Faculty: Greg A Mullins
From the silent films of the 1920s to the French New Wave, in this course you will study classics of world cinema. We will focus on films that have had an enduring impact on the history of film, either because of their technical, stylistic, and aesthetic innovations, or because they so effectively expressed the cultural moment in which they were made. We will also focus on styles, movements, influences, and historical contexts.
The course is designed for both students who are new to the academic study of film, and for students who are concentrating in film or media studies. This is a course in film interpretation rather than a course that teaches film production.
This is an online course, for which students may use the campus computer center or any remote location with a speedy and reliable internet connection. Most of the films will be held on reserve at the library, where you can watch them at no cost. Students who wish to watch the films at home will need access to a comprehensive source for DVD rentals or streaming and appropriate TV/DVD/computer equipment (the wider the screen the better, and no smaller than 24”).
While this is an online course, it is not a self-paced course. The features of a traditional classroom (lecture and seminar discussion) will be pursued using courseware. Assignments, which include both discussion and working in writing groups, are due at specific times on specific days.
Students must attend the Orientation Session Monday June 24th from 6-7 pm PST in the Computer Center classroom. This is the first day of the first session of summer quarter. If for any reason you cannot attend, please contact the instructor in advance.
Ideally, everyone’s schedule will allow weekly attendance of Webinar (a real-time discussion in chat rooms). On the first day of class we will form webinar groups, depending on work and family schedules. These could be during the day, evening, or weekend, as is most convenient for you.
We will focus on films that have had an enduring impact on the history of film: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Battleship Potemkin (1925), Citizen Kane (1941), Casablanca (1943), Psycho (1960), The Bicycle Thief (1948), Dreams (1990), Breathless (1960), plus three films of your own choosing.
Additional assignments include watching between 8-11 films, reading chapters from Thompson and Bordwell, Film History: An Introduction, reading chapters from Timothy Corrigan, A Short Guide to Writing About Film, listening to lectures (downloaded as audio files), participating in asynchronous online discussion groups, and writing a 5-page essay.