Course Descriptions
FA255 Understand Movies: Film Styles
Features critical analysis and appreciation of cinema through the viewing and study of narrative film, while exploring other film forms. Introduces the historical, cultural, generic, and stylistic variety of cinematic art within its social context. Also introduces basic cinematic terminology and concepts, film criticism, and the conventions of writing film analysis. Includes a weekly film screening lab that accompanies the lecture. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits total. Prerequisite: Placement into WR115; or completion of WR090 with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor. F, Sp, Su
4 Credits
FA256 Understand Movies: Directors
Features critical analysis and appreciation of cinema through the viewing and study of films that broke with tradition. Highlights the films of one artist, group style, or national cinema movement seen as an innovation in film history. Explores individual films as the work of an author or authors, especially within the context of viewing the films as a body of work embodying a unique world view and artistic practice. Also introduces basic cinematic terminology and concepts, film criticism, and the conventions of writing film analysis. Includes a weekly film screening lab that accompanies the lecture. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits total. Prerequisite: Placement into WR115; or completion of WR090 with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor. W
4 Credits
FA257 Understand Movies:Theme/Genre
Features critical analysis and appreciation of cinema through the viewing and study of films within the context of a specific film genre or thematic topic. Emphasizes analysis of formal and stylistic similarities and differences of significant film traditions. Explores cinema’s relationship to society. Introduces basic cinema terminology and concepts, film criticism, and the conventions of writing film analysis. Includes a weekly film screening lab that accompanies the lecture. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits total. Prerequisite: Placement into WR115; or completion of WR090 with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor. F, Sp, Su
4 Credits