Catalog Course Descriptions
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Courses
Undergraduate
Provides a general introduction to media production with emphasis on the basics of multimedia tools for camera, audio, lighting, and editing, focusing on non-fiction, journalism, or public relations/advocacy presentations. Limited to three attempts.
This course explores examples of many kinds of films from around the world, including documentary, fiction, and experimental. Students will learn to analyze film language and structures, with attention to cinema's many contexts, including economic institutions, historical events, political and social issues that shape and are shaped by movies.Limited to three attempts.
This course provides an overview of the film & television industry from a business perspective. Students learn basic filmed entertainment business practices and protocol, including film financing, copyright & trademark, anti-trust, trademark, IP licensing, Agents & Managers, Entertainment Unions & Guilds, film distribution, and marketing techniques.Limited to three attempts.
Traces the ways that cinema, music, fiction, cultural theory, visual art, television, theater, and performance have embraced and been shaped by cyberpunk and cyberculture. Includes readings, writings, discussion, screenings, guest speakers, and research projects. Limited to three attempts.
Explores China from 1949 to present through cinematic and literary representations. Discussions focus on representations of cultural, social, and political changes in the movies. Also introduces critical readings that address issues of gender and youth, family, ethnicity, modernity and the nation, as well as visuality and memory. Notes: Knowledge of Chinese language helpful but not required. Limited to three attempts.
Provides a comprehensive review of mass communication and media theory, focusing on media effects and the complex relationships between media producers, messages, technologies, and users/audiences. Examines role of media in news, politics, and popular culture. Limited to three attempts.
Investigates how matters of public importance are communicated via various mass communication channels. Emphasizes regulations to minimize influence of mass media on public decision-making, and media manipulation by pressure groups, politicians, and media gatekeepers. Limited to three attempts.
Provides an in-depth exploration of the creative, technical, logistical, and aesthetic requirements of production in a multiple camera environment. The fundamental skills learned in this class will serve as a foundation for narrative, event, live sports, talk show, broadcast journalism, and magazine-styled television and webcast programming. Limited to three attempts.
Offers instruction on delivering high-quality image and video products for digital media. Students will be introduced to an array of video-audio editing and digital image software for integrating video, audio, photo and graphic postproduction. Student projects focus on journalism, public relations, and advocacy contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of visual storytelling, encompassing short documentaries, campaigns, commercial work, news and other non-fiction narratives. Mobile, DSLR and fixed-lens cameras will be used to explore all facets of visual production that tell human stories, with emphasis on character, conflict, drama, and surprise. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces concepts of power, influence of mass media. Allows students to see themselves as products, producers of media influence, and gives sense of the roles in the media or lack thereof, of groups based on their gender, race and/or class. Limited to three attempts.
Examines the role of mass media in constructing images of athletes, sport, and sports culture. Critical attention is given to broadcast, print, and film of sport media. Assesses sociological and cultural issues that shape sport media and culture. Limited to three attempts.
Examines practical criticism of a wide variety of media texts including television programs, newspapers, articles, films, photographs, and advertisements. Introduces principles of major contemporary modes of analysis for systematically interpreting visual and verbal forms of communication. Limited to three attempts.
Considers fundamental concepts of documentary form, style, and subject matter, ethical considerations, and theories of documentary. Includes close analysis of a series of representative film and television texts. Limited to three attempts.
Learn to identify and analyze formal elements of television. Learn how to situate and evaluate television in their cultural and historical contexts, interpret specific texts, and understand the relationships among broadcasting and networks, citizenship, audiences, and the public sphere. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces film medium as an art form. Limited to three attempts.
Taking an historical approach through various national and international cinemas, the course begins with horror film's literary and theatrical origins and traces its development into a modern (and postmodern) form of universal storytelling.Limited to three attempts.
An examination of ethical issues associated with image production and consumption. Topics include the technological development of the film apparatus, privacy, the pursuit of objectivity, excess, consent, and representing others. All issues highlight the increasingly sophisticated and powerful role of film and media authorship. Students will develop a more complex view of the ethics of screen representation (both fiction and nonfiction) and be encouraged to take stock of the ethics of their own media literacy.Limited to three attempts.
In-depth presentation and exploration of topical studies. Notes: Subject matter varies. May be repeated when taken under different topics.May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Major works of world cinema with varying perspectives and topics, such as specific genres, periods, schools. Notes: Coursework in English. May be repeated when topic is different with permission of department. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Comprehensive analysis of Japanese cinema based on cross-cultural perspectives and cultural criticism. Major developments and trends as viewed in selected Japanese films with emphasis on post war and contemporary eras. Knowledge of Japanese history, communication, and cultural studies or film and media studies helpful. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different with approval of department. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Intensive study and analysis of using music tracks in motion pictures to introduce the picture, set a scene, create moods, or for musical numbers. From the silent film scores of the 1920s to the present (including electronic music). Limited to three attempts.
Theory and practice in creation, distribution, and response to media productions. Students complete minimum 150 hours of work as assistants to engineers, producers, directors, and organizers of media production facilities on campus, under supervision of a sponsoring faculty member. Notes: Only 3 credits may be applied to the communication major. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Advanced studies of development of film language, both as cultural practice and medium for formal innovation. Topics might include studies of national cinemas, historical periods, genres, or individual directors. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Advanced studies of theories about various aspects of production, distribution, and reception of film-mediated experiences. Topics may include theories of spectator, semiotics, feminist film theory, theories of narrativity, structuralist film theory, or deconstruction. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
American and foreign films selected by type, period, or director with emphasis varying from year to year. Required viewings, student discussion, and written critiques. Notes: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits with permission of department. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Advanced studies of development of film language, both as cultural practice and medium for formal innovation. Topics might include studies of national cinemas, historical periods, genres, or individual directors. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Advanced studies of theories about various aspects of production, distribution, and reception of film-mediated experiences. Topics may include theories of spectator, semiotics, feminist film theory, theories of narrativity, structuralist film theory, or deconstruction. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Comprehensive analysis of Japanese cinema based on cross-cultural perspectives and cultural criticism. Major developments and trends as viewed in selected Japanese films with emphasis on post war and contemporary eras. Knowledge of Japanese history, communication, and cultural studies or film and media studies helpful. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different with approval of department. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.