Review:
Prof. Edelman is clearly very intelligent, and his lectures are great. The first few seem too short because you want to keep listening to him talk. He encourages discussion--but only to a degree. If a student disagrees or says something too simple, he tends to be a little harsh--which sucks in front of a class of 75. The movies are great to watch because they're such a part of cinematic history.
My biggest qualm is that the film theory was really hard to believe at times, especially since Hitchcock scholars tend to focus on psychoanalysis. It was my first film course, so that may be why I had trouble accepting it, but be prepared to force yourself to believe some really suspect theories.

Workload:
The reading is minimal, but really dense theory and pretty boring. The films are exciting, but usually around 2 hours or longer. There are two 5-page papers, which are REALLY difficult, and he/the TA's are VERY tough graders.

review a class you took with Lee Edelman - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Absolutely, hands-down the best professor I've had at Tufts. I came in to the course never having seen a Hitchcock movie and after the class, I still watch Hitchcock on a regular basis with former classmates. He is brilliant and articulate and he presents his classes very well. The ideas are advanced and make you think but he is very patient and when students ask for clarification. His is responsive to anything students say that is at least mildly intelligent. If you want to think about new concepts, and see film in a new perspective take this course. Or just take it to experience a great professor.

Workload:
There were weekly readings on the films we watched but they were never overly difficult or hard to understand. The weekly film screening is enjoyable, and if you have to miss it, you can just watch it on your own time. Two papers and a final make up your entire grade. (plus participation). He is a tough grader so spend time on you essays.

review a class you took with Lee Edelman - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Someone in an article about Edelman in the Daily said she wanted to applaud after each class. I agree. The class is incredible and the professor is terrific.

Workload:
N/A

review a class you took with Lee Edelman - help your classmates make informed decisions!

Review:
Edelman is very intelligent and passionate. No doubt. He wants students to care and think and be critical... all good things. However, there is very little room for discussion in the class. While he encourages students to ask questions if they don't understand, he starts to get annoyed if discussion continues for too long, mostly because there is so much he wants to cover. But all the knowledge comes directly from him. The films we watched were good, but the readings were terrible, and Edelman knew it. They didn't allow for any intellectual agency on the part of the student. Edelman had the final word on any film, any shot, any character. And if you thought otherwise, he would raise his eyebrows in shock and say, "You don't really believe that, do you?"

Workload:
Rather light workload. Demands more thought than "work." One film a week (on the longer side) and a bit of reading, which was usually fairly easy. Two five page papers (hard grader) and a final which is easy and content-based.

review a class you took with Lee Edelman - help your classmates make informed decisions!