Introduction to Film Studies

The course examines the artistic and social power of film as a medium of audiovisual communication. The course emphasizes the analysis of narrative feature films, but also pays attention to non-fiction and experimental forms. The course offers a systematic view of how cinema tells stories, organizes information, patterns, light and sound, and creates unique aesthetic and social experiences. Aspects treated by the course include sound, editing, cinematography, film style, narrative and non-narrative forms, the organization of film production, and the relations of film to broader artistic, social, and historical contexts. Special attention is given to the ways film is now related to television, video, and new computer technologies.

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