Allan Barber - Temple University

Professor: Allan Barber

Department: Film

College: Temple University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His exams have too many opinion and subjective questions. He instructs his students to focus on their film style when some students film their projects with portrait iPhone footage. He doesnt quite teach how to film or make anything. SO many questions about specific quotes said by specific filmmakers. Shouldnt be a mandatory course.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In terms of reviewing this professor, I honestly don't know where to start. The absolute ineptitude that I witnessed while taking his class, at times made me regret paying tuition for it. The curriculum heavily opinion based, and when you make an effort to participate you get berated in front of hundreds of other students. In one word: Incompetent.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barber gets a bad rep. His lecture is long and can drone on sometimes, and he has a monotone voice. But if you actually listen to what he has to say, he can be very insightful and you will learn a lot, not just about film but about art and culture altogether. You will bomb the midterm, but he gets rid of it and the final is an easy A.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FMA320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Taking screenwriting II? Really like and enjoy screenwriting? Want to learn more and broaden your writing skills? Don't take this guy. He rarely has anything nice to say about your scripts and ideas, and is not afraid to tell you they're essentially stupid in front of the whole class. Warning: He might make you want to rethink your love for writing

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MEDIAARTS2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was one of the few classes i took for my major this semester and I thought it was very interesting. You watch a lot of videos and he does some interesting interactive experiments. He learns everyones names and walks up and down the aisles so if you fall asleep he'll call you out. He can be testy at times but I thought it was funny. Love him!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

When there isn't spit in the corner of his mouth, expect to be distracted by the length of his eyebrows. Don't sleep in class, he'll call you out. Don't spew BS he'll call you on it. You'll wonder why you're watching the movies that you are, he won't tell you why, and then they're on the midterm and final. But good luck finding another prof.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring Media Arts II class. He would just drone on and on. What made it worse was that the 3 hour lecture was on Friday afternoon! At least the class was easy with the assignments and tests. Take another professor if you can, but you might have to brave through Barber.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

God, what an idiot. Harasses students, classes are senseless/awkward silences. Really brash and insensitive towards students. There's no way to graduate as an FMA student without taking his class. Just suck it up and have a friend sign you in.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is not easy unless you have a great TA!! Attendance is mandatory, tests are difficult and assigned projects seem tedious. You will fall asleep in his class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FILMHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

First off, the man is very intelligent in the film world, and you can learn a lot from him. That being said, he will most likely berate you in his subtle 1950's manner. His voice is monotone and dry, but the words, while dragging at a slow pace, are rather important. His tests are difficult, so don't expect a high grade. May the force be with you.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FILMHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Barber does not teach. That's what the text book's for.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Better than Media Arts I prof (but then again anyone's better than her) but still wouldn't say I love Barber's classes. He's got a wealth of knowledge about film history and you screen a lot of older works, which I think it good since we don't see it elsewhere really. I liked the class, but be ready for it to be intense. Overall cool guy/class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

terrible

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FMA2361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had him for Media Arts II and Media Writing I. He's a great professor, albeit a bit pretentious. He knows a lot though, and isn't afraid to talk about it till the very last seconds of class. Tests are a bit lofty and difficult, but coursework isn't too tough, and is fun and challenging. Overall does a pretty darn good job.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Again, talk with him one on one. He's pretty nice and knows his****. He's just kind of shy and smug at times. He is a down 2 earth indy guy. If u wana talk about Transformers than go somewhere else b/c he hates todays blockbusters and so do I.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Allan is a decent guy. Class mite not b2 easy but u have no choice for MediaArts2 it mostly matter who your TA is anyway. His lectures are boring, irrelevant outdated film history stuff. Likes French New Wave and German Expressionism. Talk w him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barber knows his film history, and its the ONLY thing he talks about. The most recent films you'll screen are 1950's. He loves experimental film, so if you're a fan of Tranformers or Iron Man, prepare to want to kill yourself during his 3 hr lectures (Friday afternoons). He's cool one-on-one though. Just sucks as a teacher.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't expect him to help you if you have a problem, as he will most likely be condescending. Other than that, he's a good guy, but a little harsh.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FMA1142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretentious and condescending with a biting sense of humor. If you appreciate witty sarcasm at some one else's expenses you'll love his class. I don't. Those who cant do, teach.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HISTNARR
• 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'm sorry if he doesn't cater to the needs of the comic book movie loving, popcorn munching, ain't it cool news reading basement dwellers but Barber is probably one of the best in the FMA department. If his classes bore you go home and watch Iron Man and pontificate it's merits on some discussion board later.