Documentary Film History

Catalog description

This course will examine the development of documentary film from 1920 to the present day. Students will explore central themes in documentary filmmaking, including the Grierson social documentary, the Flaherty romantic tradition, cinema verite, propaganda films, first-person narratives, and experimental documentaries. Emphasis is placed on the ethical, aesthetic, and technical challenges of nonfiction filmmaking, and on how documentaries construct meaning and represent reality in historical and contemporary contexts. Through film viewings, class discussions, and assigned readings, the students will critically examine how documentary film is constructed, keeping in mind the critical relationship between the film’s content and its meaning.