German 397W - ST-Women and Filmmaking

A study of women and filmmaking is exceedingly timely, as is evident in current cultural debates. This course will identify the broader issues surrounding women and the film industry, but it will focus on a detailed case study from the Cold War period. You will be encouraged to explore the topic of women and filmmaking through the historical, cultural and theoretical breadth of the course material, in relation to your own exposure and intellectual interests in Western and world cinemas. Topics include: the relationship between feminism, socialism and film; professional avenues open (and closed) to women in the socialist studio system; and cinematic engagement with a range of historical and social topics in East Germany.