Film Studies in Paris, France
Fall Global Seminar
SPU's Film Studies program in Paris provides undergraduate students the opportunity to explore the study of film and related media in the very center of this beautiful city. This program is open to students of all majors and students will choose one of the two courses that are offered. Any student with an interest in film, particularly French cinema, is encouraged to apply. The program courses will make use of the rich cultural resources of Paris and the French film-making tradition to enhance the educational experience of learning to analyze and interpret films as works of art. Program participants will also learn some basic "Survival French" ldesigned to help students connect with French (and Parisian) culture.
Apart from classroom work, the program offers a number of excursions to sites of artistic and historic interest within and in the vicinity of Paris. Indeed Paris itself, with its wealth of cinemas, museums, libraries and theaters, its lively art, film, and literary scene, its rich traditions of creation and critique, plays a central role in the program and students will have the opportunity to make full use of its cultural resources.
Course Information
Students will choose one of the following courses and earn 5 fall quarter credits upon successful completion of this program.
COM 3780: The Art of Film (5 credits)
The goal of this course is to develop students' abilities to view films critically and to deepen their understanding of the French film experience. The course first teaches analysis of narrative strategies, shot properties, mise-en-scene, editing, acting, and the use of sound in film. The course focuses on the study of different genres of films and how cinematic elements create meaning.
Attributes: Arts and Humanities A, Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course.
-OR-
COM 3781: A World on Film (5 credits)
This course explores a range of international films. We will take a comparative, case-study approach to show how movies variously represent the vision and values of filmmakers around the world. Thus, this course is a grand survey of movies that aims through viewing, discussing, reading, and writing about foreign films to teach critical thinking about and appreciation of film art and international filmmaking.
Attributes: Writing "W" Course, Upper-Division
Basic survival French and lessons on French culture will be integrated into the film studies program.
2018 Itinerary
Wednesday, August 22: Arrive in Paris. Program begins.
Tuesday, September 18: Program ends.
Housing
Students will live in centrally located shared apartments with other SPU students. On average, there are two to six students per apartment; some apartments may have up to eight students. Typical bedrooms accommodate two students. Each apartment is equipped with shared bathrooms and a common living room area. Bedding, bed linens, and one bath towel per student is provided.
A meal plan is not included, however, apartments have fully equipped kitchens (including pots, pans, dishes, silverware, cups, and glasses.) There are plenty of markets and affordable restaurant and deli options in Paris, and we recommend students budget $150-200 per week for meal expenses. Three group meals will be provided.
| 2018 ESTIMATED* Program Fee |
Credits |
| $4,200 + $300 confirmation payment (administrative fee) |
5 |
Program fee includes:
Lodging - Shared apartments in central Paris
Three group meals
Airport pick-up
Paris metro pass for one week
Entrance fees to group cultural and sightseeing activities, including Versailles
Weekend excursion with overnight stay
Medical insurance for the duration of the program
Estimated expenses not included in program fees:
Tuition: Credits earned are part of regular fall tuition
Airfare to Paris: $1200 - $1400
Most meals: Approx. $150 per week
Personal expenses (souvenirs, snacks, activities, etc.) - varies
Metro pass for 3 weeks: $90
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance - varies
*Costs are estimated and may be adjusted in response to unanticipated price changes or foreign currency fluctuations.
Students on the Paris Global Seminar may be eligible for financial aid, including state and federal aid. Check with Student Financial Services to determine your exact aid eligibility before applying.
Flight Information for travel to Paris
To give students maximum flexibility and control, flights are not included in your program fee. It is each student's responsibility to book and pay for their flights to Paris.
Please do not book your flights to Paris until you have been accepted to the program and your place has been confirmed by the study abroad office. Once we have the group confirmed, we will send specific instructions about when to arrive in Paris. There is no chaperone to accompany students on their flight(s) from the US, but students will be given a time frame to arrive in Paris and will be greeted at the airport by our hosts and transported to student housing.
If you choose to arrive early and not meet at the airport at the designated time, you will be responsible for your own transportation into the city to meet the group. We will give you instructions on how to get to the meeting point.
After the program is over, many students choose to stay in Paris or travel independently in Europe. Return airport transportation is included in the program fees, but if you choose to stay longer, you'll be advised on the best options.
Once your flights are booked, you must complete the flight information questionnaire in your study abroad account at least four weeks prior to departure, providing the study abroad office with flight numbers and times. If you do not provide this information on time, we cannot guarantee your airport pickup.
Please note that if it is necessary for SPU to cancel the program or if you have reason to cancel after your ticket has been purchased, SPU is not responsible for reimbursing the cost of your ticket. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to purchase flight insurance. We are happy to advise you on cancellation insurance options.
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Todd Rendleman, Ph.D. Professor, Communication
Marston Hall 206 / trendleman@spu.edu
Education: BA, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1992; MA, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1994;
PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1999 |
Todd Rendleman, Ph.D., professor of communication, has taught courses in film theory, film history and communication studies at SPU since 1999. In “The Art of Film,” he helps students to view films critically and appreciate the history of classical Hollywood cinema. For the past nine years, he has co-produced the Image SPU Film Festival. In the festival, movies sharing a central theme are shown free to campus and community audiences. Dr.Rendleman’s scholarly research explores the relationships between religious audiences and religious images in American movies.
In 2006 Dr. Rendleman traveled with the SPU group to Paris to study and research French film. Since then, he has frequently traveled to Paris to continue his research on all things French! He has enjoyed teaching in Paris with an emphasis on French filmmakers and cinema for many years.
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