CINE 420 - Political Cinema Across Cultures

3 Credit(s) | Lecture |
Course can be counted for credit once

Description:
The focus of this course will be a comprehensive history of the interrelationship between politics and film in wide geographical and cultural contexts and in distinct time periods, starting from World War II. Film will be studied that was created in Europe, North America, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular the course will frame and analyze various political issues, themes, and ideologies, zeroing in on all the different ways in which these have been used or represented on screen. We will investigate, compare and contrast films and other relevant texts through a number of different lenses (political, cultural, ethical) and using diverse means (written assignment, class discussions, online forum) in order to develop informed opinions on their meaning, cultural significance, and ideological implications. Since its early days, film has been instrumental in advancing political agendas, supporting specific policies, championing ideologies (both overtly and surreptitiously), and influencing national and global audiences. Issues of historical significance and global concern such as the effects of propaganda and totalitarianism, the right to self-determination of peoples, and dominant ideological discourses, among others, will be studied in detail through weekly screenings of relevant classic films. Films will be analyzed both in a broad socio-cultural and historical framework and in respect to authors’ specific style.

Course Attribute(s):
Distribution Area: World Cultures

040740:1

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