FAMS 101: Introduction to Film & Media Studies
This is a foundational course that introduces students to basic concepts, theories and methods that are central to film and media studies. We will study the histories and genres of cinema and formal techniques such as lighting, editing and sound to develop a critical understanding of film as a dominant mode of representation. We will also study other forms of electronic media to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and practices of emerging technologies and forms of distribution. Through required weekly screenings, readings, writing and regular discussion, we will analyze these various kinds of screen media as they influence our world. No prerequisites. FAMS F & CCS HUM. Andy Smith – MW 9:00-11:50AM. Buck Hall-Landis Cinema
FAMS 102: Integrated Practice I
This course introduces students to the creative, theoretical, and practical aspects of media production and is designed to provide a foundational understanding of audio-visual storytelling. Students will learn the technical fundamentals of composition, lighting, audio recording, digital video cameras, and non-linear editing. The class will be grounded in deep discussions of ethical media-making and responsible practices that move between past, present, and future. FAMS F & P. Prerequisite FAMS 101 or permission. Drew Swedberg – MW 1:10-4:00 PM. 248-Media 1
FAMS 202: Integrated Practice II
In this course, students produce research-based creative work in the form of stop motion animations, digital cutout animations, and green-screen composite videos. Students integrate the written word into their projects during the conceptual phase and as companion texts such as artist statements. Students also learn the essential practice of designing budgets for large scale collaborative projects. FAMS P. Prerequisite FAMS 102 or permission. Adam MacHose – TR 1:10-4:00 PM. 248-Media 1
FAMS/ENG 252: Writing for Television
In this class, we will be exploring the craft of writing for television. We will practice how to develop a premise and populate the world of a TV show with intriguing characters and dramatic conflicts. We will discuss scene design, the structure of both half-hour comedic and hour-long dramatic episodes, series-long story arcs, and how to write compressed but believable dialogue. We will develop a critical vocabulary for analyzing TV shows as writers, and will also examine the shifting landscape of the industry as it relates to cable and internet distribution. Writing assignments will build from short loglines to developed scripts. Particular emphasis will be placed on drafting and revision. CCS W. Mikael Awake – F 1:10-4:00PM. 248-Media 1
FAMS 320: The Spectre of Race
Governed by the metaphor of “spectre,” this seminar looks at the tangle between race, images and technology. Beginning with early image-making and the birth of cinema, we will examine how ways of seeing, the rise of mass media in modern consumer society, and the relationship between visual culture and power are deeply intertwined to influence and create discourse on racialized difference. Examining race theories ranging from whiteness to discourses of diversity and post-raciality in the United States and beyond, we will study a range of media such as, but not limited to the shadow play of daguerreotypes, the high contrast of early ethnographic films, the gaze of Hollywood cinema and the counter gaze of progressive cinema and media to explore historical constructions of race and ethnicity, how they have influenced racialized difference on screen and how we see ourselves and others. Students complete critical video essays and collaborate to create a peer-reviewed, online videographic journal. CSS HUM/GM1/V course. FAMS T (theory) course. Prerequisite: FAMS 101, or permission of instructor. Nandini Sikand – TR 1:10-3:00PM. 248 Media 2
FAMS/PHIL 345: Philosophy of Film
This course is an examination of fundamental questions on the nature, interpretation, experience, and evaluation of film. Special attention will be paid to film’s essential nature, and to how such nature affects how films engage the viewer, hence perhaps how they should be evaluated. Topics will include: the distinctive nature of the moving image compared to other forms of representation; cinema as an art form; film authorship; colorization; the nature of film horror; and the relationship between film and ethics. FAMS T & CCS HUM/GM2/V/W. Alessandro Giovannelli – TR 1:15-2:30. Pardee 102A
FAMS 420: Capstone
Required for all FAMS seniors, the purpose of this course is to conceive a significant project idea, complete extensive research and analysis, make a research plan and timeline, receive and incorporate feedback and present a public final work that is collaborative and complete. Students will complete a finished work from concept to final execution. CCS W. Open to senior FAMS majors only. Two sections offered: (01) Nandini Sikand, W 1:10-4:00 PM. (02) Andy Smith, R 9:00-11:50AM. 248-Media 2