CMS 270 A: Perspectives on Film: Introduction

“How many bodies do you think we’ll find?” Acts of violence and mysterious motives have fascinated movie audiences around the world for more than a century. This course, organized as an investigation, provides a set of tools for analyzing film. As in a criminal investigation, film analysis requires certain techniques in identifying, collecting, interpreting, and presenting evidence. Rather than focus on a particular genre (such as the detective film), this course casts a wide net, investigating “crime scenes” broadly, through a variety of genres, cultures, and historical contexts.