HUM 120 - Introduction to Film

1. Interpret films through their essential formal elements: narrative, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound
   1. Build a working vocabulary of key terms used to describe the formal elements of film
   2. Identify specific formal choices that are being made in a particular sequence
   3. Explain how different formal choices in film can communicate information, style, meaning, and emotion
2. Apply a range of critical theories-such as auteur theory, feminist theory, or psychoanalytic theory-to the discussion and interpretation of film 
   1. Explain how and why scholars and critics use theory as a lens for analyzing and interpreting film 
   2. Describe some of the key interpretive questions applied to film texts by different theoretical practices 
   3. Practice identifying and evaluating evidence in support of a theoretical interpretation of film
3. Interpret films from a diverse range of cultures, historical periods, and genres
   1. Describe the cultural context and significance of films from various historical periods
   2. Identify the hallmarks of different film genres, such as story formulas and character types
   3. Compare and contrast specific formal elements of film among films from various cultures, historical periods, and genres
4. Explore some of the technological, industrial, and economic elements that shape film production 
   1. Identify ways that advances in technology, such as synchronized sound or digital filmmaking, have influenced the development of film art
   2. Recognize filmmaking as a collaborative, industrial process involving contributions from directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and many others
   3. Describe some of the ways that economic concerns have influenced (and continue to influence) filmmaking, such as distinctions between “studio” and “indie” film production
5. Evaluate and debate films’ artistic, social, and cultural significance in discussion with others
   1. Examine how films can reflect and challenge individual values, cultural assumptions, and political ideology 
   2. Critically reflect on personal film preferences and the values that inform those preferences
   3. Engage thoughtfully and constructively with the ideas and opinions of others
6. Create effective writing that demonstrates understanding of the film studies discipline 
   1. Produce thesis-driven interpretations of film
   2. Support a thesis by presenting specific evidence from a film’s formal elements and by using relevant film studies terminology
   3. Differentiate between descriptive, interpretive, and evaluative modes of film writing
   4. Practice ethical professional-standard citation
   5. Discuss and apply ethical and practical considerations for the use of generative-AI in researching and writing about film