Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Classics of Modern European Cinema Dept. of Modern Languages & Literatures Fall 2010 Prof. Karl Skutski

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Objectives 1. Introduce you to the major traditions of European cinema. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 2. Demonstrate how film reflects the “Zeitgeist" of an era--i. e., how both the content and aesthetics of cinema are influenced by the reigning philosophy of the times, as well as historical, political, economic, sociological and cultural conditions. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 3.Enhance your critical analysis, research, and writing skills, by demonstrating how to view and analyze film with a critical, discerning eye, and develop informed, supportable opinions--skills that are applicable to your future academic and professional careers. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 4.Introduce you to film theory (such as Bazian cinematic realism, feminist theory, and various postmodern theories), and illustrate how such critical theories can be utilized to produce different readings of a film. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 5.Help you prepare for the "global society" in which you will live and work, by giving you a greater appreciation for the cultures of other nations, and a greater understanding of how contemporary cultures influence each other. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 6.Compare and contrast European cinematic traditions with the artistic and sociological values inherent in American film. Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 7.Expand your aesthetic comfort zones and negate your identities! Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Enjoy some great flicks! Objectives

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level n Participation & BB exercises20% n PPT “background” presentation 5% n Paper #1 (no research)10% n Paper #2 (research)15% n Final project25% n Exam(s)25% Requirements

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level n Dynamic class schedule n Class description and materials n Guidelines for papers n “Launching pad” for your research: F Assigned articles (direct links) F On-line film journals F Background information on: F Film movements F Film theory F Directors F Postmodernism F Feminism F Etc., etc., etc. Course Web Site

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level You view the world through postmodern lenses. Begin where you live …

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Your aesthetics have been socially constructed. Begin where you live …

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level n We live in a state of hyperreality. n The media mediates reality for us. n The media IS our reality. n We prefer the copy over the original. --Jean Baudrillard, Simulucra We live in hyperreality

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level n Reality has become too dull for us— we prefer it sliced and diced with plenty of eye candy. Nike commercial The Interpreter Mission Impossible Rock video We live in hyperreality

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Your brains have become “hard-wired”: F Constant eye-candy F Rapid montage editing F Manipulative sound tracks and special effects F Editor controls your reaction and emotional response F No need to “think” The Hollywood Model

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level n Rapid montage editing n “Manufactured” in post production (few films have the “auteur” stamp) n Non-diegetic music n Star-centric n Shot-reverse-shot n Special effects n Formulaic approach to narrative F Hero - Problem - Overcome- Happy Ending The Hollywood Model

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level “The most important medium for educating the masses …and engineering the human soul.” V. I. Lenin The Power of Cinema

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Brainwashing Propaganda Group think The Power of Cinema

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Classical European Cinema n Cultural shock n Cinematic realism: Long-takes Deep focus The incarnate, liminal image n You must actively participate in the scene

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Purpose of the course: n STRETCH YOUR AESTHETIC COMFORT ZONES !!! n Negate your identities! Classical European Cinema

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level The Hollywood Machine Avatar Titanic Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Star Wars Forest Gump Matrix Oceans 11 Meet the Parents Trainspotting Secrets & Lies Run Lola Run Red $2.7 billion $1.8 billion $1.1 billion 900 million 700 million 500 million 400 million 300 million 80 million 20 million 7 million 4 million 1 million Worldwide box office receipts Representative list of films-not a complete historical ranking

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level The Power of Cinema “The Yanks have colonized our subconscious.” --Wim Wenders

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level The Power of Cinema “Americans have turned every cinema in the world into the equivalent of an American consulate.” --UK government report

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level 1.Soviet Montage 2.German Expressionism 3.French Impressionism 4.Italian Neorealism 5.French New Wave 6.Art Cinema (Symbolism) 7. Spanish Surrealism 8.Young & New German Cinemas 9.British Social Realism 10.Postmodernism Major European Traditions New Spanish Cinema Cinema Verite Czech New Wave Avante-Garde Thaw (post-Stalin) Serbian Magical Realism Second Italian Wave Swinging London Cinema du look Hyperrealism Experimental

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Traditions are reactions to status quo Nazi & Heimat: New German Cinema French “Tradition of Quality” French New Wave Fascism Italian Neorealism British Imperialism British Social Realism Soviet Socialist Realism Czech New Wave

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level What is reality? ZEIT GEIST PHILOSOPHY FILM

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level ZEIT GEIST PHILOSOPHY FILM What is reality?

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level What is reality? ZEIT GEIST PHILOSOPHY FILM

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level ZEIT GEIST PHILOSOPHY FILM What is reality?

Click to edit Master title style n Click to edit Master text styles n Second level n Third level n Fourth level n Fifth level Cinematic Traditions Economic & social conditions Historic events Pop culture The arts Intellectual climate/ philosophy ZEIT GEIST MOVIES FILM