Film Theory examines the history of film theory and criticism. Beginning with the emergence of writing about film during the earliest days of filmmaking up through today's discussions around globalization and its impact on cinema styles and forms, this class explores the most important and influential theoretical debates concerning the basic nature of film. Detailed attention is given to different theoretical approaches to film, including those derived from formalist, phenomenological, historical, structuralist and post-structuralist, and political modes of analysis. Concepts in film theory are further developed through discussion of different national film styles and representative individual films. Prerequisites: graduate standing or at least six (6) hours of 300- or 400-level coursework in the Film Studies Certificate, or the equivalent. Taught in English.