3.0
Quality3.5
Difficulty64%
Would Retake101
Reviews64%
Would Retake
101
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
31
4
17
3
13
2
17
1
23
What Students Say
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, meet Mr”
SOC902 - 1.0 rating“Pro: No final exam Con: everything else”
SOC903 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.53 avg changeRatings by Course
PHL306
5.0
(1)CC8927
5.0
(1)SOCIALSCIENCES
5.0
(1)SOC101
5.0
(1)HOLLYWOODSOC
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
SOCHOLLY
5.0
HITCHCOCK
5.0
SOCIO902
5.0
SOCFIFILM
5.0
HOLLYWOOD
4.6
Reviews (101)
Should have been an actor!
he knows what he's talking about; makes you want to learn more
Very insightful! Makes you think beyond the facts.
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VERY interesting and helpful. Really cares about his class and his students.
this teacher's pretty hot
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Mean person and very grumpy. Unable to create meaningful class discussion.
He's an awful prof: DON'T TAKE ANY OF HIS COURSES! You now had fair warning.
don't take this class, trust me. it's very boring and difficult. lots of work
Interesting lectures, VERY DIFFICULT course
Incredible teacher, never missed a class, VERY tough but makes you LEARN.
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you'll end up getting a near fail mark, unless you're a film student
Can u say confusing?? Literally worked my a** off, but it didn't pay off
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The definition of evil.
If you're lazy, don't take his class. Otherwise, if you're interesting in learning something you didn't already know from the rest of rye high's humdrum washed up profs, his class is the place to be. Was very understanding whenever I had difficulties.
What a grumpy and cruel man.
he'll only pay attention to you if you're in film or theatre. i took hollywood and society with him and he spent the whole time talking about lighting and camera angles. hello - this isn't a film course. shameless self promoter.
No respect for students. Won't tolerate lateness. The class is boring, unless he's giving everybody **** that day. Needs to feel superior. Always questioning students intellegence. Don't recommend this course unless you want abuse. I Want my $ back
hands down, my favourite rye prof. Much different than the deadbeats in my program..very demanding however, in that he expects critical input and thoughtful observations in class and in essays...IMPORTANT: you must have thick skin to attend his class!!
Interesting course, and interesting prof. He seems like he thinks he's the best at times. Makes you paranoid about writing essays after you read one of his...if you can understand it!
He's very into the course subject and is quite knowledgeable. You must have some energy to attend the class, the course does pick up near the end and is quite enticing. He does have high expectations though
He was a good teacher. Somehow made me really really want to impress him. This was the first class where i never ever skipped.
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Another prof who wants to show you how brilliant & strict he is rather than teach. HELLO! I wanna learn. Iknow, I know, you're very smart & all, tell me how great u r, but now can you spare a minute to actually teach? FOOL!
how pretentious can one man be. i'm not spending my 4 years at ryerson majoring in watching movies, so stop acting like this course will teach us the meaning of life.
Oh my word! Did I sign up for the army? Why such attitude? Maybe making up for a small ****, who knows? Murray should worry less about disciplining students, and start making the class more rewarding. Or else they have no business charging mon
Dont be put off by the negative ratings for this professor. He is one of the best and most challenging teachers at Ryerson. He is clear, thoughtful, and insightful in his critique, but he is also honest, which some little people cant handle. Murray Rocks!
Murray is an exceptionally kind and passionate rare-to-find professor. Those who write "army" or worse are simpletons who would have felt much better in a home-ed course. I enjoyed the course and wish all my classes had been that challenging!
this man is a lunatic-he's scary and i wish i could drop his class!!!! watching movies is not all life is about buddy
This man is a typical professor who's first passion is getting research and plugging his latest book, and last priority is teaching... As a York U. master's degree student, I'm not a "little person" who couldn't take the heat - I just couldn't take his self-aggrandizing BS.
i find pomerance a very challenging IN CLASS teacher i find him condescending to students who disagree even marginally with him and generally a negative influence in the classroom setting. THAT SAID his course is rich & interesting he is a very intelligent teacher and will help those who ask for it.
this man is scary and i wish i could drop his class!!!! his teaching methods are boring and the endless movies are getting old.
the only professor i have ever felt compelled enough to review. he is an incredibly intelligent man, who's taught me to watch films in a way i would have never imagined had it not been for his influence. seek out any of his appearances, books, and especially classes. inspiring.
