A Short History of Film Paperback – February 15, 2013

DISCUSSION BOARD GRADING RUBRICStudent:Criteria Points Possible Points Earned Instructor’s CommentsThreadAll key components of the Discussion Board Forum prompt are answered in the thread.Major points are supported by the following:• Reading & Study materials;• Pertinent, conceptual, or personal examples;• Thoughtful analysis (considering assumptions, analyzing implications, and comparing/contrasting concepts);• Headings that indicate the key points related to your analysis and that indicate key parts of your post.• Citations in current APA format. 10 -2 Lack of headings makes it difficult for readers to ascertain your assumptions and key points• Proper spelling and grammar are used.• Required word count (250 words) is met.• Communication follows Student Expectations.5RepliesMajor points are supported by the following:• Reading & Study materials;• Pertinent, conceptual, or personal examples;• Thoughtful analysis (considering assumptions, analyzing implications, and comparing/contrasting concepts); and• Citations in current APA format.• Contribution made to discussion.• Each reply expounds on the thread. 5• Proper spelling and grammar are used.• Required word count (100 words each) for two replies is met.• Communication follows Student Expectations.5Total 25 23

Dixon and Foster's book is good for what it is: a relatively inexpensive brusque survey of film history. The shortcoming of the book is that it does little besides list significant films, offer passing commentaries on them, and very briefly cover major technological, industry, and legal events that shaped film history. Now, if that is all you want from a film history book, then this one will do you just fine, and I perhaps if you know relatively little about the history of film this isn't a bad primer (though there are numerous documentaries available online that will do a better job of *showing* you the history). I, however, rather wish I had bought a "cultural history" of film, which would have done more to place the story of film in a broader cultural light, or a more comprehensive history, which would have been more in-depth, analytical, and scholarly. (Many of the technological innovations explained in the book, for example, are so quickly discussed that I often had to look them up online to get a real sense of what they were.) Having said that, the book is generally well-written (though at many times the narrative thread drops away as the authors discuss in passing one example after another), and it deserves praise for being broadly inclusive by representing world cinema as equal to American cinema and recognizing the long-ignored contributions of women to film. I occasionally use it now as a reference book, and it can come in handy in that capacity but even then I often have to supplement it with online research or other print sources.

Very informative

THIS WAS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A UNIVERSITY CLASS ABOUT MOVIES REFLECTING MODERN HISTORY.IT WAS VERY.WELL WRITEN AND INTERESTING.HELPED MY UNDERSTANDING THE SUBJECTS.TO BE MORE SPECIFIC THE MOVIES WERE MADE IN THE COLD WAR ERA AND REFLECTED PEOPLES FEAR OF WORLD CHANGES '"THE CHINA SYNDROME","THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL","BRAZIL".THE MOVIE REVIEWS WERE HELPFUL IN MAKING IT THRU THIS HISTORY CLASS.

I don't like the way this is written. I expected it to be a nice, concise history, almost like an extensive organized study guide or a small textbook. Instead, it's written like a novel, with no strict organization present. taking notes on this is difficult, and it jumps from topic to topic. College students beware... I bought this at the request of my professor and we used it maybe twice. I could have easily just borrowed a friend's book instead of buying my own. Also, if you're using this for class, understand that if you buy the kindle edition, you won't be able to use the page numbers the professor gives. You'll just have to search for the chapter and go from there until you find the proper excerpt.

Not enough information on the Black filmmakers of the 70's

Good book for my film class, mandatory reading.

Was assigned this great book for a history of film class and loved it! I found myself reading way past my assignments again and again. Well written, interesting, and a pleasure to read.