History of Film I (312-1-20)

Instructors

Nathaniel Andrew Rossi

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 119: Mon, Wed 10:00AM - 11:50AM

Overview of class

This course surveys the history of international cinema from its emergence through the 1950s. We will explore the diverse forms cinema took and functions it performed during this period by looking closely at a range of films and writings about them. We will examine the industrial, social, and historical contexts within which these films were produced and experienced as well as theorizations of cinema that emerged concurrently with them. The course thus introduces students to the study of film history as well as to key national and international trends in making and thinking about cinema as it rose to prominence as a vital component of the art and culture of the twentieth century. Topics covered include the cinema of attractions; cinema's relation to colonialism; the development of narrative filmmaking; studio systems; audiences; exhibition practices; the concept of national cinemas as exemplified by the cinemas of the United States, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan, India, and China; the avant-garde and cinema's relation to art movements; the coming of synchronized sound; animation; documentary cinema; and diverse conceptualizations of cinema's political possibilities and dangers.

Class Materials (Required)

We have one required textbook, Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell's Film History: An Introduction (fifth edition) (ISBN-10: 1265924708), which is available at the Norris Bookstore and/or Amazon, where it is currently approximately $75 for a new copy or $50 for a used copy. If you prefer, you may also use the second, third, or fourth editions, which are widely available for purchase online. All other course materials are available on our Canvas site.

Class Attributes

Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - 555 Clark 230: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - University Hall 318: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM