How do contemporary films make meaning? How does cinematic language convey emotion and raise ideas? how do we, as contemporary spectators, relate to and make sense of the screen? This course, while centered on contemporary films, is an introduction to cinematic language, its techniques, and the social and cultural factors that have made it one of the most influential art forms of our time. Looking at international films from just the last 20 years, we will explore and discover the ways these films creatively explore ideas and look at the technological, economic and political forces that fuel their production. Together with readings and screenings, individual and group assignments will help students deepen their understanding of lectures, readings and films and develop new critical skills and aesthetic understanding.
Code
FM1010
Name
MODERN FILMS & THEIR MEANINGS
Credits
4
Pre-requisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Can be taken twice for credit?
No
Discipline
FM (Film)
Level
Undergraduate
Type
CCI
CAMS ID
4515
Last update with CAMS
Students will be able to trace the rise and development of contemporary cinema as an art form, industry and cultural product.
Students will be able to define key terms, recognize cinematic elements, differentiate between form and content and analyze how they work together to make meaning.
Students will have a deeper understanding of the work of some of the major directors in film history.
Coursework will strengthen the student’s observational, analytical and writing skills.
Local and Global Perspectives: Students will enhance their intercultural understanding of languages, cultures, and histories of local societies and the global issues to which these relate.(CCI LO1)
Aesthetic Inquiry and Creative Expression: Students will engage with artistic or creative objects (e.g., visual art, theatrical works, film) in different media and from a range of cultural traditions.(CCI LO2)
Exploring and Engaging Difference: Students will think critically about cultural and social difference; they will identify and understand power structures that determine hierarchies and inequalities that can relate to race, ethnicity, gender, nationhood, religion, or class.(CCI LO3)
