to contribute at least three significant comments in each class meeting.
Required Texts (Available at Bookstore) Kay Dickinson (ed.), Movie Music: The Film Reader (2003)
Reserve Material Some of the required reading is only available on e-reserve. Everything shown during the screening sessions are available on reserve in Mansfield Library.
Workload Expect to spend an average of at least four hours of "homework" each week. There will be between 30 and 40 pages of reading each week. Additionally, there will be three discussion papers and a large research project.
Course Webpage (http://eric.mandi-eric.com/fa2003/mus42401home.htm) The course webpage is an important component of this course. I will post assignments, discussion questions and final project information there. I will also use it to respond to your questions. Use it as often as you wish, but you are responsible for checking this webpage each Monday. Recent updates will be noted near the top of this page.
Grading
Discussion Papers During the first ten weeks of class, I will hand out topics for short discussion papers (600-800 words). Each student must write three of these papers. Since these papers are designed to stimulate class discussion, no late papers will be accepted. Paper #1: Due on Sept. 10, Sept. 17, or Sept. 24 Paper #2: Due on Oct. 1, Oct. 8, or Oct. 15 Paper #3: Due on Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, or Nov. 12
Final Project This is the research component of this course. Each student will complete the following:
Extra credit will be given to those who present their research in the Music Research Forum on Monday, Nov. 17.
Disability If you need accommodations because of a disability, please talk to me and the Disability Services for Students (DSS) Office as soon as possible. I need at least one week’s notice for test accommodations. Academic Honesty All students in this class must abide by the University’s “Academic Conduct” code. This code is available at http://www.umt.edu/studentaffairs/sccAcademicConduct.htm. Failure to abide by this code will result in severe penalties. Incompletes Incompletes will be granted only in extreme situations, such as serious illness and severe family emergency.
Course Outline Week 1: Introduction, Basic Terms, Why is there music in films? Week 2: The Classical Hollywood Sound, Eisenstein Week 3: Bernard Herrmann, Writing a Research Paper Week 4: The Western, Adorno and Eisler Week 5: Science Fiction, Brainstorming on Research Paper, Writing an Abstract Week 6: The Musical, The Jazz Score Week 7: The Popular Music Score, Brief Final Project Update Week 8: Music in Godard's Films, Postmodernism and Film Music Week 9: Indian Musicals, Takemitsu Week 10: Music in Cartoons, Longer Final Project Update Week 11: The MTV Aesthetic, Longer Final Project Updates Weeks 12-14: Presentations Last updated: August 25, 2003. |