Film Studies

Film studies adopts a critical, theoretical and historical approach to the anal ysis of individual films and to the study of cinema as an institution. Both the major and minor programs assess film as a medium that employs specific fonnal strategies in the process of producing meanings, and they interrogate critical and theoretical debates about the significance of film as a cultural form and of cinema as an industrial and institutional practice. The program also investigates various national cinemas, extending the question of film and meaning to the historical developments and cultural contexts associated with the role of cinema in different countries. Film studies may be usefully combined with a range of other majors; and students are encouraged to integrate production oriented courses and programs with film studies.

MAJOR

A major in film studies requires the successful completion of ten film studies courses, seven of which should be at the 300 level or above. All students working toward the major will be required to take Communication 315 (Film Analysis) and Communication 486 (Film Theory) as well as an upper level capstone course during the senior year selected from designated special topics courses. Electives may be selected from the list below. In the case of special topics courses (indicated with an asterisk) only film topics will be considered and approval of the Film Studies Director is required. Students should consult the Director regarding appropriate courses for the capstone seminar and should obtain approval from the Director for additional film courses not listed below.

MINOR

A minor in film studies requires the successful completion of six film studies courses, four of which should be at the 300 level or above. All students working toward the minor will be required to take Communication 3 15 (Film Analys is) and Communication 486 (Film Theory). The four additional film studies electives may be selected from the list below. In the case of special topics courses (indicated with an asterisk), only film topics will be considered and approval of the Film Studies Director is required. Additional film courses not listed below may be included with approval of Director.

COMM 115 Introduction to Cinema
COMM 240 Topics in International Film Movements and National Cinemas
COMM 250 Film and Society
COMM 315 Film Analysis
COMM 327 Topics: Authors and Genres
COMM 355 Third World Cinema
COMM 360 Documentary Cinema
COMM 380 Cinema Reception and Cultural Memory
COMM 417 U.S. Film History
COMM 418 African Cinema
COMM 419 Introduction to Latin American Film
COMM 430 Culture, Dominance, and Resistance in Cinema
COMM 435 Gender and the Cinema
COMM 461 National Cinemas in Latin America
COMM 481,482 Special Topics in Communication*
COMM 485 Cinema, Technology, Modernity
COMM 486 Film Theory
COMM 621, 622 Seminar in Communication Studies*
ENLS 364 Screen writing
ENLS 410 Literature and Film
FREN 311 The French Cinema
FREN 481, 482 Special Topics in French*
FREN 692 Special Problems in French Literature*
GER 371 Introduction to German Cinema
ITAL 333 Italian Literature in Translation*
ITAL 404 Topics in 19'" and 20th Century Italian Literature*
SOCI 245 Society Through Cinema
SPAN 417 Spanish Film
SPAN 419 Introduction to Latin American Film
SPAN 691, 692 Special Topics in Spanish*
THEA 361 Video Production I
THEA 362 Video Production II

Note: for descriptions of course content see appropriate department listings. For courses followed by an asterisk, film topics only are included.