Category: Visual Culture

This course examines the role of the visual in,theory and practice. The approach taken is both,structural and historical, presenting various,critical frameworks and then using them to,analyze specific examples of visual culture and ,their time periods including, but not limited to,,examples of cultural appropriation and the impact,of cultural diversity. The course considers the ,visual through multiple dimensions–aesthetics, ,economics, politics, sociology, etc. It also ,reflects on the development of visual culture ,studies as an interdisciplinary field. A range ,of visual media–painting, photography, design, ,digital, etc.–and their cultural environments ,are examined. Heavy emphasis is placed on the,student’s ability to absorb visual culture theory,and apply it to written assignments and other,research. This course may be used for Social,Science credit. This course satisfies the,General Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Imagined World: Utopia and Dystopia in Visual,Culture is an upper level Visual Culture seminar., It uses an interdisciplinary approach that,requires students to apply methodologies learned,in Visual Culture, Critical Thought, and Literary,and Film Studies, as well as a number of studio,based disciplines, to analyze the,utopian/dystopian genre. The class will examine,Western utopian and dystopian philosophies and,how they are manifested in the visual mediums of,literature, architecture, film, fine art, video,games and the internet community.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture)

This course is designed to give students an,introduction to film as an art worthy of critical,attention. Students develop the ability to think,,discuss and write about film in an academic,context.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).

Film Noir, with roots in German Expressionism and,American hard-boiled fiction, is an enduring,cinematic phenomenon. Beginning in the 1940’s,,Hollywood-produced stories of ill-fated,protagonists seduced by femmes fatales, dirty,deals, and double-crossing partners, struck a,nerve with American audiences (and soon after,World War II with French critics who named and,defined the “Noir” style). These dark tales,reflected a 20th century malaise spawned by the,Great Depression, WWII, and a contemporary shift,in gender roles. Our course will examine the,origins of Noir. This course may also be applied,to an upper level English or Liberal Arts,Elective. This course satisfies the General,Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 239, DVC 200 OR DVC 306

In this course students will explore the ways in,which science fiction films have represented,contemporary culture trends such as fear of the,other and cold-war paranoia in Invasion of the,Body Snatchers, the terror of the body in Aliens,and the transhumanism in District 9. Course,readings will examine the development of the,science fiction film as a distinct genre from a,variety of viewpoints including historical,analysis, race and gender studies, and critical,theory. This course may apply as an upper level,English and Liberal Arts elective. This course,satisfies the General Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 239, DVC 200 OR DVC 306

Beginning with the idea that “all representation,is transformation,” students in this course will,examine the ways in which documentary films both,(re)present the sociohistorical world-the,”real”– and shape our perceptions of that,reality. Films drawn from a wide range of eras,,cultures, and perspectives will provide the,opportunity to explore concepts such as,authenticity, identity, evidence, authority, and,argument while course readings will analyze and,critique documentary films from a variety of,viewpoints including historical analysis, race,and gender studies, and critical theory. This,course satisfies the General Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 239, DVC 200 OR DVC 306

Film is an inherently exploratory medium. From,the earliest “movies” of the 1890s to present-day,digital technology, its evolution as an art form,has paralleled developments in its means of,production. However, outside the control of the,major studios, an alternative cinema, called,”avant-garde” or “experimental,” has appropriated,the most economical means to create a visionary,,challenging, often disruptive body of work. And,alternate systems of distribution have arisen to,make possible its appreciation by small but,devoted audiences. Our course will examine a,phenomenon that the British Film Institute has,called “almost indefinable. It is in a constant,state of change and redefinition.” Yet our task,will be precisely to trace its history, give,definition to its various facets, and engage with,the concepts and issues they raise. This course,satisfies the General Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 239, DVC 200 OR DVC 306

The socio-political aftermath of World War II in,Japan, China and Korea led to an explosion of film,culture in those countries, one inspired by the,commercial and art cinemas of the West, but one,that has rivaled them in terms of innovation. ,While addressing the histories and present-day,climates of their mother countries, East Asian,films since 1945 have developed unique approaches,to narrative and culturally specific imagery, and,furthered a dialogue between the three neighbors,that reflects their centuries old interrelations.,This course will trace the evolution of film,language from the master directors of post-war,Japan (Ozu, Mizoguchi, Ichikawa and Kurosawa) to,the various filmic modes in post-revolutionary,China (Ang Lee, Wong kar-wai, Zhang Yimou and Hou,Hsiao-hsien) to the radical transformations of,contemporary Korean cinema (Park Chan-wook, Bong,Joon-ho and Na Hong-jin).

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).

The Special Project class is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored. This course satisfies,the General Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

Independent Study is available to students who are,at Junior or Senior level standing with a,cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above.,The student may receive approval to work in an,area or on a project that is not otherwise offered,or addressed in the regular curriculum. An,Independent Study should include opportunities for,individual student voice and provide a space for,diverse perspectives. Students may receive credit,toward graduation for no more than 6 credit hours.,The student must submit to the chairperson of the,department in which they wish to study, an,Independent Study Proposal of 150 words (no less),of the student’s plan for study and her/his reason,for choosing to study independently. Once the,department chairperson provides approval and the,instructor for the Independent Study is,determined, the faculty member must write an,Independent Study Syllabus with education goals,,learning outcomes, meeting dates, course,expectations, timelines, and due dates. Art,Education candidates must pass DAE 490 with a,grade of ‘C’ (2.00) or higher to qualify for,certification.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).