From movie screens to cell phones, moving images that "document" life have never been more ubiquitous. What do these images tell us about the relationship between representation and reality? How have film and media makers used moving images to represent major cultural, political, and social upheavals as well as communicated an understanding of everyday life? To answer these questions, this course will survey the rich, vibrant legacy of documentary filmmaking as well as demonstrate its ongoing artistic and cultural relevance to newer media. We will examine key modes of documentary film while contextualizing the historical development of these forms within aesthetic, industrial, and political factors. We will also consider ethical issues in filmic representation, especially in relation to the ethnographic tradition. In addition to studying the work of documentary pioneers, we will explore contemporary activist documentaries, as well as new industrial developments such as serialized online documentary. Required screenings. Mondays @ 4pm
Course Attributes: EN H; BU BA; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM
