Film (Sch Of The Arts) · Columbia University
I learned a lot about the various elements of film, especially with regards to film history, criticism and theory.
I think this course was quite fun in its diversity in reference materials. I definitely was not familiar with a lot of the formats aside from VR and some Steam-based games, which were quite fun to get to play in an academic context.
How to engage with historiography, the question of "what is history", different ways of doing film history
Really not bad. Readings (usually about 50 pages) + discussion each week. Short and long paper and a final exam.
We learned a little bit about everything that's involved in Film and Media Studies, accompanied by weekly screenings of films that exuded each week's topic.
I got a broad survey of the field of New Media studies. I picked up the names of some of the important scholars, got a few new theoretical frames in my academic toolbox, and got to experience some of the important pieces of art that are driving the field.
This was an extremely elucidating course, and I feel like I learned a lot. The readings weren't overbearing and remained compelling, even if they were about subjects and topics I am not personally that interested in. I think I also got a lot of helpful practice with writing and structuring research projects.
This was an incredibly enjoyable class. The lecture was thorough and engaging. Professor King was the type of guy who is passionate (and even tickled?) about the subject he's teaching. He's extremely intelligent and funny. I sat down for the first class, where he proceeded to bash the horrible 2013 blockbusters. And, as this is a current history course, he alters his lectures, adding details of what is happening today in context to what we're studying. For example, he referenced Gravity, which had just come out, and Breaking Bad's finale. We also have a pretty awesome syllabus. We have a good mix of "greatest hits" movies, like Jurassic Park, independent movies, like "Happiness," and critically acclaimed movies, like There Will Be Blood, and everything in between. All of them fit into a historical argument. It wasn't just a random smattering of films. Take this class if you can!
I learned about editing, sound, avant garde, aeturship, spectatorship, perspective, digital media, cinema and what it means, and about genre theory.
I learned so much - about new media theories but also about platforms and ways to create new media art. It was a very fulfilling class, especially thanks to the papers which invited us to put into practice theories for our own creations.