If you are just out of high school and pursuing a university degree because you feel obliged and your parent(s) are footing the bill, chances are you will not appreciate Murray Pomerance. If you are interested in challenging preconceived ideas, status quo and developing an analytical mind you will greatly benefit from his classes.
A bad, bad man. He is unnecessarily mean and cruel. If you ever have to write an essay for him, expect to rewrite it (solely because you haven't cited him). Advice: Don't take a course with him. He may be nice at first, but when the doors close..... You have been warned. I am in grad school and can say, without a doubt, he has been my worst prof.
I took Murray's class almost 30 years ago. His hard-hitting approach gave me tools I have used throughout life. I LOVED his challenging technique... hard as it was at the time. Keep it up, big guy.
I wouldn't say Murray is scary, I would say he is more intense-he gets so into what he's talking about it, if you aren't interested in it you won't appreciate him. But he's a nice guy and really really knows what he's talking about. Very interesting class.
I wrote the comment below this one and would like to say to COMPLETELY IGNORE IT! After getting to know murray for a longer time, I can definitely see what the others are talking about. He is MEAN. And scary. AND MEAN. He does know his stuff, though.But he is a BAD BAD MAN
I really like the class and the movies. I can see why some people on the site have some negative feelings towards Murray-he wrote me this crazy email last week that was kind of rude-but when he does stuff like that he probably doesn't mean it personally. He's intense, I agree, but talk to him one-on-one and he can be pretty helpful.Knows his info.
Drill sergeant Pomerance is another I-know-everything-&-you-know-nothing professor. ENOUGH OF HOW GREAT YOU ARE!!!! TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, TEACH...Holy geez man, egotistical narcissist. Turned an otherwise rewarding experience into a completely dull & unproductive class. "Why doesn't anybody comment...you're all too quiet". UUUGGHHH! miserable goat.
Kind of crazy and intense...
This is a very very scary man. I did not volunteer an answer once in his class in fear of being ostracized and publicly scorned by him. He knows his stuff and makes sure that everyone knows that he does
It's pathetic to see the whining weeniness of today's students. Get off your pampered butts and learn something. The only thing scary about Murray's situation is that some of his students think he's there to be their mothers. If you want constant stroking, go home and get it. The real world's going to be/already is a bit too tough for you.
very very intense. His TA says Murray even swears at him in emails (he has good/bad days), so he gets mad at you i would not take it personally. But yes he knows a ton about the subject. If you catch him on a good day he can be pretty good to talk to individually (but still very intense)--if you catch him on a bad day watch out.
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He is a scary man. If you are late he will single you out and embarass you. He can be very condescending to both the T.A and the students. His classes are interesting and if you pay attention you will learn a lot. But I think he has some serious psychological issues he should deal with as well as an inflated ego.
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Murray never earned a PhD and now would never be hired by Ryerson. He takes out his frustration at being an underqualified, failed academic who publishes everything in vanity presses (look at his "research," he might as well be keeping a blog, pathetic pseudo-intellectual garbage) and takes out his frustation on Rye's PhD-holding sessional slaves.
I admit he seems like a hard teacher but the way he explains things is very straightforward. Only take this class if you enjoy movies and are willing to put the effort in.
He's not as psycho as some of these older comments make him out to be. He was honestly really nice, but the only problem I have with him is that the final essay has absolutely nothing to with the course material. I feel that in order to succeed in his class you would have to have exceptional knowledge of films from the 40s-60s
I took this class about 5 years ago and I see that I'm not the only one who thinks he's a bit of a jerk/weirdo! He swore a lot in class clearly for effect only and everytime he did it ebbed away at his professionalism. Don't take this class unless you're already an expert in old movies.
Doesn't help students and seems irritated when asked questions.
Fantastic prof. Intense, but if you do your work, you'll be fine. Fair midterm, fair final essay. Make sure to watch the weekly films and read the weekly videos because he assumes that you already have. Very worthwhile class; highly recommended.
Murray Pomerance is INSANE. I do believe he really loves the material he taught in the class I was in (a film class), but he had an absolutely awful temper, made students feel terrible for asking questions, even his TA called him a jerk. I thought he was so nasty that I withdrew from the class, and I am an A student.
