ENGL 616C (01) - Studies in Film/Culture and Ideology

Studies in Film/Cult &Ideology

Durham Liberal Arts::English
Credits: 4.0
Class Size: 25 
Term:  Fall 2024 - Full Term (08/26/2024 - 12/09/2024)
CRN:  16137
Grade Mode:  Letter Grading
Advanced, focused study of the narrative, dramatic, and poetic practices of cinema, within one of four possible subject areas: A) Genre; B) Authorship; C) Culture and Ideology; D) Narrative and Style. Precise issues and methods may vary, ranging from general and specific considerations of how a given subject area involves film theory, criticism, and history, to its use in diverse analyses of selected national cinemas, periods, movements, and filmmakers. May be repeated for credit barring duplication of topic. Barring duplication of material taken for credit in CMN 650, course may be repeated for credit. Detailed course descriptions available in the English department office.
Section Comments: Special Topic FA24: Sci-Fi Film
Registration Approval Required. Contact Instructor or Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Equivalent(s):  AMST 605, ENGL 616
Attributes:  Writing Intensive Course
Instructors:  Matthias Konzett

Times & Locations

Start Date End Date Days Time Location
8/26/2024 12/9/2024 TR 3:40pm - 5:00pm HS 201

Additional Course Details:

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This course examines the emergence of sci-fi films from cheaper and sensational B genre productions into ambitious and costly A genre films raising serious social and cultural questions. As imagined utopian or dystopian spaces, sci-fi films address contemporary issues of technology, standardization, authoritarian rule, invasion of privacy and surveillance. From within worlds of seemingly sanitized order, sci-fi films focus on troubling questions of health and immunology, genetics, eugenics, race, class, and gender. On a conceptual level, sci-fi films challenge perceptual notions of space and time and erase the difference between simulation and reality in their imagined cyber worlds. We will explore the relation of future oriented cinematic worlds to the cultural present in which they are screened. Classic sci-fi films (e.g. 2001: A Space Odyssey) will be examined along with more recent films (e.g. Children of Men, District 9; Minority Report). Particular attention will be paid to the variety of genres invoked by sci-fi films ranging from horror (Alien), to mystery (Ex-Machina) epic superhero (The Matrix) noir (Blade Runner), and the recent Dune series by Dennis Villeneuve.

This course satisfies the 'Genres or Theory' requirement for English majors.

This course satisfies the GENRE requirement for English Literature majors. 

This course counts towards the DH Component requirement for English: TBD majors. 

This course may satisfy the 'One English Course in Writing Linguistics, Critical Theory, Film or Literature' requirement for English Teaching majors. 

This course satisfies the 'One additional 500/600/700 level (non-Journalism course) requirement for English/Journalism majors. 

This course satisfies an upper-level ENGL course requirement for English/Law 3+3 majors.