The Short Film

M/W/F 11:00-11:50 am (in person)

What difference does brevity make?  While film production courses often involve the making of a short film, there is  little time to explore the deeper history specific to this cinematic form in all of its variety. This course will survey the history of the short film--narrative, documentary, underground, amateur, promotional, animated, etc.--with attention to issues of genre, authorship, style (realism, experimentalism), technological developments and the digital turn, industrial and independent production, representation, activism around social and artistic movements, performance, and circuits of production and reception. We will focus on the short film in North American filmmaking systems (in and outside of Hollywood), and we will also view international films and discuss global trends including European film movements, global Indigenous filmmaking, and more.  We will also consider the ongoing dominance of short-form media in our contemporary moment, including digital storytelling, advertising, music videos, amateur vs. commercial media, and social networking and video sharing platforms (YouTube, Tiktok, etc.).  Students will write weekly short papers on films and readings, produce one short creative project, and present on films viewed outside of class. This course meets in person M/W/F 11:00-11:50 am.