Film and Media Studies (BA)

Study and analysis of the elements basic to a critical understanding of film: story elements; visual design; cinematography and color; editing and special effects; functions of sound and music; styles of acting and directing; and functions of genre and social beliefs.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Nature, functions, responsibilities and effects of the media in contemporary society.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-09

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Study and analysis of the techniques, thematic conventions, and cultural and historical contexts of major film genres including the western, the musical, crime, melodrama, science fiction, and gangster. Films will include a mix of classic and contemporary examples.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Trends in film theory and criticism. Practice in critical analysis. Pre-req: 329 or permission of instructor.

Prerequisites: FILM 402 or FILM 412

Basic techniques of gathering information and writing readable and accurate media stories.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, MASS 110

This class uses a critical and cultural approach to explore the intersections of gender, race, and media across multiple media platforms, including film, television, news, social media, and other emerging media.

Prerequisites: none

The course provides explanations and analysis of the historical evolution of American mass communication from the colonial period of the 1600s to the present. Students will study media history within the broader contexts of American social and cultural history. Developing a deeper understanding of how mass media evolved will lead to a deeper and more effective comprehension of the roles and effects of mass communication in today's society.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the major films, filmmakers, movements, and trends that defined cinema throughout its first 65 years as a medium. It utilizes a range of historical lenses--aesthetic, industrial, technological, sociocultural--to offer a fuller understanding of film's development across varying temporal and geographic contexts. To encourage engagement with the construction of cinematic history, the course both engages with primary documents and analyzes scholarly historical work on film's creation and expansion. Ultimately, the class seeks to foster both knowledge of early cinematic history and appreciation for film history as a mode of research and writing.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the major films, filmmakers, movements, and trends that have defined cinema from the early 1960s to the present. It utilizes a range of historical lenses--aesthetic, industrial, technological, sociocultural--to offer a fuller understanding of film's development across varying temporal and geographic contexts. Utilizing primary documents alongside scholarly historical accounts, it also allows students to conduct research into contemporary titles and make an argument for how they reflect and/or challenge larger historical patterns. Ultimately, the course explores how the state of modern cinema can be contextualized and understood through an engagement with the (relatively) recent filmic past.

Prerequisites: none

On-site field experience, the nature of which is determined by the specific needs of the student's program option. May be repeated with change in topic. Pre: Consent of Instructor

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Extensive reading, research, writing and/or film production in an area for which the student has had basic preparation. May be repeated with change in topic. Pre: Consent of instructor

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

This course provides a framework for students to learn about professional media practice off-campus. Students will travel off-site to explore, find, and report original stories across multiple media platforms.

Prerequisites: none

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Prerequisites: MASS 221W, MASS 312, and MASS 411, plus two additional 300/400 level MASS courses, one of which must be MASS 325, MASS 330, MASS 334, MASS 431, MASS 434 or MASS 436

Directed research on a mass media topic chosen by the student.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Course will explore specialized topics in film; may be repeated under a different topic.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Studies analytical film language in several different film writing forms, including short and long-form reviews, collaborative analysis, and formal critical essays. Emphasizes social and critical contexts needed for film analysis and practice of writing in these film forms.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Introduces fundamentals of film production: writing, producing, directing, lighting, shooting, and editing, through lecture, critiquing the work of other filmmakers, and hands on production. By the end of this course students will be ready to puruse their own film projects.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-11

This course introduces students to the history of independent filmmaking. It includes the close analysis and study of films and filmmakers in United States independent cinema and in independent cinemas across the globe. The focus is on films made outside of the Hollywood economic model of filmmaking. The student will learn how to conduct historical research in independent filmmaking and how to critically analyze independent films.

