American Film History and Theory
Why and how do films work? In what phases can U.S. film history be divided into? And which movies became emblematic of their age? In this course we will review a variety of aspects related to U.S. movie history, filmic techniques as well as seminal texts in film theory.
We will look at some of the major steps in the development of U.S. cinema with the help of the theoretical groundwork laid by Miriam Hansen, Laura Mulvey, bell hooks, David Bordwell, Douglas Kellner, Linda Williams, and Thomas Elsaesser. Richard Barsam's Looking At Movies will provide us with an introduction into basic filming techniques, such as editing, mise-en-scène, and cinematography.
Through group work and in-class discussions, we will stake out which major issues structured different filmmaking traditions in the U.S.; from Old Hollywood to Blaxploitation, from special effects-driven blockbusters to the indie film movement. This will help us identify why certain films and movements have immortalized themselves on celluloid.
Recommended Literature:
Barsam, Richard & Dave Monahan (2015): "Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film." W. W. Norton & Company; 5th edition (October 6, 2015)
Ryan, Michael & Melissa Lenos (2020): "An Introduction to Film Analysis: Technique and Meaning in Narrative Film." Bloomsbury Academic; 2nd edition (April 16, 2020)
Elsaesser, Thomas (2002): "Studying Contemporary American Film: A Guide To Movie Analysis." Bloomsbury Academic (March 1, 2002)
Gocsik, Karen, et al. (2012): "Writing About Movies." W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 3rd edition (October 15, 2012)
Course Requirements:
MA, American Studies (2014)
For gaining 2 ECTS in Module 6 ("Mediality"): Post one study question on Moodle on one of the movie on the syllabus + one brief oral/written statement on one of the movies
Everyone else: Participate in class