Theorizing Film

This course will explore film theory, surveying film techniques and the history of film criticism before turning its attention to: current discussions of the representation of race, gender, and sexual orientation in film; the relation between filmic practice and the social construction of visuality; and the technical, generic, and conceptual impact upon film of changing representational technologies (such as digital media).

Possible Texts:

David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction (McGraw Hill, 2000)

Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen, eds., Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings

(Oxford UP, 1998)

Sue Thornham, Feminist Film Theory (NYU Press, 1999)

Course Requirements:

Grades will be based on class discussion (10%) and two written assignments: an 8-10 page (“conference length”) essay applying concepts from one of the readings to a literary or cultural text (40%) and an expanded 20-25 page (“article length”) revision of the essay (50%).