Prerequisites: none

Designed for students who have prior experience and want to make an experimental, narrative and/or documentary film. Students will move from screenplay/proposal to production and post production of short films. Pre-req: ENG 217 or permission of instructor. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: FILM 217 or permission of instructor

Introduces students to film from a variety of world cultures. Designed to increase knowledge of world cultures and appreciation and understanding of cultural differences in representation. Emphasizes history of national cinemas, film analysis, and writing.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course introduces students to the close study of performance in the cinema. Through close analysis, we will challenge ourselves to think carefully about the creative contributions of actors to film narratives. Students will be taught how to closely describe, read, and interpret film performances, and will be introduced to critical frameworks for analyzing film acting in its various historical, aesthetic, and socio-cultural contexts. The focus in the course will be primarily on performance in U.S. cinema, although some case studies will also look at performance in international film.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the major films, filmmakers, movements, and trends that defined cinema throughout its first 65 years as a medium. It utilizes a range of historical lenses--aesthetic, industrial, technological, sociocultural--to offer a fuller understanding of film's development across varying temporal and geographic contexts. To encourage engagement with the construction of cinematic history, the course both engages with primary documents and analyzes scholarly historical work on film's creation and expansion. Ultimately, the class seeks to foster both knowledge of early cinematic history and appreciation for film history as a mode of research and writing.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the major films, filmmakers, movements, and trends that have defined cinema from the early 1960s to the present. It utilizes a range of historical lenses--aesthetic, industrial, technological, sociocultural--to offer a fuller understanding of film's development across varying temporal and geographic contexts. Utilizing primary documents alongside scholarly historical accounts, it also allows students to conduct research into contemporary titles and make an argument for how they reflect and/or challenge larger historical patterns. Ultimately, the course explores how the state of modern cinema can be contextualized and understood through an engagement with the (relatively) recent filmic past.

Prerequisites: none

Trends in film theory and criticism. Practice in critical analysis. Pre-req: 329 or permission of instructor.

Prerequisites: FILM 402 or FILM 412

Film Authorship teaches the study of authorship in cinema and other forms of moving-image media. The course focuses on the concept of authorship throughout the history of film studies by looking at the career of one or more film directors. The course explores the careers of the selected director(s) in their varying historical, cultural, ideological, theoretical, and aesthetic contexts. The course may be repeated for credit if the particular director(s) under discussion differ from the previous course the student has taken. The director(s) studied will be listed under Notes in the course schedule whenever the course is offered.

Prerequisites: none

Topic-oriented course in film studies. May be repeated with change of topic.

Prerequisites: none

The course explores 20th and 21st century German film in historical, social, cultural contexts and events. Topics may be a survey, or concentration on Weimar Cinema, New German Cinema, East German Cinema, transnational cinema. Topics vary. Course may be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

This course investigates some of the central philosophical issues in our thinking about film, including questions about narrative, ontology, ethical criticism of film, the role of artistic intentions in interpretation, artistic medium, and the art/entertainment distinction.

Prerequisites: none

Survey of current practices and problems in the field of public relations. Emphasizes successful case histories and planning techniques.

Prerequisites: none

Exploration of the basic principles of visual media design, stressing the significance of images in a mass media society. Special focus on contextualizing historial and technological changes affecting image production for mass media.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Explores social media and their impacts on society through consideration of technologies, social networks, markets, communities, politics and social movements, and major companies. Special focus on individuals' roles as users, producers, consumers, and laborers toward becoming responsible online citizens.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-09

Principles of the First Amendment, libel, fair trial, privacy, access to news, pornography and regulation of radio and television.

Prerequisites: none

Creation of photo, audio, video, and written content for multi-platform distribution. Includes critical consideration and application of content creation tools, social media management tools, and legal and ethical issues.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Instruction in the fundamental concepts, terminology, techniques and applications of digital imaging in mass communication. Development of the basic skills necessary to design, create, manage and distribute photographic and video digital images in mass communication.

Prerequisites: none

Practicum in typography, design, layout and production processes, including job budgeting and estimating, for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, brochures, posters, annual reports, direct mail and related print materials used public relations and journalism. Emphasis on graphic design software.

Prerequisites: none

Practical skill in the development of public relations writing including news releases, brochures, public service announcements, pitch letters, annual reports.

Prerequisites: MASS 233 

Exploration of historic and contemporary examples of strategic public relations successes and failures. Analysis of public relations practices related to these cases, including planning, communication, evaluation exercises and management responsibilities.

Prerequisites: none

Hands-on production of interactive documentary content for online audiences. Special focus may include web series, docu games, interactive documentary, and virtual and augmented reality.

Prerequisites: none

Hands-on development, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of a digital advocacy campaign. Special focus on brandraising, network analysis, and social media analytics toward creating messages and determining campaign effectiveness.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W