Syllabus

ABOUT THE SCREEN TESTS

In August 1962, Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987) began making silkscreen paintings of popular icons, including a series of images of Marilyn Monroe that he began a month after her death. He went on to experiment in portrait making with public photo booth machines, which automatically take four exposures several seconds apart and print them in a strip, like a sequence of film frames.

Combining the seriality of these silkscreen and photo booth portraits with the ephemeral quality of the filmed image, between 1964 and 1966 Warhol shot approximately 500 rolls of film: several-minute silent portraits of acquaintances, friends, and celebrities, including many of the artists musicians, poets, actors, models, playwrights, curators, collectors, critics, and gallerists who composed New York City's avant-garde scene. Some subjects were invited to the artist's East 47th Street studio, known as The Factory or The Silver Factory, to sit for their portraits; others were captured spontaneously. At times Warhol left his subjects alone with the camera, creating a heightened sense of vulnerability that is perceptible in the films. His first subjects, seated before a sterile backdrop, were asked not to move or speak (later portraits were shot under more flexible conditions). These films, known as "stillies" around the Factory, were also referred to by Warhol as Living Portrait Boxes, and, later, as Screen Tests.

Warhol shot the portraits at the standard speed for sound film (24 frames per second), but specified that they should be projected at a 16 frames per second, the conventional projection speed for silent films in the early period of cinema. The result is an unusually slow fluidity of pace, a rhythm gently at odds with the large-scale close-ups, which are rendered almost abstract by stark contrasts of light and shadow. The images, still yet moving, play in a continuous loop, bearing a timeless presence.

UNIVERSITY MISSION
Felician University is an independent co-educational Catholic/Franciscan University founded and sponsored by the Felician Sisters to educate a diverse population of students within the framework of a liberal arts tradition. Its mission is to provide a full complement of learning experiences, reinforced with strong academic and student development programs designed to bring students to their highest potential and prepare them to meet the challenges of the new century with informed minds and understanding hearts. The enduring purpose of Felician University is to promote a love for learning, a desire for God, self knowledge, service to others, and respect for all creation.

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES MISSION
The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to promoting the University’s Franciscan-Felician mission by providing an environment that fosters the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of our students. The Liberal Arts curriculum challenges students to explore creative ways of thinking within a broad scope of study that integrates intellectual traditions with essential values. Our diverse programs encourage students to become lifelong learners and compassionate contributors to the well-being of others throughout their lives.

DEPARTMENT OF ART MISSION
The Art Program at Felician College produces artists with the skills, knowledge, and critical sensibility to effectively communicate ideas through individual forms of expression. Offering a variety of courses in Fine Art, Graphic Design, and Photography and New Media, the Department’s objective is to emphasize the teaching of technique in concert with the critical study of different historical forms of art production, providing a life-long reference of cultural understanding.

Through a rigorous and dynamic curriculum, graduates of the Art Program will be able to implement a variety of creative skills and techniques, as well as produce a range of forms and styles; critique works of art based on their survey knowledge of major historical examples and schools of thought; recognize trends in contemporary cultural thinking; understand the importance of the arts in society; assess their personal strengths and interests; and create and present work suitable for exhibition and publication. Ultimately, graduates will be able to integrate and synthesize their skills, knowledge, and experience into a powerful career strategy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
From Super-8 film to digital video, this class explores film and video as fine art. Students will experiment with different media, producing short pieces that will be edited and published using software such as Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course satifies GECC Theme Area III - Communication & Expression:

PROJECTS	10 pts.	6 pts.	2 pts.
Content	Sequence elements are thoughtfully chosen and appropriate for the project.	Sequence elements are appropriate, but do not complement the project.	Sequence elements are not appropriate for the project.
Structure	Sequence is well organized with careful editing.	Sequence is organized, but editing is careless.	Sequence is poorly organized and edited.
Originality	Interpretation of the project parameters shows independent thought and creative ideas.	Intepretation of the project parameters shows some creativity, but lacks in realization of ideas.	Interpretation of the project parameters is obvious.
Ingenuity	Appropriate use of the features of Final Cut effectively communicates ideas.	Somewhat appropriate use of the features of Final Cut, but lacks relevance to ideas.	Indiscriminate use of the features of Final Cut.

PROJECTS

10 pts.

6 pts.

2 pts.

Content

Sequence elements are thoughtfully chosen and appropriate for the project.

Sequence elements are appropriate, but do not complement the project.

Sequence elements are not appropriate for the project.

Structure

Sequence is well organized with careful editing.

Sequence is organized, but editing is careless.

Sequence is poorly organized and edited.

Originality

Interpretation of the project parameters shows independent thought and creative ideas.

Intepretation of the project parameters shows some creativity, but lacks in realization of ideas.

Interpretation of the project parameters is obvious.

Ingenuity

Appropriate use of the features of Final Cut effectively communicates ideas.

Somewhat appropriate use of the features of Final Cut, but lacks relevance to ideas.

Indiscriminate use of the features of Final Cut.

Total percentage is 100, which is translated into a letter grade using the standards published in the University Catalog (see below); there will be no grading curve.

Felician University operates on the 4.00 grading system and determines the academic standing of students according to the following scale:

Grade	Description	Numerical Equivalent	Quality Points
A	Outstanding	100-95	4.000
A-	Excellent	94-90	3.670
B+	Very Good	89-87	3.333
B	Good	86-83	3.000
B-	Above Average	82-80	2.670
C+	Average	79-77	2.333
C	Acceptable	76-70	2.000
D	Poor	69-65	1.000
F	Failure	64 or below	0.000
FA	Failure due to non-attendance	64 or below	0.000