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
Repeat Rule: May be repeated up to unlimited times.
Equivalent(s): AMST 605, ENGL 616
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
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 different 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.
- 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.