I really wanted to give this class a chance, but I just could not bring myself to like it. The attendance policy changed about mid-way through the quarter without warning. Lectures were disconnected from midterms and finals. So many grammatical errors in lectures and exams. Exam questions confusing. Still do not understand the purpose of the class.
Professor venegas couldnt care less about her students. She was so rude to all of us, sending really harsh emails, and not caring if we were struggling. All of her test s were confusing, riddled with grammatical errors, and not fair for what we had covered in the course.
Professor Venegas isn't a bad professor, but the weekly material that she chooses (3 readings and 3 films a week, plus lecture) are SO boring. This makes the class difficult when it should be interesting.
If you can avoid taking her classes do that. Lectures are boring and long, you have at least four readings each week, plus three feature-length movies, and absurd assignments with vague instructions. Save yourselves the stress.
Had her for my first online quarter in Spring 2020 and she was the worst. So inconsiderate and assigned so much busywork. I wish I could elaborate but her class was such a pain, you really felt all 5 units.
If you want a teacher who is clear and precise with what she wants this is NOT the teacher for that. She didn't have notes for her lectures for the online course, so I emailed here wondering if she could create guidelines or provide powerpoints. She rudely responded back suggesting I was unable to understand anything without words on the screen.
This was a very tough class for me. I had a tough time with another film professor the prior quarter so I was very defensive. Christina quickly gained my trust. She met with me in the library on a Saturday to help me understand the material. Shes amazing & really cares about her students making it. I jumped around with joy when I got my grade! TY!
Horrible lectures, bad choice in films that had to be written on (the clips and non paper topic films were great), will not work with you if you are struggling. She gets super defensive and passive aggressive when you challenge her teaching and assignment prompts. Weirdly friendly, like a children's television show friendly in class. Unsettling.
This was my 2nd quarter with her and unfortunately she hasn't improved. Take home midterm was not a surprise (not on syllabus). She seems a push over; the lectures are just her spit-balling ideas of no actual weight or importance to the class. No need to go to lecture, she says nothing and slides are posted. Take for an easy A but boring as EVER.
Midterm is an easy A if you are creative and Final was 50% of grade. Films were interesting at the end. Roll was taken. I didn't use the books nor really needed them.
Mexican Cinema: This class was super easy. No need to attend lecture, but she takes roll. No need to do the readings; I didn't even buy 2/4 books! Just get the reader. Two papers and a take home midterm, req. an interview, and the screenings so stay for those. Good papers will stand out, so put some effort and you'll be fine. Easy A.
Horrible Professor, Failed 80% of the class at the mid term and then gave a worthlessly easy final, that devauled the overall grade of class, so happy its over with. Horrible lectures that seem to go no where, films are okay, but the readings are all thats on the test.
Great teacher, TERRIBLE films.I took Latin American film with her, too. Although the classes are interesting & she is passionate about film, the movies she shows are habitually boring & painful to watch. I say more clips/excerpts and less full-screenings: she could keep the lesson plan & teach the important info. while keeping her students in class
Cuban Studies - Charismatic funloving lady who loves the subject matter. Unfortunately, her lectures are VERY difficult to follow. The books are pretty dense but it's not critical for you to read and comprehend every word to pass this class. Because the movies are interesting, I recommend this class.
She did a tremendous job of bringing a diverse body of work to the class, truly amazing films (that is if you share her taste which I do, for gut-wrenching, politically committed filmmaking).
I liked her a lot. i went to her office hours and she was very helpful. it is true that her lectures are long, but thats the way it goes, we are film majors. the films she chooses are always really good.
She talks way too much. There are about 3 points in the whole lecture, yet she literally drags it out to an hour and a half. She even passes out lecture outlines so there's no point in sticking around for the whole lecture. Class is based on 5 papers, each on one film and theory analysis. No exams. Just super boring when she talks too much.
Lectures are very uninteresting, and unnecessary! Just read, GO TO SECTION and watch the films.
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Lectures are not really helpful in this class! Just watch the movie for the paper and read the text... you'll be fine. Sometimes she makes things more complicated than they really are, and her point in showing sample films is unclear a lot of the time.