Film Studies Minor Courses
Film Studies Minor Courses, Summer & Fall 2024
SUMMER 2024
Required Courses:
Film 2759G, History of Cinema - Walus
The course offers a comprehensive yet selective overview of the history of cinema, integrating the basic tools for analyzing film as art. It will examine how the uses of camera, editing, lighting, sound, and acting contribute to the construction of meaning for audiences, as well as consider how meaning is filtered through various cultural contexts. WI Credits: 3. Online. May 13 - Jun 8, 2024
Elective Courses:
EIU 4104G, World Film: Lang & Culture in Film-Eydt-Beebe
This course will examine some of the aesthetic, social, and cultural issues unique to documentary. Credits: 3. Jun 10 - Jul 20, 2024
EIU 4170G, History on Film – Smith
The course offers a comprehensive yet selective overview of the history of cinema, integrating. Credits: 3. Online, May 13 - Jun 8, 2024
EIU 4174G, Documentary & Society - Harkulich
This course will examine some of the aesthetic, social, and cultural issues unique to documentary film and video. WI. Credits: 3. Online, Jun 10 - Jul 20, 2024
FALL 2024
Required Courses:
FILM 2759G.600, History of Cinema - Murray
The course offers a comprehensive yet selective overview of the history of cinema, integrating the basic tools for analyzing film as art. It will examine how the uses of camera, editing, lighting, sound, and acting contribute to the construction of meaning for audiences, as well as consider how meaning is filtered through various cultural contexts. WI Credits: 3. Online.
FILM 2759G.601, History of Cinema - Walus
The course offers a comprehensive yet selective overview of the history of cinema, integrating the basic tools for analyzing film as art. It will examine how the uses of camera, editing, lighting, sound, and acting contribute to the construction of meaning for audiences, as well as consider how meaning is filtered through various cultural contexts. WI Credits: 3. Online.
CMN 3530, Film Communication - Britton
Film as the expression of the performers, producers, directors, writers, and technicians. Critical discussion of film theory, history, and criticism. WI Credits: 4. TR 2:00-3:15
Elective Courses:
AFR 3300, African Cinema-Ochwa-Echel
This is a course which encounters and interprets traditions of Africa through its cinema. Credits: 3. M 4:00-6:30
CMN 3540, Production III - Britton
Students learn to communicate visually with advanced camera, lighting, and editing techniques. Students will study and create a variety of digital media projects for film, TV, and the webb. Prerequisites: CMN 3050. Credits: 3. TR, 3:30-5:10pm.
EIU 4192G, Film & Contemporary Society, Honors-Martinez
Online. Credits: 3
ENG 2000. Introduction to Creative Writing - Whittemore
This course will introduce students to reading for craft and writing creatively across poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic genres. Students will participate in workshops of their creative work and read writing in each genre. Credits 3. TR 2:00-3:15
ENG 3504, Film and Literature - Martinez
In this course, we will study a variety of film adaptations of literary texts in an effort to understand how film often interprets, updates, alters, and sometimes even betrays its source material. Credits 3. TR 2:00-4:00
ENG 4764, Advanced Dramatic Writing - Wixson
Advanced practice and instruction in dramatic writing. Though the course will review the basic elements common to all dramatic writing, it will allow students to concentrate on the media of their choice: radio, theatre, TV, or film. WC. Credits: 3. Online.
Spring 2024 Film Studies Minor Course Offerings
Required Courses:
Film 2759G, History of Cinema
Robin Murray
ONLINE
Course Description: Film 2759G will offer a comprehensive yet selective overview of the history of cinema, integrating the basic tools for analyzing film as art. It will examine how the uses of camera, editing, lighting, sound, and acting contribute to the construction of meaning for various audiences, as well as consider how meaning is filtered through various cultural contexts. WI. This course fulfills the Cultural Diversity and Fine Arts requirements for General Education.
CMN 3530 – Film Communication
Andrew Gregory Britton
TR 12:30-1:45pm Buzzard 2441
T 7:00-9:30pm Buzzard 1501
Course Description: Film as the expression of the performers, producers, directors, writers, and technicians. Critical discussion of film theory, history, and criticism
ENG 4904-Studies in Film
Marjorie Worthington
Monday: 3:00-5:00pm Coleman 1255
Wednesday: 3:00-4:15pm Coleman 3160
Course Description: A conspiracy theory is a belief that certain world events are caused by shadowy, secret, yet powerful groups. Such theories have been around for centuries, but significant elections, worldwide viral outbreaks, and the ability of social media to spread information quickly have combined to cause a veritable explosion of conspiracy theories. For decades, the conspiracy theory has been a popular topic in film, often depicting a hero with exclusive knowledge in a battle for truth against powerful yet hidden forces. This course will explore the many different ways conspiracy theories have been depicted in fictional, historical and documentary films. We will look at how these films have changed over the years and how they reflect the cultures from which they emerge. Films under consideration may include: Don’t Worry Darling, Sorry to Bother You, The DaVinci Code, and JFK as well as some classic versions of the genre like The Manchurian Candidate, Futureworld, The Conversation and The Stepford Wives.
Elective Courses
AFR 3300 – African Cinema
James Ochwa-Echel
M 4:00-6:50pm Blair Hall 3103
Course Descriptions: This is a course which encounters and interprets traditions of Africa through its cinema.
CMN 2500.001 – Production I
Jonathan Matson
MW 8:00-9:40am Buzzard 2434
Course Description: This production-centered course teaches the foundational elements of visual storytelling through video, television, and film. These foundational elements include narrative construction, visual composition, genre aesthetics, visual brand development, characterization, and non-linear editing in order to communicate a unified message through video, audio, and graphics.
CMN 2500.002 – Production I
Andrew Gregory Britton
TR 3:30-5:35pm Buzzard 2434
Course Description: This production-centered course teaches the foundational elements of visual storytelling through video, television, and film. These foundational elements include narrative construction, visual composition, genre aesthetics, visual brand development, characterization, and non-linear editing in order to communicate a unified message through video, audio, and graphics.
CMN 3050 – Production II
Jonathan Mattson
TR 7:45-9:50am Buzzard 2434
Course Description: This intermediate course extends upon the skills and concepts of television, video, and film production as introduced in Production I. Students refine their visual storytelling abilities through a series of creative, persuasive, and reality-based production projects with a special emphasis on visual composition, directing, audio, characterization, and refinement in post-production. MW 7:45-9:50am
CMN 4540 – Production IV
Andrew Gregory Britton
MW 3:30-5:35pm Buzzard 2434
Course Description: This workshop-based production class focuses on the creation of a single long-form project from inception to distribution. These long-form projects refine both technical and creative skills and can include formats such as television show pilots, featurettes, and webisode anthologies. Additionally, students create all promotional materials for their productions and a portfolio.
ENG 2000 – Introduction to Creative Writing
Michael McClelland
MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm Coleman 3160
Course Description: This course will introduce students to reading for craft and writing creatively across poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic genres. Students will participate in workshops of their creative work and read writing in each genre.
ENG 3064 – Intermediate Dramatic Writing
Christopher Wixson
TR 11:00am-12:15pm Coleman 3150
Course Description: Intermediate practice and instruction in dramatic writing. Though the course will review the basic elements common to all dramatic writing, it will allow students to concentrate on the media of their choice: radio, theatre, TV, or film.
