My goal in creating this blog is to create conversations and topics that matter. So yes, in one sense this blog is very public, in that the world can view it, if they stumble on it in a Google search. Also, you and your colleagues can read and respond to each others' comments. However, it is private in that only an elite community can write and respond to it. As a member of this class, you are part of that elite community. You will be invited to join the blog after the first week of classes, and immediately after you join, you will be asked to write on the blog.
You may write on the blog in two ways:
1. You may either respond to an existing entry. This is kind of neat way to respond to a blog, in that you are actually having a conversation. If you respond to an existing entry, you should "talk" to the initial writer. Comment on what they have said, add to it, agree with it, or disagree. Be polite. Be bold.
2. You may open a new entry. Please make sure you title that entry, and label it so we know which story or film you are responding to.
Our syllabus asks you to do a total of ten blog entries, at 10 possible points each. Those assigned entries should be related to the readings/viewings we do for class. However, I urge and invite you to do additional entries, each of which will earn you up two extra credit points. I'd urge you, among other things, to write about your own film topic, or any other film related topic that you feel the class would be interested in.
Lots of folks blog on cinema. It's a great way to both share and find ideas with the larger community. Consider, for instance: The evening class, or David Bordwell's blog for his cinema class (This, by the way, is a wonderful resource.)
This blog is your forum. Enjoy it, and use it well. How you choose to use it could deeply impact the way the course evolves.
I prefer to write responses to existing blog entries!
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