By Jesse Baker
Lamp Staff
SPRINGFIELD – Students are enrolling in fall classes. Most are concerned with finding what interests them, but also what will transfer and help them finish their degree.
Thanks to some administrative work by Professor Robert Fletcher, one course that might pique one’s interest will now be transferable.
This spring, Professor Robert Fletcher’s History of Film, FLM 201, will be transferable. It will be the first time that it has an IAI number, which is a code through the Illinois Articulation Initiative that guarantees it to be transferred to any school as credit toward an undergraduate degree.
“If you are at all interested in film, then this is a must-have class,” Fletcher said. “Students will gain an appreciation of how great early movies were and movies in general are.”
The class analyzes movies from as early as 1895 to present day, and it examines the developments and innovations of film as an art form, as well as a distinctive medium of communication. This mainly is done by way of lecture and group discussion.
“There is a misconception that things in today’s world are better,” Fletcher said. “This class will focus on the classics, and show the true progression of filmmaking from the past to the present”.
Students in his current Film 101 class also had some comments on their opinions on their ongoing class and what they would expect if they were to enroll in the Film 201 in the upcoming spring semester.
“I would think about taking the class because Professor Fletcher is a good teacher of the subject,” Student Chase Madison said. “I have enjoyed the films, and I would probably enjoy more next semester.”
The current Film 101 class has focused on more technical aspects of film. While the 201 History of Film class will go in more depth with mediums of communication and different critical aspects of filmmaking.
Kollette Stuhmer said of Fletcher, “He’s comical and he adds a good amount of humor to the classroom”.
This often can give a class more life, and this would allows students to be more entertained by the classes content because of the way that it is presented.
Lastly, Zach Nerone also stated “I look forward to seeing certain movies if I were to take the class. Ones like Casablanca interest me. Not to mention that the professor knows a lot about the subject of film and movies and I have learned a lot from his class this semester”.
While students commonly enroll in classes in the science, math and literature, the addition of an IAI number will make this an option for those looking to transfer the credits to another school. History of Film aims to provide interesting alternatives to common core classes and present many different cultures to students in the well known form of movies.
Jesse Baker can be reached at [email protected]
