ENG125A
FACULTY: FEROZ HASSAN | TIMINGS: TO BE DECIDED
OBJECTIVES
Learning the basics of formal
analysis of films
Becoming familiar with the
outlines of early global and
Indian film histories
Understanding the social
significance of cinema
BASIC EXPECTATION
FROM STUDENTS
Willingness to engage with a
wide variety of films—
including documentaries and
experimental films—whether
you find them entertaining or
not
Completion of readings and
watching assigned films
before class
INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES
COURSE DESCRIPTION
We are all experts in cinema until we have to explain our likes and
dislikes in films. Our explanations generally struggle to go
beyond stating what we like (or dislike) to making an argument
for why we like something. This course will not eliminate the
difficulty, but it will give you tools to clarify your engagement with
films and to link them with the larger issues of society and history.
Some of these tools include understanding:
• Films in social and historical contexts
• The basics of film technique to understand how films are
constructed
• Why some techniques are adopted in a certain era and
certain places and not others (The reasons are not just
technical!)
• The different types of narratives
• How stardom works
ASSESSMENT
• Five weekly responses [50%]
• Class participation [10%]
• Final exam [40%]