Time Schedule:
James Tweedie
C LIT 400
Seattle Campus
A selection of major theoretical statements in the history of literary theory and criticism, with texts drawn from such fields as literary studies, aesthetic theory, film studies, philosophy, and cultural studies.
Class description
This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in film theory. Readings will range from the formative work of early theorists like Sergei Eisenstein, to André Bazin’s influential writing on realist cinema, to more contemporary developments in the field, especially theories centered on the reception of films and the crucial role of stars in the history of the medium. The course will be designed around a series of key concepts that structure discussions of film throughout the twentieth century, including film’s relationship to modernism and modernity, cinematic realism, the development and persistence of genres, the nature of film authorship, the mythology of film stars, the implications of cinematic voyeurism and the gaze, and the political ramifications of the culture industry.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
