Take him, he's clear, effective, and is not afraid to give A's

I'm have been a student at SMC for 2 years and I have yet to find a more admirable professor. Stefan's class should not be missed... ignore these comments from people who most likely slacked off and blamed the professor.

He made me to rethink about life, beauty and desires. Class is theoryological. 3 books, reading was okay. Fair grading. Recommand.

Take this class if you like: philosophy, art and a critical media perspective. Tough at first, but a clear thesis unfolds through his classes, which makes it easier to capitalise on later essays. Nice, funny, intelligent sans amibivalently orientated.

He is really fair and he prepares you for all of the essays. There is a midterm and he tells you what to study and your final is watching a movie. He is the best!!!!

I would recommend him. Everyone who said below that he is hard - not very smart. This class is more for an intelligent individual. He only asks for like 3 essays. He doesn't overanalyze anything. This class forces you to THINK. It's interesting...

Take him!! trust me, if your trying to get an A, if you show up to class, discuss the topics with him, you'll get an A. He doesn't demand a lot, and do not tell him you are a Republican!! If he like you, you'll get an A. He's real cool, weirdo, but easy!

Stefan is a great teacher! He does like to go off on a tangent about how evil Bush is but as long as you agree and PARTICIPATE IN CLASS, his class should be cake! Granted, you do need to have SOME english ability--with that, that A is yours!

He is the best English teacher. You learn a lot about our passions about what we face in our daily lives. I took him for Eng 1 and 2 and now I am taking him this fall for Eng 4. He is amazing and he is a fair grader.

Wow! Stefan is one hell of a teacher.. His class can be challenging and will really make you think, but it is well worth it! You will work for the grade and you will learn more than u ever thought possible! This man is deep and interesting..I almost cried on the last day when I had to leave !

Very interesting class. This guy definitely knows his materials. Very knowledgeable. Do take him, you won't regret it. He challenges you to use your brain and basically, you earn what you work for in the end. Do take him! He's great!

You definetly need to be intel for his class.I not so its was a lil bit challengeing.but is a great professor. he assigns 4 papers all semester,and the class is all lecture. participate in class to make him happy. stefan is highly recomended

Amazing Professor...Amazing class. His lectures keep you thinking after class is over (which is a good thing). I highly recommend this intellectually stimulating class.

excellent teacher for english 1, class covers interesting topics and there are about 4 essays which make up your grade. participating during class is encouraged.

I have never been more challenged and enlighted in my entire life before taking this class. One of the most brilliant minds I have ever came across, his English classes changed my life. Take his class if you are willing to work and think to your intellectual limit.

Extremely bright,liberal mindset.Glad I took his class even though it was tough.His essays are difficult, he makes you analyze topics, but he constantly has class discussions, making the essay writing easier.He enlightens you on life allowing you to THINK about the world around you-eye opener!

Great man. His classes are lectures/discussions and he doesn't grade harshly on late assignments. Very eye opening and very interesting class material. Can be a bit unforgiving at times, but that would take away from his easygoing attitude.

Teaches in what I imagine the tradition of the old school, engages in discussion as important part of the lecture process - readings interesting, paper assignments challenging - has a true love for the literature and in sharing that knowledge with students. Participation a must or why waste your time?

This teacher is great. He is interesting and discusses stimulating topics. Speak up in class and think about what you say, and go visit him in his office hours just to chat and you will do well. He forces you to analayze things you never thought about before. Great enlightining teacher.

Fun class, very laid back, very open to discussion. Participation is a must. The class was going in a very specific direction and he lectured accordingly. pay attention to the syllabus, cause thats what you get.

He is an awesome guy. I learned how to be a critical thinker more in this class than any other. I would definately take this class again. The people that wrote bad things probably wrote their essays in 2 hours from sparknotes when you are suppose to spend several days creating your own ideas.

Awesome teacher. Open to discussions and new ideas. He encourages you to think critically and helps you to excel. His lectures are very interesting-- they seldomly are boring. Do take him!

He is an amazing teacher.He allows his students to connect with the material onmany levels. This makes him a very unique and excellent instructor. HIGHLY RECOMMEND his Eng 4 class,work isn't overwhelming and class discussions are great.He also likes to do other things like show art and movies to help the students connect to the material.

Wonderful instructor for English 1. He prepared me for taking English classes and then some. He was quite hard though, a bit too much for me to handle. The hardest class that I was taking. However, I enjoyed his class a lot. I really felt that I was learning English once and for all. Excellent lecture. Too bad he isn't teaching English 30A.

If you can handel it - he's great!

interesting to the last minute. can be intimidating at points, but dont get discourage, its worth it. be ready to keep mind open at all times. tough on attendance. highly recomended!

One of the more challenging teachers I've had, however he got out of me some of my best writing. I'm a male, but it should be noted that he is positively biased toward females. Not at all easy, but if you get a good grade, you'll know you earned it.

I loved him. He made class so interesting and different. He really cares about what he is teaching. It is not stressful at all unless a paper is due, and there are only four I think. Little homework

come on, those who say he's ANTI-AMERICAN gave him bad rates. he's clever, THINK MORE my friends. class is easy, just do your work.

Fantastic! Very demending, but very helpful. Makes his students think critically. Will definitely take him again

i sho did lern a lot;

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best teacher i have ever had at SMC.

I took him back in fall 03. He's a pretty cool guy and insanely tall, but I digress. His lectures were interesting and sometimes political. I'm not sure if his students still have to watch Almost Famous & Blade Runner in class. If they do, and if he's reading this, I think he should scratch Blade Runner off his list and show Strange Days instead.

His class are simple, 4 essays + attendance, nothing more. The essays can be pretty tricky sometimes, you have to be ready to put some effort to it though. Otherwise a really nice guy, smart too! I like the way he thinks, He will change the way you see things in our society. classes are sometimes boring..

Stefan is a awesome teacher.

stefan is amazing.he is brilliant, articulate, quirky, passionate,& his adoration for literature is contagious.he brings the material in2 context, and has a great grasp on pop culture. his class is not for slackers tho--you must do the work, but if you love to nerd out on lit and art, he's yr man.

very analitical, easy going, no wrong answer

Amazing class. Almost all the students in my class loved him. I've never had an English class where the material was so deeply analyzed, and discussions were so amazing. If you?re a slacker, don't take because you actually have to use your brain. And the claims about "anti-Americanism" are ridiculous, uneducated options. I saw none of that.

Great teacher. The best eng. prof. I have had at Santa Monica. He actually knows what he's talking about and seems to love having discussions with the class about the works we read and the period the works were created in. His lectures are full of fascinating analysis, from what we're reading to vermeers paintings to descartes philosophy. great.

chili pepper. Oh and he's very understanding about extensions and what not.

One of the best classes I have taken in SMC. It was an intellectually engaging experience. Interesting assignments that round up surprisingly well at the end of the course to represent the overall theme.

He was really good, all the negative comments you see are from students who do not appreciate education. I leaned a lot in his class. I recommend him.

THIS TEACHER... IS TOTALLY THE BEST! if you take his class, i assure you ... you will not regret it. he is clear, and he totally wants you to ace the class. crystal clear, take his class, and you will love & enjoy him & his funny personality.

Mattessich is the epitome of an intellectual. I cannot recommend him enough. Everything that comes out of his mouth will blow your mind. Fascinating lectures, super easy tests, totally easy going and understanding guy. this class has the potential to change your life, it certainly changed mine. the literature you read is intriguing too. TAKE HIM!

His class was supereasy yet challenging if you wanted it to be. You get by with an A easily but he's also an inspiration to those who want to learn.He talks a lot about art,literature and politics. It's not just a lit class. You learn much more. I liked the books he chose for us to read. It is NOT like a seminar, he is the prof & is aware of that.

