Documentary Film

Course Code:

RTC 410

Course Type:

Elective

P:

2

Lab:

2

Credits:

3

ECTS:

5

Course Language:

English

Courses given by:

Lalehan Öcal

Course Objectives:

Main objective of this course is to develop a critical and analytical perspective woven with approaches and theories that deal with the document quality of the genre, and history of documentary film; to obtain the instruments of the moral, ethical, socio-political, and aesthetic implications of the relationship between filmmaker and subject in order to make documentary films. This course encourages to be mindful of thematic and stylistic choices such as camera angle, framing, shot scale, interview questions, editing etc. and to be aware of the responsibility of story telling in relation with history, society, politics and art.

Course Content:

This course questions the privileged status of documentary in film culture; interrogates the history, the periods and movements of documentary within theoretical frameworks; establishes the basis of critical analysis of documentary films with a historical and social analytical perspective, as well as the know-how of research, technique and practice for the process of production; thus it prepares the students to produce documentaries with its content, style and methodology. Students are expected to create and propose a project personally and produce the chosen documentaries collectively.

Course Methodology:

1: Lecture, 2: Interactive Lecture, 9: Demonstration, 15: Assignment

Course Evaluation Methods:

C: Assignment, E: Project / Design

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
1) Questions what documentary is, and defines documentary films	1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7	1, 2, 9, 15	C, E
2) Knows the movements and conventions of documentary film within history; evaluates and analyze with its form and its content	1, 3, 7	1, 2, 9, 15	C, E
3) Associates the periodical influences that causes the movements, defines and differentiates the historical, technological and cultural, but also economic, politic and social dynamics	1, 3, 7, 8	1, 2, 9, 15	C, E
4) Develops the idea from the beginning and realizes to the end of a documentary project; follows the rules of work ethics during the production process; internalizes the concepts of democracy and power which need to be balanced in a collective team work	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9	1, 2, 9, 15	C, E
5) Takes a critical thematic stand for the documentary filmmaking, develops her/him-self in order to produce original ideas and original storytelling within this framework	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9	1, 2, 9, 15	C, E

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	Introduction to the course
2	Realism and Cinema / Documentary, Fiction and Reality	Armes, R. (2011) p. 17-21.
3	Vertov and Kino-Eye / Direct Cinema and Cinema Verite	Armes, R. (2011) p.31-39.
4	Approaches and Theories of Documentary, Myth and Propaganda	Armes, R. (2011) p.40-52.
5	Identity of Documentarist, ethics, mission and importance	Rosenthal, A. (1990) p.163-175.
6	Building up a Project; imagination and theme selection; intuition, impression, prejudice	Rosenthal, Alan (1990) p.9-33.
7	Project design; research techniques; environment, budget, team building	Rosenthal, Alan (1990) p.33-59.
8	Midterm: Documentary Proposal Assignment
9	A Documentary or a Fiction? Docs, Society and Politics	Nichols, B. (2001) p.xi-xviii.
10	Ethics and Social Responsibility	Nichols, B. (2001) p.1-19.
11	Research Program, Sources of Information and Archive Footage	Nichols, B. (2001) p.20-41.
12	Collective work, human-team relationships, evaluating and interpretation of the sources	Rosenthal, A. (1990) p.188-199.
13	Style I: Camera, Cinematography, Frame, Mobile Frame	Nichols, B. (2001) p.139-152.
14	Style II: Natural Sound and Music, Fiction and Editing in Docs	Nichols, B. (2001) p.153-167.
15	Evaluation
16	Final

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES
Textbook	Nichols, Bill (2001) Introduction to Documentary. Bloomington: Indiana U. P. Rosenthal, Alan (1990) Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos. (3rd ed.) Southern Illinois U. P.
Additional Resources	Armes, Roy (1974) Sinema ve Gerçeklik: Tarihsel bir İnceleme, İst: Doruk.
Films	Nanook of the North, Robert J. Flaherty, USA/France, 1922, 79’ Man with the Movie Camera, Dziga Vertov, Soviet Union, 1929, 68’ Tahtacı Fatma, Süha Arın, Turkiye, 1979, 28’ The Thin Blue Line, Errol Morris, USA, 1988, 103’ Secrets of the Tribe - Kabilenin Sırları, Jose Padilha, Brezilya, 2010, 96′ Of time and the City, Terence Davies,UK, 2008 Notre Musique - FR-İsviçre - Jean - Luc Godard, 2004

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents
Assignments
Exams

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Report	2	15
Proposal	1	35
Project / Essay	1	50
Total		100
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade		55
Contribution of In-Term Studies to Overall Grade		45
Total		100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	Defines basic concepts, theories, methods, and domains of study specific to radio, television and cinema by associating them with the findings and theories of humanities and social sciences.				X
2	Demonstrates the responsibilities, effective participation, coordination, and planning skills essential for harmonious and efficient teamwork in the production processes relative to the radio, television and cinema fields.				X
3	Generates media products in accordance with professional standards in various narrative forms and genres specific to the field by synthesizing up-to-date knowledge and skills for expertise acquired through applied and theoretical courses.					X
4	Manifests professional knowledge and such skills as copywriting, image management, editing, sound design, producing and directing, media management in different fields of radio, television and cinema locally and globally.	X
5	Holds responsibility in broadcasting by integrating national and international rules of law that media professionals should pursue with professional ethical principles.				X
6	Comprehends the knowledge and skills related to institutional operation and management in the production and broadcasting processes of radio, television and cinema for the common interest.				X
7	Evaluates radio, television and cinema fields analytically and critically from their institutional structuring to products regarding a wide range of cultural, artistic, economic, and social relations.				X
8	Has the ability to collect visual, audio and written data, conduct research, evaluate, report and offer creative solutions in the fields of radio, television and cinema.				X
9	Develops original projects for radio, television and cinema by following new technologies, developments, and ideas in the fields of art, culture, and media at the national and global planes.		X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration	14	4	56
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	14	2	28
Report	2	2	4
Documentary Proposal	1	5	5
Project / Essay	1	5	5
Final examination	1	16	16
Total Work Load			114
Total Work Load / 25 (h)			4,5
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

None

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