Students will be able to critically examine the ways in which their own perceptions have been shaped and influenced by media texts such that they may become more thoughtful consumers as well as producers of such texts. Students understand the many ways that media texts reflect, shape and question cultural values, attitudes, and beliefs, including but not limited to representations of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, class, and nationality.
Students will understand and appreciate the development of cinematic and televisual media within their historical and cultural contexts, including the difference between national and global/transnational approaches to the study of film/media. This includes the different approaches to the study of film and other screen media, particularly, but not limited to, how they are informed by auteur studies, genre studies, or the study of specific cycles and movements.
Students will gain the necessary tools to analyze, write and communicate critically about media texts.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to deconstruct and describe the basic elements of film and television language.
Students will differentiate between a visual text’s form and content.
Students will be able to execute close-readings and interpretations of visual texts.
Students will be able to engage critically on topics of representation (e.g., race, gender, class, etc.).
Students will be able to identify the context to which a particular film/visual text belongs (e.g., what national or transnational tradition, or what key movement, etc.).
Students will distinguish approaches to the study of media (e.g., auteur studies, genre studies, reception studies, national vs. transnational lens, etc.).
Students will engage effectively with critical/theoretical readings by integrating them into their own argumentative essays and/or oral/visual presentations.
Major Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Hours
Foundations
These courses set up the foundations for the study/analysis of film and media. In general, these courses are mostly survey-style courses that establish a historical and aesthetic overview of the medium.
These courses emphasize national or transnational modes of studying film, focus on a deeper understanding of critical/theoretical paradigms, and require students to integrate the skills learned in the previous levels.
These courses round-off student’s knowledge of film and allow those who would like to do so to pursue specific areas of interest. These courses reinforce concepts learned in lower-division courses and further develop issues pertaining to narrative and visual structure, uses of technology, and issues of representation (gender, race, class. etc.).
In recent years, the study of film has moved away from analyses that focus on a single national tradition. In order to prepare students that are well-rounded in their knowledge of the field, we will require them to be conversant in non-Western media as well as in transnational modes of study. These courses may include Western film/media as long as the course offers a transnational analysis. For shorthand purposes, these courses are labeled “global” (also discernible by ending with the number 7, refer to courses above).
Select three courses from the above categories
12
Subtotal
12
Total Semester Hours
55
Model Four-Year Plan
Normal course load is 16 semester hours of 4-5 courses per semester.
Consult your advisor regarding proper course sequencing and course selection for the major.
Suggested sequence, but students may take courses in a modified order with written permission of the Chair and Associate Dean.
Each student is responsible for ensuring she/he fulfills all graduation requirements.
FTVS Elective any FTVS class from FTVS 2130 – FTVS 3700, FTVS 4410 - FTVS 4707 (two of four electives must have a Nonwestern/Transnational Emphasis and be selected from courses ending in 7) 1
FTVS Elective any FTVS class from FTVS 2130 – FTVS 3700, FTVS 4410 - FTVS 4707 (two of four electives must have a Nonwestern/Transnational Emphasis and be selected from courses ending in 7) 1
4
University Core
3-4
Elective
3-4
Elective
3-4
Semester Hours
13-16
Senior Year
Fall
FTVS Elective any FTVS class from FTVS 2130 – FTVS 3700, FTVS 4410 - FTVS 4707 (two of four electives must have a Nonwestern/Transnational Emphasis and be selected from courses ending in 7) 1
4
University Core
3-4
University Core
3-4
Upper Division Elective
3-4
Semester Hours
13-16
Spring
FTVS Elective any FTVS class from FTVS 2130 – FTVS 3700, FTVS 4410 - FTVS 4707 (two of four electives must have a Nonwestern/Transnational Emphasis and be selected from courses ending in 7) 1
4
University Core
3-4
University Core
3-4
Upper Division Elective
3-4
Semester Hours
13-16
Minimum Semester Hours
107-127
1
two of four electives must have a National/Regional Focus and be selected from courses ending in 7
