Film Studies
- Builds Understanding of Cinematic Storytelling
- Analyzes and Discusses Films
- Develops Cultural Aptitude
Whether your goal is to write a screenplay, work in the film industry, or simply explore and enjoy cinematic stories, these courses develop skills essential for analyzing and discussing films. Be transported to diverse cultures and historic periods through films.
France on Film: A Historic Perspective from France's Great Film Directors
Watch classic French films and reflect on how they are responsible for creating a mythologized understanding of French history.
From Night of the Living Dead to Get Out: George Romero and the Revolution of the Modern Horror Film
Watch landmark horror films in class and discuss them, with a special emphasis on interpreting them as expressions of sociopolitical anxieties.
Hitchcock's Villains
Watch some of Alfred Hitchcock’s most compelling masterpieces, and explore their complex social and moral themes.
The Best Long Films Well Worth Your Time
Watch and discuss six epic films that run longer than the standard-length feature film.
The Films of Billy Wilder and William Wyler
Explore the remarkable lives and films of two icons of the Hollywood Golden Age—Billy Wilder and William Wyler.
The War Film: From the Battlefield to the Home Front
View and discuss eight films that depict war, both on the battlefield and at home.
Visions of America on Film
Explore how America has been portrayed on film by six excellent directors.
Femmes Fatales on Film
Explore the femme fatale in various films, and chart how this cinematic trope has evolved over the years.
Let's Go to the Movies
Examine a wide range of films and engage in lively discussions about what makes each a truly exceptional work of art.
Los Angeles on Film: A City of Dreams and Nightmares
Explore films that transport viewers to Los Angeles and grapple with the city’s multifaceted and contradictory nature.
Movies Made in New York
Explore 10 films that are set in New York and feature the City not just serving as a backdrop but playing a major role in the narrative.
American Screwball Comedy Films
Watch a variety of screwball comedy films, and discuss how each represents and deals with the harsh economic realities of the time.
Buon Appetito! Food and Italian Cinema
Explore how, in Italian cinema, food can be a window into culture, history, and communication.
Celluloid Love: A Decade-by-Decade Look at Movie Love Stories
We will view one film from nearly every decade of the past 100 years to uncover how our ideas of love have developed, both on screen and off.
Cities on Film: NYC and Paris
Explore films that transport viewers to New York City and Paris, and explore each city’s physical, social, cultural, and political life.
Elia Kazan: Neither Hero nor Villain
Examine Elia Kazan’s legendary career, as well as his complex and much-debated legacy, by viewing his films.
From Script to Screen: Hollywood Classics
Read four screenplays of classic Hollywood movies and then watch the films, examining what worked, what didn’t, and why.
Italian Neorealism: From The Earth Trembles to Umberto D
Explore lesser-known films of Italian neorealism, a style that excelled at portraying the harsh realities of life in Italy during and after WWII.
Major English and European Directors: From Mike Leigh to Claire Denis
Watch and discuss films of major English, Italian, and French directors, including Leigh, Olmi, the Taviani brothers, Denis, and Tavernier.
Sidney Lumet: New York's Quintessential Director
View the films of Sidney Lumet and discuss the way in which he used locations—most often New York City—as characters in his films.
The Darker Side of Noir: From Touch of Evil to Sweet Smell of Success
Go beyond the private eye and femme fatale and discover six different types of noir films.
The Hollywood Blacklist: Onscreen
View and discuss six films by artists who were impacted by the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood Blacklist.
The Modern Biopic: From Coal Miner's Daughter to Lincoln
Explore how modern filmmakers have reinvented the biopic and now use the genre to explore how history still resonates today.
War Films from the Other Side
View and discuss eight films that depict war from non-American perspectives.