Film Studies 234 - THE ART OF FILM

This intermediate-level course, designed for students interested in both film studies and film production, is meant to give sustained practice in the formal analysis of screen work?films from several countries, many periods, and different genres. Ordinarily, it will follow FLS 150, broadening and deepening the practice of formal analysis taught in that course. Category by category, we will take up fundamental film techniques?mise-en-scene (settings, costumes, lighting), camera work (camera angles, the moving camera, framing, color and black-and-white, special effects), editing (cuts, jump cuts, fades, dissolves, wipes, montage sequences, split screens), sound (diegetic and nondiegetic music, sound effects, silence), and performance for the camera. The emphasis throughout will be on films in which technique produces distinctive, stylish, expressive meaning. There will be frequent practice in (and guidance about) writing on film. Prerequisite: FLS 150, or a comparable introductory course, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15.