ENGL 616D (01) - Studies in Film/Narrative and Style

Stdy in Film/Narrative & Style

Durham Liberal Arts::English
Credits: 4.0
Class Size: 20 
Term:  Spring 2025 - Full Term (01/21/2025 - 05/05/2025)
CRN:  56412
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: S25 Special Topic: Film Noir
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
1/21/2025 5/5/2025 TR 2:10pm - 3:30pm HS G35

Additional Course Details:

This course explores contemporary and classical film noir in the context of style and narrative. As critics Paul Schrader and David Desser have pointed out, film noir is not simply a genre but rather a style that is highly adaptable and hence can be found in various film genres in international and contemporary cinemas. As a style, noir foregrounds a culture of corruption and may be seen as a critical social narrative. At the same time, noir also involves aesthetic play with light, water, images of the femme fatale, violence, and crime as its essential ingredients. Our course will cover a variety of contemporary examples foregrounding di erent issues such as masculinity and consumer culture (Fight Club 1999), environment and social corruption(Michael Clayton, 2007), corporate/media culture (Nightcrawler, 2014) nationhood and borders (Sicario, 2015; No Country for Old Men, 2007), assassins and professionalism (In Bruges, 2008; John Wick: Chapter 2, 2017) and contemporary nihilism and dark comedy (Joker, 2019;The Batman, 2022; The Big Lebowski, 1998). No prerequisites.