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THEA 381

THEA 381: Foundations of Cinematic Aesthetics

Prerequisites: THEA 180

Credit Hours: (3)

An exploration of the aesthetic process of cinema through the examination of films recognized by film scholars to be seminal in shaping the way that we make and view cinematic art.

Note(s): Student cannot receive credit for both THEA 280 and THEA 381.


Detailed Description of Course

The films will be examined with regard to:

•    The production itself, detailing the principle figures and the process of making the film.
•    Placing the work into the context of its culture.
•    The impact of the work.

The films to be examined will be significant in terms of their place in the historical, cultural, economic and technological context of the cinematic arts, as well as how they define the present and future of the art form. Examples of works to be selected for examination are:

•    2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
•    8 ½
•    A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE
•    A PLACE IN THE SUN
•    ALL ABOUT EVE
•    ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
•    ANNA KARENINA
•    ANTONIO DAS MORTES
•    BAISERS VOLES
•    BREATHLESS (1960)
•    BRINGING UP BABY
•    CABINET DES CALIGARI
•    CASABLANCA
•    CHINATOWN
•    CITY LIGHTS
•    CITIZEN KANE
•    DAVID HOLMAN'S DIARY
•    DES TRIUMPH DES WILLENS
•    DODSWORTH
•    DR. STRANGELOVE, OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB
•    DUCK SOUP
•    FAHRENHEIT 451
•    FANTASIA
•    FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
•    GERTIE THE DINOSAUR
•    GONE WITH THE WIND
•    GREED
•    HIGH NOON
•    HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
•    I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG
•    INTOLERANCE
•    IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
•    KILLER OF SHEEP
•    KING KONG (1933)
•    LA GRANDE ILLUSION
•    LA STRADA
•    LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
•    LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE
•    LES HALLUCINATIONS DU BARON DE MUNCHAUSEN
•    LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER
•    LOOK BACK IN ANGER
•    M
•    MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON
•    METROPOLIS - MODERN TIMES
•    MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
•    MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
•    NANOOK OF THE NORTH
•    NINOTCHKA
•    OLYMPIA
•    ON THE WATERFRONT
•    OUT OF THE PAST
•    PATHER PANCHALI
•    (1947)
•    RAGING BULL
•    RASHOMON
•    REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
•    RED RIVER
•    SATYRICON
•    SEVEN BEAUTIES
•    SEVEN SAMURIA
•    SHADOW OF A DOUBT
•    SHERLOCK JR.
•    SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
•    SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
•    SOME LIKE IT HOT
•    STAR WARS
•    SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS
•    SUNSET BOULEVARD
•    SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG
•    THE RIVER (1937)
•    THE GRAPES OF WRATH
•    THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY
•    THE FRESHMAN (1925)
•    THE WIZARD OF OZ
•    THE BATTLE OF SAN PIETRO
•    THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN
•    THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
•    THE GENERAL
•    THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
•    THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL
•    THE SEVENTH SEAL
•    THE MALTESE FALCON
•    THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
•    THE ITALIAN
•    THE LEARNING TREE
•    THE SEARCHERS
•    THE CROWD
•    THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
•    THE BICYCLE THIEF
•    THE FIREMAN’S BALL
•    TOP HAT
•    TORO!
•    TROUBLE IN PARADISE
•    ULYSSES
•    UNE VISITE
•    VERTIGO
•    WILD STRAWBERRIES


Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Class method will consist of assigned viewings, readings, guest and faculty lectures as well as student presentations reflecting the production, cultural context and impact of the examined works.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

1. Students will develop a stronger understanding of the tradition, process and impact of the cinematic arts.
2. Students will develop a sense of how this art form came to be and what it is today.
3. Students will be exposed to significant works of cinematic art.
4. Students will have critical viewing and listening experiences.
5. Students will have opportunities to make presentations and conduct research.


Assessment Measures

Final grades in this class will be based on examinations, participation and the quality of their research and presentations.


Other Course Information

None


Review and Approval

September 2005        Review

3/2009            Revision        Carl Lefko

3/2010            Review            Carl Lefko

July 2010