Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
52052:[2025 Spring]Understanding Visual Culture (GV) 2025 Spring Wed1 College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Policy　Science,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Comprehensive　Psychology,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering NAGATA AKIKO 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

AS368

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

Everything that we see in our daily life can be a part of visual culture. Through lectures and screenings, students will gain an understanding of film techniques, styles, and themes. The course will also explore the film's cultural and historical context and look into the social and political factors that play an essential part in visual culture. Class will be conducted Face to Face.

Student Attainment Objectives

The goal of this course is for students to
- be able to analyze and interpret films critically,
- understand and apply film terminology,
- learn general ideas about film form and style.

Recommended Preparatory Course

【Stage 3】This class is open for the students with the following English ability: a TOEFL ITP®test score between 480 and 530, a TOEFL iBT®test score between 55 and 71, a TOEIC®test score between 580 and 630, an IELTS score above 5.0, or equivalent.
＊TOEIC®, TOEFL®はEducational Testing Service(ETS)の登録商標です。

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Elements of Film Form and Film History

[Face-to-Face Class], Film and content

【+R-Jugyo】For the details, refer to Manaba +R

2

Narrative

[Face-to-Face Class], Story and plot, character, setting

3

Watching a Film (1)

[Face-to-Face Class], Film screening

4

Mise-en-scene

[Face-to-Face Class], Settings, props, costumes, make up, lighting

5

Cinematography

[Face-to-Face Class], Camera movement, shot, camera angle

6

Editing

[Face-to-Face Class], Continuity editing, transitions, montage, tempo, long-takes

7

Mid-term Exam

[Face-to-Face Class]

8

Watching a Film (2)

[Face-to-Face Class], Film screening

9

Sound

[Face-to-Face Class], Sound effects, music, on screen sound, off screen sound

10

Genre (1)

[Face-to-Face Class], Looking into different genres, representations in media

11

Watching a Film (3)

[Face-to-Face Class], Film screening

12

Genre (2)

[Face-to-Face Class], Looking into different genres, representations in media

13

Final Exam

[Face-to-Face Class]

14

Revision and Discussion

[Face-to-Face Class], Group Activity

Class Format

+R(VOD)のみWEB(オンデマンド)で実施。
第1回 - 第14回を対面で行う。

+R(VOD) will be conducted Online (On-Demand).
For Week 1 to Week 14 - Face to Face.

Recommendations for Private Study

Each week, students will be expected to review the content of the class and watch films mentioned during the lecture.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Exams:
-Midterm Exam (30%): Multiple choice questions that covers key terms and ideas discussed in the lectures.
-Final Exam (30%): Multiple choice and a written exam which will cover the whole duration of this course.

Reaction Papers and Quizzes (40%):
In-class Assignments
- Reaction Papers: There will be multiple submissions where you are required to complete a writing assignment.
-Quizzes: A short multiple-choice quiz will be conducted during class time regarding the topic discussed in class.

-Students who are absent for 1/3 or more of the total number of class sessions will not be evaluated.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Each week you will be expected to review the content of the class and watch as many films discussed in the lecture.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

No textbook is required.

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Film Art: An Introduction (12th Edition) David Bordwell/ Kristin Thompson McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film (7th Edition) Dave Monahan/ Richard Barsam, WW Norton & Co

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

Students may need to watch an assigned film on their own time for a specific assignment.
Group discussions and presentations may be conducted depending on the situation of the class.
This syllabus is subject to change depending on the circumstances. Any changes will be announced in class.
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/