What is Cinema?
- What is the relationship between film, photography, and the “real” world captured on camera?
- Who or what is a film spectator?
- How do films “mean” what they do?
- Is it still a movie when you watch it on your phone?
In this class, we will spend five weeks learning about key concepts in film theory, introducing us to concepts such as “montage,” “the gaze,” or “indexicality,” with film examples to aid in your own viewing experience. The course will be entirely lecture based; I will have reading recommendations for you each week, but all that is expected is a presence on Zoom and an eagerness to learn. By course’s end, you may never watch a movie the same way again–but you also may never want to!
This online class will take place over five weeks beginning June 16th.
Classes will take place every Monday at 8pm EDT/5pm PDT with a one-week break in between. These will be virtual calls with a lecture and discussion. Full dates will be announced soon, and every effort will be made to accommodate those who cannot attend due to conflicts or time zone. Calls and other class materials will be viewable at the online “hub” on this website.
Week 1: What is Cinema
Week 2: How do Movies mean what they do?
Week 3: How should we watch movies?
Week 4: Who is the spectator?
Week 5: What distinguishes cinema from digital media?
Register at the form below. Please note that if you are one of my Substack subscribers or one of CineJourneys Magic Hour subscribers, you will get a $15 discount. Please check either the Substack or the membership hub for the coupon.
The class is in progress and registration is closed.
I am sad I missed this. Will try to get in on a future one and will try to bring people.
Would also love to join in the future! Will there be another?
Hello, Molly. Hopefully Matt will be back with another class in the near future. I doubt he’ll cover this same topic again. I’ll be teaching a Film 101 class later this summer that will get into some theory, but at a more basic level.