Upcoming Courses

Spring 2024 Courses

  • CLA 100 Ancient Stories in Modern Film

    This course will view a number of modern films and set them alongside ancient literary texts which have either directly inspired them or with which they share common themes. In the first part of the course, we will consider the relationship between ancient Greek epic, tragic, and comic literature and the modern cinema. In the second part, we will look at a number of ways in which the city of Rome has been treated as both a physical place and as an idea or ideal in the works of both ancient Romans and modern film-makers.

    • 001 MWF 10 AM - 10:50 AM, Laura Manning

  • ENG 180 Great Movies: Subtitle Required (UK Core: Intellectual Inquiry Arts & Creativity)

    A course introducing students to films of various genres and styles, from both historical and contemporary filmmakers, investigating a particular issue or theme. Topics vary by semester and are chosen by faculty to give a broad-based understanding of important cinematic works, trends, and the creative processes behind this important, collaborative artform. As with all Arts and Creativity classes, this class will require students to produce an artistic artifact. Intended as a general humanities course for non-majors. Lecture and section. See departmental listings for different offerings per semester. Does not fulfill ENG pre-major requirement or provide ENG Major Elective credit.                                                                                

    • 001 (Subtitle TBD) TR 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM, Deidra Nonae White

    • 002 (Subtitle TBD) MWF 11 AM - 11:50 AM, Akhira Mahal Umar

    • 003 (Subtitle TBD) MWF 12 PM - 12:50 PM, Nicholas Xavier Ruma

    • 005 (Great Movies: Tech Transformations in Film) TR 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM, Pearl James 

      • There are three main elements that influence which films get made and what forms they take: technology, art, and commercial/industry considerations.  This course will look at some great movies that emerged at and are emblematic of the technological innovation part of that triad.  We will consider several key technological pivot points: the invention of moving pictures (Lumière, Mélies, and others), the transition to sound (Jazz Singer, Singin’ in the Rain, The Artist), the use of color (Wizard of Oz), the development of handheld cameras (Don’t Look Back and Cleo de Cinq à Sept), and the invention of CGI (Jurrasic Park, Jurassic Punk).  Students will work in groups to produce short films that comment on our own unique technological moment.   

  • ENG 280 Introduction to Film (UK Core: Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities)

    An introduction to the study of films as narrative art and cultural documents. The course involves viewing and analyzing films from different genres and investigating a unified theme or set of topics. Students will learn how to view films closely, how to relate films to their contexts, and how to employ the basic terms and concepts of film analysis. Attention will be paid to student writing, particularly to devising a thesis, crafting an argument, and learning how to use supporting evidence. Viewing films outside of class is required. See departmental listings for different offerings per semester. Does not fulfill ENG pre-major requirement. Can be taken for ENG Major Elective credit. Provides ENG minor credit.

    • 001 TR 11 AM - 12:15 PM, Jordan Robert Brower

    • 002 MW 2 PM - 2:50 PM/F 9 AM - 9:50 AM, Frederick K. Bengtsson/TBD 

    • 003 MW 2 PM - 2:50 PM/F 11 AM - 11:50 AM, Frederick K. Bengtsson/TBD

    • 004 MW 2 PM - 2:50 PM/F 10 AM - 10:50 AM, Frederick K. Bengtsson/TBD

    • 005 MW 2 PM - 2:50PM/F 10 AM - 10:50 AM, Frederick K. Bengtsson/TBD

    •  006 T 5 PM - 7:30 PM (in-person)/Fully Online Asynchronous (part-of-term course), Alan M. Nade

  • WRD 312 Introduction to Documentary (UK Core: Intellectual Inquiry Arts & Creativity)

    This course is dedicated to critical examination of approaches to the documentary, and the construction of a documentary of one's own. Students will examine different strategies, structures, and topics, with an eye to production.

    • 001 TR 11 AM - 12:15 PM, Thomas Marksbury

  • CHI 321 Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Film

    The course offers an overview of major films, directors and actors in the contemporary PRC, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It examines the genres of Chinese film better known in the US, including the Hong Kong action film, fifth-generation mainland cinema and Taiwanese urban dramas. The course will provide an understanding of contemporary Chinese cinema through analyses of the content and style, poetics and politics of films/ filmmakers/film movements, that reflect the Chinese cultural value system and differing Chinese aesthetics vis-a-vis Western and Hollywood views. All films are screened with English subtitles.

    • 001 TR 2 PM - 3:15 PM, Liang Lu

  • FR 325 French Cinema: Subtitle Required

    An introduction to the analysis of film and to the major movements in the history of French cinema. May be repeated up to 6 hours with different subtitles.

    • 001 Introduction to Francophone Cinema TR 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM, Nisrine Slitine El Mghari

  • MCL 343 Global Horror

    Global Horror is an introduction to the horror film that traces the genre's development from its origins in European literature to a global film phenomenon in the 21st century.

    • 001 TR 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM, Nels J. Rogers

    • 002 TR 11:00 - 12:15 PM, Nels J. Roger

  • SPA 371 Latin American Cinema: Subtitle Required (UK Core: Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities)

    An introduction to the analysis and interpretation of cinema in general and Latin American cinema in particular. Open to majors and non-majors. The course will focus on films from the Latin American schools of cinema which will be studied in their social, political, and cultural context and introduce students to basic critical vocabulary. Viewing of films (with English subtitles) outside of class is required. Class lectures in English; sections in English or Spanish depending on the language ability of student. Course cannot be repeated.

    • 001 (Subtitle TBD) MWF 12 PM - 12:50 PM, Matthew J. Losada 

  • SPA 539 Themes in Latin American Literature, Culture, and Film: Subtitle Required

    This course is a topics course in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Literature, Film and Culture. Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and MA level graduate students. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits under different subtopic.

    • 001 (Subtitle TBD) W 4 PM - 6:30 PM, Dierdra Joy Reber

  • MCL 592 Research Practicum: Subtitle Required 

    In this course students engage in directed research designed to broaden and deepen their expertise in a specific research area, and to extend and refine their investigative and research skills. The research work may be performed alone or as a part of a team, and the research focus may include (but is not limited to): an independent topic/project in the students' area(s) of study; a topic/project closely connected with an upper-level seminar in which the students are currently enrolled; or a topic/project within the research agenda of the faculty member offering the course. The research performed in this course will result in a report to be published or presented in an appropriate public research venue (departmental symposium; campus-wide research publication or presentation; professional conference or publication; etc.). Course may be taken for up to 9 credits, with either multiple projects or a longer- term, ongoing single project.

    • 001 Film Studies Capstone TBD, Nels Jeff Rogers