Film criticism refers to the serious and detailed analysis of film. Several critical approaches, i.e. auteur, genre, realism, feminism, will be studied and used to analyze film. These approaches explore film and its meaning through the historical development of the medium, from filmmaking’s technical components, by relating a film or group of films to the social and cultural environment of the time, by focusing on the work in terms of its emotional and psychological impact on the viewer and how it is influenced by the nature of the film industry and financial considerations. We will recognize the collaborative nature of the medium as well as the significance of the individual artist to a particular film or group of films.

Films will be screened weekly in class.