EGL 290 - Studies in Film Genre/Style: Documentary

Course Units: 1.0

(Not Offered this Academic Year) Documentary films and reality television shows have become more prevalent than ever. Documentary images pervade intimate spheres of our lives through cellphones, YouTube, and a variety of other screen interfaces, engendering powerful affective forces driving everything from humanitarian aid to global political agendas. Why this increased interest in the documentary form? Traditionally, the documentary has tended to emerge during crisis situations, often reflecting and commenting on past and present social and political unrest. Over the course of the term we will examine documentarians’ search for appropriate forms to provoke discussion of social content. We will investigate the myth of documentary authenticity as well as controversial epistemological and ethical claims bound up with the genre. Prerequisite(s): One 100-level English course or a score of 5 on the AP English Language or Literature and Composition test. CC: HUM