Great selection of reading. Very easy going teacher with good lectures. Overall a pleasant class I would recommend to anyone, but especially English majors.

cool guy, very funny. will teach you how to seduce a girl. lectures are either real interesting or pretty boring. easy teacher. some concepts are kinda hard to get. take him if you don't want to work too hard. 3 papers one midterm one final no hw

This is an amazing and inspiring professor. He is absolutely brilliant and his passsion for literature and anything artistic is just incredible. If you want to actually learn something, I highly recommend him!! Thanks for a great semester professor!

He combines art history with literature. Definitively wise and liberal. But so handsome with his 7' tall I can barely take my eyes off him when he speaks. It's a fun class and a lovely teacher.

I don't know how come people aren't happy with Stefan. This is the easiest teacher I ever got in my life. Yet, he is very thoughtful and knows a lot about art/literature. This is the university, the teachers don't babysit you. If it's too hard for you, take tutoring classes or work harder on your own. But Stefan? Now way, he's the best!

Stefan is Fantastic! I feel enlightened after leaving his classroom, he is funny and so smart. If you love literature and art you will love this man!

He is very humane and a critical thinker. He is a real professor who knows how to teach students.

Fascinating course - 1st rate - one of the best SMC has to offer! You'll do comparative analysis of views on love and passion throughout the history of literature and end up seeing love differently. He is a Yale graduate and he will grade your writing to high standards. But participate respectfully every class and you'll get an A.

Whoever that said his class was not good for foreigners is wrong. I was not born here and I do have an accent. English 4 was my second English class ever in my life. I got an A. True, he wants you to participate, but if you do not overcome your fear and try to earn confidence in yourself there is not much he can do about it. He likes active people.

Very interesting class! More than just teaching material he teaches ideas and themes which cross over different mediums. He covers philosophy, art, history, literature, and writing. Interesting reading too. Only draw back is that it is hard to hear him at times. Totally hot though, had a little crush on him!

I don't know...He's not an easy A...The class is 2 essays, 2 essay question exams, and a 10 page research paper. The material isn't very interesting and some what difficult, but not impossible. You'll learn more about politics and economics than you will about introductory adverbial clauses. But he is fair.

very chill prof! NO hwk at all. only 2 essays, 1 midterm (which he cancelled for some reason), 1 10p research paper, 1 final. I did my essays the night before due date and bs'd everything with my poor grammar and got a B. didn't read the books at all and didn't participate that much in discussions. and class is always canceled!! 4 times for us.

I love English and this was the WORST class. All he does is talk about politics!!! The essay assignments are political and the reading is political. Basically, if you like politics, take him, otherwise stay away!

Stefan is truly amazing! He expects students to analyze the material deeply and participation during discussions is encouraged. Using your brain is a must.

Very laid back class, but not an automatic A. Read the material, be ready to discuss in class, and don't slack off on your essays. Very fair grader. A little too much like a political science class sometimes.

This is such a cool teacher. i have nothing negative to say. He tells you the truth about your essay to help you write better and not to humiliate you. He has discussions about reading material that are easy to get A's on in participation if you just glance over the material. He sat me in the front and my eyes were just so opened up about so much

My favorite professor at SMC thus far! Doesn't make you buy expensive textbooks; just 3 novels (which are amazing). Grades fairly. Incredibly intelligent, you will want to go to class just to listen to his lectures. He will help you find your inner "analyzer" and draw great essays out of you. Very approachable. Truly a wonderful professor.

Mattessich is a really interesting guy. Unfortunately, he's also extremely judgmental and looks down on anything that resembles modern America. I really wanted to like him, but he was too pretentious. If you're sensitive to this kind of judgmentalness, participating in the class is NOT going to be easy for you. 25% participation goes into the grade

Mattessich is a great teacher, and the easiest guy to deal with. If you want grades you have to study for it, and being a good student is well rewarded in his class! If you are lazy don't even bother to enroll.

