FORL 125 - Introduction To Film Studies

4 Credits

1 Units

Cinema and screen media have shaped how societies dream, remember, and imagine themselves. To study film is to study the modern collective imagination: how stories circulate, how identities are represented, and how political, economic, and technological forces shape art. This course introduces students to the foundations of film studies, with a primary focus on film analysis and aesthetics. We will emphasize the technical and narrative study of feature and experimental films while fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of film language. Students will engage with the core elements of film-camera techniques, narrative structure, cinematography, editing, mise-en-scène, and sound-and learn how these elements combine to produce meaning. In addition, the course provides a survey of film history and major international movements, from French avant-garde cinema and Soviet Montage to the New Wave cinemas of Europe and East Asia, tracing their influence on American and Iranian film cultures. We will also examine the social, cultural, and political contexts that shape film as a medium. By the end of the course, students will be able to engage with films critically, construct systematic and well-supported interpretations, and articulate their insights in a persuasive and well- crafted video essay.

Credit Type Code: Letter Grade