Murray is an excellent professor. Students have qualms with his eccentricities and his egotistical tendencies, but if you listen to his lectures and ignore his crap he does bring up some brilliant perspectives. Murray is a VERY passionate lecturer, and some people are offended by his zeal. He is not for the faint of heart, or the easily embarrassed
This guy is clearly an ex-actor. That being said, I loved this class. The essay is not hard, the weekly quizzes are a breeze and the class itself is very interesting. He definitely opened up the fascinating world of film to me, and I would highly recommend this class.
Having serious concerns about the competence of my Film Studies profs I sat in on his lecture. After I asked Murray if I could audit his course. He agree providing that I write the essay. I agree without hesitation. He even marked my essay and gave me great feedback. One of the best profs at Ryerson. His eccentricities are a welcome change.
Too much onus on students to comment when we don't understand what we were supposed to get from the clip. And it was Monday 8am. Not difficult, and can be rude, and needs to explain stuff better.
Hands down easiest class I've ever taken at Ryerson. I've read the readings each week and got nearly perfect on the majority of quizzes. You also get 2% JUST for showing up. Only one essay which wasn't difficult at all. Note-taking is also pretty much non-existent.
Loved this prof! Very funny and sarcastic. Very informative and visual.
personally, an awesome prof. he may challenge you and be outrageous but it makes the class that much more entertaining and one that you want to attend.
Prof really knows his stuff
Ok - a few things, Murray is a no-nonsense type of guy. He knows his stuff, and he can be hard on students who are late or disrespectful, but overall I really enjoyed his class. He had me laughing in almost every class and he sparked my interest in film! (The weekly quizzes suck - as they are worth 50% of the final grade - but there are no exams)
his class is amazing..love this guy
Highly confident, but even more highly unprofessional. Not only does he ridicule students who are ONE MINUTE late to class, but he ridicules students who express any commentary that differs from his own. He provided quizzes that had unclear wording, and unfairly sabotaged assignment grades to students who did overly well on his quizzes. Cannot win.
A good professor who was highly intelligent with his genre of teaching. Was a little tough on the students, but taught them that rules exist for a reason. Assignments could have been marked more fairly, but the quizzes and attendance marks were fair.
My favourite prof at Ry by far! He can be scary but also is hilarious and passionate about what he is teaching. If you go to class you will do well. The readings for his quizzes may be long but after a few you should be able to figure out the type of questions he asks & skim the readings accordingly. He is fair & isn't looking to trick or fail you.
Murray comes off as mean and intimidating in class, but he is a wealth of knowledge in regards to Hollywood and film. He is also a really nice man when you get him one on one. He is very helpful; if you ask for a book reference, he has an answer. I still can't believe one person can know so much about film! While I didn't like the grading scheme of the class (50% quizzes, 50% essay), it was an extremely valuable and interesting learning experience!
I had the privilege of being in Murray's class in 1974. Yes he was intimidating and challenging. Having been in the media business for over 35 years I can tell you that it was the perfect preparation for the rough and tumble business of media and programming. Murry taught me to think and stand up for my convictions.Thanks Murray.
worst prof at ry. pretty sure he is high for every class
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I read the reviews before enrolling in his class and was quite hesitant based on what many people had to say. I must say after completing the course he is one of my favourite professors at Ryerson. He definitely comes across as intimidating but knows his material. Take his class if you have the chance to! He is simply genius
Extremely intelligent prof who really know his stuff. His teaching methods are rather... different though. He is a very deep thinker and that translates into his teaching as it is very philosophical and wordy at times. He is also a real silly guy who isn't afraid to joke around. More than once he would just spaz and flail around to reinvigorate us
Perhaps Mr. Pomerance has completely changed his attitude and personality because some of the comments from 10plus years ago are crazy. He's funny, enthusiastic, passionate, and VERY informative. If you're a soft child who's easily intimidated and embarrassed, you better follow his BASIC rules that require only COMMON SENSE!
Have you ever wondered what happens to that child we all know who was bullied in high school? Well, ladies and gentlemen, meet Mr. Pomerance. He's a misogynist, a narcissist, suffering from a crippling persecution complex, and has the biggest chip on his shoulder out of anyone I've ever encountered. He shouldn't be teaching.
As a professor, he's awful. I have never felt more inferior then when I'm sitting Pomerance's class. He makes you feel stupid and incapable of anything, while he bounces around acting like he is the best person in the world. That being said his class is the easiest I've taken. Just one easy essay and quizzes based on the readings and lectures.