Participation is everything! If you stay engaged and talk every class you'll get an A.

He is a good professor! Very inspiring. Is true that he talks a lot about politics but it makes it interesting. I wasn't interested in politics before this class. He makes you want to learn more about it. Very cool guy. 2 Essays, 1 midterm and 1 10-page rsch. paper. Start your paper as soon as he gives you the info. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! A+ teacher

(Scholars) Mattessich is a great professor as far as English courses go. That is, the course consists of subjective analysis of human feelings, particularly love and passion. Expect an easy A if you can write creatively. Also, make sure to participate in class, as he becomes more lenient and generous with an active class.

Professor Mattessich is an incredible inpiring Professor. This Man should be teaching in Yale and Harvard I cant believe he is in Santa Monica. I had Financial problem and could never finish this class. But I felt the lost and still hope to return and finish a class with Stefan Mattessich, Professor. He is a Gem in the middle of SMC. Great Class !!

Easy A. His class is based completely off passion/desire/sex/love which can get a little creepy and uncomfortable at times, at interesting nonetheless. As long as your class is attentive and participate you will have an easy experience. Gave my whole class A's on the midterm cause he liked us. Grade is based off 3 essays and a midterm

He's a great teacher. He teaches the religion, art and politics of the time in regard to the novel which is incredible helpful and creates tremendous insight. I loved his class, but I did all the reading and I participated.He's amazing if you really want to learn.

Professor Mattessich is very knowledgable and his lectures are so thought-provoking. He really makes you think about modernity and the role it's played throughout history. He is a little quiet so try to sit up front. Take thorough notes - not cause you have to, but because you won't want to forget anything he says.

I took Professor Mattessich in Spring 2014 so it's been a while, but I have really good memories of that class. I loved the readings, his passion and his knowledge. I got an A but I read every single assignment and I don't think I missed more than 2 classes. I really loved him and his class! Take him, but be prepared to do work if you want an A.

Pretty easy class, just read a few high school level books and wrote some reports. He's a really nice guy especially if you're open to learning new things. Really likes to create group based activities were you interact with other students. You should do well in this class if you are relatively articulate, and have good grammar.

My favorite professor at SMC. His lectures are clear and insightful. Highly recommend taking his class. There are 3 essays and he is very helpful if you ask! 1 novel and 2 plays you will read.

An amazing guy. If you enjoy reading and analyzing literature, you will be very interested in this class because the Prof. has some incredibly interesting stuff to say about the books. He doesn't just give out As, he expects you not to hand him a boring, high school-ish, prototype paper, but to come up with authentic and worthwhile things to say.

Overall hes awesome and its an interesting class. Reading is done at home and discussions are every class. No hw just a couple papers and a 15pg research paper at the end. Hes not very clear on feedback and is a tough grader so if you're not a strong writer or need help with writing in general hes not for you. would take him again though!

Really interesting course. We learned a lot about love and desire, which is interesting because it's all about life and life experiences (relatable). It feels like a psych class. He is super sweet and will help you with any questions, and loves when people participate in the lectures. It's kind of hard to know exactly what he wants in essays.

amazing professor and person. best experience I have had in a very long time anywhere in my life. I am so glad I took the class. He makes it worth working hard for. I was up late perfecting my essays and so glad I made the effort, he got me thinking again in ways I forgot about.

Over this course we had three papers and read two books: Ways of Seeing and The Great Gatsby, and did papers on each of them. The third essay was a 10-paged research paper, which I feel was the hardest out of all the papers because it was politically focuses, and not to mention, 10 PAGES. But I got through it! Stefan is very relaxed and nice.

AMAZING professor, and an amazing human being. One of the most methodical, intelligent and understanding professors at SMC. However, take this class ONLY if you enjoy reading, otherwise you'll find it tedious. Mattessich uses a more Socratic approach in the way he conducts class discussions, so make sure to participate. Def. would take again.

