ART 220A - Film: A Cultural Affair

Film is a fantastic tool for social critique, and it is a tool that has been used for this purpose since its inception. This class will focus primarily on contemporary film makers within a strong theoretical context. We will view a variety of contemporary video shorts and full feature films while reading texts that offer a contemporary cultural critique. We will discuss how these complex ideas are investigated through the creative forms of moving image. This class will cover theorists as varied as Umberto Eco, Edward W. Soja and pop philosopher Slavoj Zizek. Through the lens, provided by these texts, we will analyze the works of international filmmakers such as Godfrey Reggio, Roy Andersson, David Cronenberg and Jerzy Stuhr. These readings and films investigate ideas as diverse as literary theory, geography, political science, and sustainability, and combine to paint an image of our contemporary landscape that will resonate as a surreal representation of our current social economic and political climate. This course will count as part of the film minor.

Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites; Sophomore standing or above recommended.

Credits: 4