Thursday HS Elective (AM0) – Film & History of Film

For mature high school students who are able to watch a variety of films:

For mature high school students who are able to watch a variety of films: This year long or single semester course takes students through some of the most historic and culturally significant films since the inception of film-making itself. While there is no book, students will be expected to watch a film (usually around a $4 rental per film) on their own time each week and come to class for an engaging, thoughtful discussion both about the meaning and interpretations of the film as well as the technical achievements the film represents. We will be covering 1 to 2 films per decade spanning the 1920’s until the early 2000’s. Homework expectations are light with a couple of papers (movie reviews and analysis) that encourage students to practice articulating their thoughts and interpretations. Students can expect to be familiarized with classic auteurs such as Billy Wilder, Akira Kurosawa, and Alfred Hitchcock as well as iconic classics such as King Kong and The Lord of the Rings. Films range from G to PG-13 ratings with some potential exceptions depending on circumstance or subject matter. This will be a mix of an introductory film course students might find in college with some concessions to better fit a High School setting. There will also be a few additional video essay viewings and/or readings provided by the instructor from film critics and/or filmmakers.