Summer 2021 Graduate Courses

Antonia Lant
May 24 - June 13, 2021
Mondays - Thursdays
12:30 - 4:30pm

CINE-GT 1325
Class # 5254

This course surveys the film musical genre from the coming of sound to the present, engaging the rich critical literature about it. We examine the musical’s relation to technological changes (the use of optical sound, dubbing, widescreen, motion capture) and also to social, cultural, and economic transformations (the Depression, rise of teen audiences, changing priorities in casting, innovations in music). By paying close attention to editing, cinematography, lighting and other aesthetic elements as well as to the multiple aspects of performance that contribute to the musical’s milieu, we uncover both its utopian and its grittier sides. The course pays attention to: early all-Black cast musicals; history of classical Hollywood titles of the 1930s-1950s (Maurice Chevalier, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, etc); a range of genre appropriations and deconstructions by non-Hollywood and often non-American filmmakers (Julie Dash, Chantal Akerman, Jacques Demy, Lars von Trier); and weighs more recent musical titles within this history (eg. La La Land). Coursework: short written responses; a presentation; a short final paper.

Anna McCarthy
June 14 - July 3, 2021
Mondays - Thursdays
6:00 - 10:00pm

CINE-GT 1202
Class # 5266

Mike Leigh (b. 1943) is considered notable among British filmmakers. His working method is unique and highly collaborative. His directorial vision, remarkably consistent across genres and media, is grounded in a deep understanding of the dramatic potential of ordinary, everyday lives. His subjects range from famous historical figures to middle class individuals to people on the margins of society, each film inviting the viewer to speculate on the human condition. This course's deep dive into one director's oeuvre is an opportunity to explore the nuances of craft, collaboration, and authorship through close analysis and discussion.

Claudia Calhoun
June 14 - July 3, 2021
Mondays - Thursdays
12:30 - 4:30pm

CINE-GT 1127
Class # 2444

The term "showrunner" came into usage in the early 2000s to describe the individual who is most responsible for the style and content of a television show, such as The Sopranos' David Chase or Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge. This course will analyze and interrogate the relatively new title of "showrunner" on U.S. television, looking at the stories that showrunners tell on-screen and the ideas of authorship that they mobilize and challenge.  We will look at series from the 1950s to the present day, considering how individuals become authors in a collaborative medium and how conceptions of television authorship have changed over time. The writers and producers covered will include early television creators like Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) and Jack Webb (Dragnet); network-era figures like Aaron Spelling (Charlie's Angels) and David Lynch (Twin Peaks); and contemporary writer-producers like  Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and Issa Rae (Insecure).