FILM 211: History of Film II: 1945 to present
Description: FILM 211 History of Film II picks up where FILM 210 leaves off, completing a two-course survey of the history of film. Its goal is to provide an ambitious sweep of cinematic culture from the post-WWII era to contemporary film experiences. Because of the survey function and nature of this course, we cannot but be selective in our coverage and approach. While Hollywood’s dominance in global box offices demands our attention, alternative, independent, “foreign,” and “global” cinemas will also be featured. Students will view works by filmmakers from countries like the United States, France, Italy, Sweden, Great Britain, Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, and Germany. The objective is to help students map out the broad terrain of cinema across the globe, knowledge that will serve as a foundation for future work in film studies. We will also begin the critical processes of rethinking the notion of film history as a scholarly enterprise by challenging the concept of history itself within the discipline. The films we will be watching include Bicycle Thieves, Rebel without a Cause, Magnificent Obsession, Breathless, Black Narcissus, Nights of Cabiria, Wild Strawberries, That Obscure Object of Desire, Lola, Tokyo Story, Raise the Red Lantern, The Wedding Banquet, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, Chungking Express, Bonnie & Clyde, Blade Runner, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Contact:
For more information about this course, contact Kenneth Chan