ENGL 447 - Film Criticism

Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-3B
Study of films that focus on the work of U. S. and international writer-directors, emphasizing characterization, themes, cinematic techniques, and application of film theory and criticism.

Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-UD-3 - Upper-Division Arts or Humanities (Humanities)
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Areas 1A, 1B, 1C and GE-2 with grade C- (CR) or better (GE Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4 for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Strongly Recommended Preparation: Upper division status (greater than 60 earned semester units) and completion of lower division Area 3 requirements (lower division Area C requirements for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground, or Hybrid, or Online-Asynchronous, or Online-Synchronous.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Course Typically Offered: Spring ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

articulate informed ideas about the development of cinematic practices in the US and abroad;
identify film techniques and structures using key terms of film analysis;
explain the terminology and underlying assumptions of major branches of film criticism and theory;
critique strengths and weaknesses of different theories and their uses in film criticism;
use at least one theoretical perspective to analyze a film in a clear thesis-driven essay.

GE-UD-3. Upper-division Arts or Humanities Learning Outcomes

demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply the principles, methodologies, value systems, and thought processes employed in the arts and humanities;
analyze cultural production as an expression of, or reflection upon, what it means to be human; and
demonstrate how the perspectives of the arts and humanities are used by informed, engaged, and reflective citizens to benefit local and global communities.