Yes, he is condescending. Yes, he demands that people show up on time (which is perfectly fair). Yes, he makes me wonder what he smoked before coming to class. That said, these things are not what put me off. What puts me off is that he works very hard to stress out his students in really rude ways, which is not ok.
I do not think he should be teaching this class, or maybe this class should not be under "sociology" what he talks in lectures, what he shows and what you read form textbook are completely different things that you have to somehow use all those things in an essay that is marked very very hardly. dont take this class unless you are an artsy art stdn
If you are a slacker, easily offended, or cannot take criticism, this class probably isn't for you. The essay rulesguidelines are very strict, but I found that it pressured me to submit the best work that I could. You get the freedom to write about what you want. Few profs are as thought provoking and interesting as Murray.
Easy course, he practically gives you 50% for free. He does his best to keep the class engaged and his lecture are very unique.
Murray makes the course very interesting through his teaching style and use of film clips. Doesn't allow technology to be used in his class but he's so animated/eccentric that you're seldom bored. In-class quizzes worth 50% were easy and the 50% essay topic was an easy 2,000 words. Great course overall, I'd definitely take a class with Murray again
it was terrible.
There is no final exam, only an essay and a multiple choice quiz each week. He does not post PowerPoints so you have to go to class and take notes in order to pass the very easy quizzes based on the textbook. The only thing is that he is very strict about emailing him and he comes off as scary however he definitely knows what he is talking about!
Pro: No final exam Con: everything else. Complete waste of time class, was taught nothing. He is extremely condescending and rude. AVOID.
Worse class ever, honestly he's so rude. Guys Idk man I read the reviews before taking his class thought he wouldnt be so bad but i was wrong!! He has a specific citation method, and he's so picky! Be ready to get a 0 if you dont send him your assignment in proper doc format or proper subject heading,
hard work but nice guy.a little cranky, but he's old
Best class ever. Murray is so intelligent and passionate, I absolutely loved this class. He has an impressive breadth of knowledge regarding film and the production of film with specific attention on hollywood genres. This class is very mentally stimulating - never a dull moment. 5/5 would recommend to anyone who is passionate about film.
Murray is a great professor! He may seem intimidating but he really isn't. He is knowledgeable about the course and really passionate about it. There is one quiz every week which consists of 4 questions (multiple choice) and a final essay- no exam!! I really enjoyed the class!
You will not find a professor more passionate about teaching their respective subject as this professor. My writing has improved and my appreciation for the subject matter has dramatically increased. This will be a challenging class and requires thorough readings but the content is life-changing.
Murray is knowledgeable about severals aspects of Hollywood films (e.g., cinematic techniques) and is very passionate about it. However, he is quick-tempered and condescending toward students, which makes it difficult to participate and be engaged in the class.
Knowledgeable within varying topics of film. However, quick-tempered & condescending. Instead of offering constructive feedback to students, Murray dismisses thoughts and belittles responses. Simple quizzes based on lecture/readings. No final, one essay. Refuses to provide any assistance on essay after essay is assigned - a month before its due.
Murray is very knowledgable and it shows. Going to class was always a treat. He is a bit intimidating though. Do not walk into class late or during a film clip because he is quick to react. Overall, go to class and make sure to read the textbook because there are weekly quizzes based on it. There is also 1 essay (no midterm or exam).
Great prof! Very energetic and loud. He can be a bit rude at times. As long you do your readings you'll be fine for the quizzes. Alot of people panicked over the 45% essay but he isn't a tough grader so don't worry.
i am not a big fan of the prof or the way he treats other students. BUUT I really enjoyed the class. Remember to do the weekly readings and the to attend each and every class- that way you are able to get a passing grade. HE is not so friendly, when i asked about something for my final essay- but still a good class overall.
Very knowledgeable and passionate about film, however it is difficult to engage in the class when he belittles your responses and insists on being condescending. Wouldn't ever take him again! He's not a good teacher.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.53 avg changeRatings by Course
PHL306
5.0
(1)CC8927
5.0
(1)SOCIALSCIENCES
5.0
(1)SOC101
5.0
(1)HOLLYWOODSOC
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
SOCHOLLY
5.0
HITCHCOCK
5.0
SOCIO902
5.0
SOCFIFILM
5.0
HOLLYWOOD
4.6