Dean Duncan - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Dean Duncan

Department: Film

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: TMA114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dean Duncan thinks he is a genius because he uses big words to make a complex topic even more complex. His two hour lectures could have been done easily in one, even the students that liked him couldn't sit through the full two hours. He really enjoys to hear himself talk and gets off on crazy tangents.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: TMA114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I am a graduating student in the film department unable to take anymore Dean Duncan classes so I am listening to his radio show on KBYU to make up this hole in my heart. But I'm a film student. Students of film, humanities, and those who tend to enjoy ambiguity will love this professor. Others may not enjoy his classes' architecture.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of the best professors at BYU. Genuinely cares about what he teaches and his students. Negative reviews focus on his "tangents", that's unfair. He knows a lot and follows trains of thoughts through to their conclusion, and that is a good academic.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: TMA492R
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Classes from Dean always make me question what I want to do in life. But I don't come to school to be given a gift wrapped grade and shooed away. Dean is one of the finest people I've ever known and the people who tend to not like him are, let's face it, sort of odd. He's difficult and articulate but he has the scholastic and spiritual chops for it

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean has been by far my favorite professor during my entire time at BYU. I've taken TMA 102, 114, 293, and 498 from him and enjoyed every one of them SO much. He's seriously brilliant, but also hilarious and open-minded and fair. I don't think 102 is a fair class to judge him by simply because of how large it is. He really cares about his students.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: TMA114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I've had Dean for both 102 and 114. 102 is a huge class, and I fell asleep almost every day. 114 is a smaller class, and I only fell asleep a few times. :) I really loved 114. Dean speaks smarter than anyone else I know, but he's also funny. He can tend to ramble, and his lectures aren't always straightforward or concrete. But really its an easy A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: TMA114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean is a great guy who is scary smart. But he likes to teach from an ivory tower. He utilizes sesquipedalian tergiversation and presumptuous verbosity (ie. he uses pretentiously long words to express underdeveloped ideas). But his class exposed me to such amazing cinema and literature that I recommend 114 without hesitation (it's mandatory though)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: TMA293
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The best teacher at BYU, bar none. He's the reason you pay tuition... to hear lectures from a professor like him. There's a substantial amount of busy work though, but his grading is fair. Take every class he offers.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Worst class I have ever taken at BYU. Terribly managed and taught. Attendance is mandatory, two hour long lectures with Dean not talking about complex emotions rather his emotions and outlook on the world. Didn't get a paper returned until the last week of the semester, and even then only ever got 10% of my work returned to before the final.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean is the best! He has a knack for expressing complex emotions in easy-to-understand ways. He really brings a religious element to film and the arts. It is clear he is passionate about this and it's refreshing to have a prof who isn't your average BYU professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean is the best professor I had at BYU. His classes are intellectually challenging (but A's aren't hard if you give your best effort), very funny and entertaining, and incredibly rewarding spiritually. He'll teach you about film, about all the arts, about religion, and about how to be a good human being. Take a class from him!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very funny (dry humor, but if you pay attention, you'll get it) professor who is able to get the material across. Each lecture is filled with various movie clips, which is awesome. Highly suggest taking this class. Plus it fills a GE requirement. Can't get much better than that

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean Duncan cares very much about Dean Duncan. You'll find that this is more a religious discourse from Dean than a class on film. I enjoyed analyzing the films, going to lab, but the lecture is horrible. Dean's message every single day is that if you don't think like him, you're a close minded simpleton... in fact the opposite is likely the truth.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has a passion for film that you can't help but feel. He is very knowledgeable and I really do look at film differently after his class than before it, he is brilliant. He also has the dry british type of sense of humor and if you get it, he is hilarious! I love his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you are a super zoobie you will love this class. For the rest of the normal people on the planet this is the most boring pointless class ever. Lecture is 2 hours, and could be compared to a babling high councilmen for 2 hours. Lab is a waste of time. Readings are pointless. Least valuable class at BYU.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: TMA291
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean is by far one of the best professors I've ever had. If you've come to school just to say you've come to school, then get out of school, and stop complaining about Dean. If you're here to learn, take as many classes from Dean as possible.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I have to admit to taking most of my film courses with Dean. He challenges us and asks to go beyond the text and develop critical thought. This sounds daunting, but the results are rewarding. He is willing to work with any student but does want you to immerse yourself in the subject matter & pay attention in class. Do that and you're in good shape.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dean is a great teacher who adds a lot of insight to the subject of film criticism. To do well in his class you need to be able to analyze films beyond just the consumer level. Much of doing well is critical thinking, not just fulfilling requirements. Take this class to think, not to just get an easy A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FILM5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

(TMA 102)The class may seem boring and pointless, but it's really just what you take out of it. If you're half-decent at writing papers, this class will be a breeze. Dean is funny, intelligent, and teaches you to be open minded and appreciate art in a way no other class can teach you. Take this class to learn, not just to watch movies.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: TMA102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class felt more like a writing class than a film class. Weekly papers in addition to large papers at the beginning and end of the semester. Not very many film clips. Lectures consist mostly of him rambling about tangents. Grading rubrics in syllabus don't correspond to feedback on papers. Overall, not worth it.