This is my first time ever writing a review. Professor Stefan is one of the best professors I've had, he teaches you valuable things. He will make you read interesting books that will make you think and question a lot of things, I even want to keep those books after the semester ends. He's a great person and professor.

Perhaps the best teacher I have ever had. If you're actually interested in English Lit, learning about different ideas of the world, philosophy and life through art, you will love him! He is amazingly smart, and his lectures are incredible. Participate in them and you will not regret it.

Taking his class was one of the best decisions I've ever made. When I saw that he had a 3.7 on this website, I knew I had to rate him because he truly deserves a 5.0 rating. His lectures are inspiring, and his feedback is always helpful and insightful. His class was the best class I've taken at Santa Monica- hell, in all my life! Take his class!

Awesome teacher and person . Helps you a lot improving your English and had inspired me s lot trough the course

Professor Mattessich is awesome! His lectures were super interesting and he is a very fascinating person with a HUGE amount of knowledge! There are no powerpoint slides, its all lecture. The more you participate the better the class will be. Do NOT be on your phone! His feedback is really great too! DO THE READINGS AND SHOW UP, GUARANTEED A+!

He is such a sweet man that gives great feedback and is very understanding. He wants the class to participate and discuss Easy class to pass honestly

Great lecturer with carefully crafted lesson plans that tie into each other in interesting ways. The bulk of my grade came from three essays; you don't have to be an incredible writer to pass but don't think you can skate by either. He's passionate about the works he assigns and takes time to go over details that are relevant to the essays' prompts

I can see why some people mght find him boring. His tone can be a bit dull, but if you actually listen to what he has to say you will see that he has a lot interesting things to say; Youll learn how literature has evolved throughout history. He likes metaphors in essay's, so the more cheesy it sounds the more he'll like it. Try your best, get an A.

Professor Mattessich is great and passionate about deep topics. I took him for Eng 2 and we read great novels. Participation is a must in his class. Fair grader but double check your work for run ons! I would take another class with him for sure.

I took this class about 10 years ago and still think about it to this day. Prof. M taught me how to read and write critically and to challenge preconceived ideas I had about certains topics/characters (and, well, life). It wasn't a very difficult class but I learned so much from it. I cannot thank Professor Mattessich enough! Take his classes!!

Easy A. Barely any homework assigned. there are 10 grammar assignments that consist of 10 questions each, worth 20% in total of all 10. 3 Essays in total that are also very easy, each worth 20% of your grade. And the Mid term is 20%. Very clear teaching skills and replies quickly. He is very nice and is always there to help.

I really like this professor, his lectures remained interesting! I feel lucky to have read the books he assigned. He's super chill!

He gives really in-depth feedback and focuses on your ability to use what you've learned in class. I learned more about English grammar in this class than in any other class. He's light on the homework, so each assignment counts. Seemed like a really nice guy.

The recorded lectures really help. The books (3) that were assigned were very interesting. The essays you need to write are not hard. He's not that hard of a grader. He doesn't really give that much feedback on the grammar assignments. Office hours kind of help. I like how he laid out what assignments we had to do. Understandable instructions!

TAKE HIM! Make sure you read everything on time since it will be discussed in class. He likes participation from students and to hear your interpretation of the readings. Read, show up, and participate that simple! 4 novels, 3 essays, 1 midterm, and a couple other readings throughout. He really inspired me and got me back into reading!

Mattessich's class can be tough, but engaging with his unique teaching style pays off. The readings are challenging but rewarding. Use unstuck study and participate to ace this class.

he's a dedicated professor who genuinely cares. very lecture heavy but the assignments were super easy as long as you try and make it personal. you read a lot and that can be frustrating if your uninterested in the book (i was) but he really does make it personalized to society. only 2 assignments weekly + 3 papers (the quizzes are lowk hard tho)