This course is an advanced survey class on American movie history, filmic techniques and some seminal texts in film theory as well as an introduction for those MA students who want to teach a film tutorial for BA students in the summer. We will look at some of the major steps in the development of American cinema; we will discuss influential film theories by David Bordwell, Jean-Louis Baudry, Laura Mulvey and Linda Williams as well as some chapters from an introduction into film theory by Thomas Elsaesser and Malte Hagener; and we will have a look at basic filmic techniques such as image and shot, perspective, camera movement, lighting, color and sound, editing, film narratology and semiotics. Please sign yourself up for this class in the virtual classroom in Moodle (link in Agnes)! The key is "moviemania". Readings: · Texts will be uploaded onto the Moodle platform. · Apart from the theoretical texts we will be working with Richard Barsam, Looking at Movies, New York: Norton, 2010. Excerpts from the book will also be uploaded onto Moodle. Tutors will work with this book and its DVD tutorials next semester. Viewings: The list of movies we will be discussing is part of the syllabus (download from Moodle!). The movies will be screened for you on Tuesdays between 6PM and 8:30 PM. If you cannot participate in the screening you have to watch them on your own! Your instructor will throw a tantrum if you have not seen the movie very recently! Course Requirements: You have to read the texts and prepare a handout with 3 theses/suggestions on one of the movies. For the entire module (6): teaching report (on your experience in a tutorial) or self-study journal (please consult with the instructor). |
