The goal of this course is to learn film analysis to heighten your visual literacy and enhance your enjoyment of films. It will focus on formal analysis of films, i.e., description of what shots, transitions, scenes, etc. contribute to the meaning of films. Clips of films from the Great Depression when Hollywood presented glamour and fantasy to ease the blues, and independent films that reflect the issues of the current economic crises through film realism will be used in the course. This program will follow the Friday morning Film Classics program and should be of interest to all you film and video buffs!

September 25
Simple formal or structural elements of film.
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Click here to download a copy of the Film Glossary.

October 9
Simple formal or structural elements of film--continuation

October 23
Exploration of formal film elements and visual literacy.  Consideration of film realism.

November 6
Continuation - Exploration of formal film elements and visual literacy.  Consideration of film realism.

November 20
Film narrative and film form, contrasting non-realistic and realistic films.  Comparison of escapist films from the Depression era and Independent neo-realistic contemporary films.

December 11
Continuation: Film narrative and film form, contrasting non-realistic and realistic films.  Comparison of escapist films from the Depression era and Independent neo-realistic contemporary films.