| Description: | This course approaches film from the point of view of the spectator, that is to say an individual's emotions, thought processes, and psychology. The course seeks answers to such natural questions as: how does the mind actually manage film images and sounds?; what takes place when we are moved to sympathize with a screen character, even a "villain"?; what is implied psychologically in the physical situation of watching a movie? The point of departure is a general consideration of the way the human mind processes visual information, and how it engages with media and mass media. Seeking to isolate what is special about the film experience, students explore psychological mechanisms and situations that may come into play before the cinema screen, including role models and identification, curiosity, and voyeurism. The course builds student awareness that our reactions and responses to film obey certain structures, and that in order to reach their objectives scriptwriters, editors and directors manipulate those structures. The class format includes guided screening of movies and sequences and discussions. |