Film Studies

Index: | Features of the Program | History of Film Studies at B.C. | Faculty | Film Studies News | O'Neill Library Media Center | Films of John Michalczyk | Films of Pamela Berger | Jacques Salmanowitz Program |

The Film Studies Program has arisen out of a need and desire to assist students in developing critical and technical skills in the area of film. Video, photography, and television also play a supportive role in the development of these skills. As a part of the Film Studies Program a student can pursue any of the electives dealing with the above aspects of communications.

The Educational Policy Committee of Boston College approved a new major in Film Studies in 1999.  There is also a very active film studies minor.

Students interested in the Film Studies Major or Film Minor can contact:

Prof. John Michalczyk
Chair, Fine Arts Department &
Director, Film Studies
Devlin Hall 434
552-3895
 

Film Studies Major Requirements

Research-based studies in American and world cinema explore the
mutual influence of the films and their respective diverse cultures
and historic periods. Familiarity with several of the great films and
filmmakers provides a basis for understanding the relationship
between contemporary artists and industrial society. Each student
will have an opportunity to apply this theoretical knowledge to the
experience of film making and exhibition both through programs in
scripting, photography, production and digital editing and through
an extensive internship program in the Boston area.

Students are encouraged to widen and deepen their understanding
of the medium through additional courses in Art History, Studio
Art, Theater and Communication. While this Film Studies Major
provides a solid foundation for further studies and professional
involvement in the industry, it also offers the liberal arts student a
broad-based preparation for other career options.

The Film Studies Major requires 12 courses, 8 of which must be
above the 200 level.

     FA 202 Introduction to Film Art
     A required foundation course designed to ground the student
     in film language, history, and criticism
     FA 181 History of European Film
     A study of six European movements, most of which have
     parallels in art movements: German Expressionism, Russian
     Constructionism, Italian Neo-Realism, French New Wave,
     British Free Cinema, Swedish
     2 American Film History Courses
     Two (2) required
          FA 281 History of American Film (II)
          FA 292 History of American Film (III)
          FA 389 Three American Directors: Specific chronological
          history courses, genre studies, or directors series which
          focus on American film.
     FA 482 Film Criticism (and Theory):
     A combination of modes of scholarship relating to other
     academic disciplines (literature, sociology, history, art, etc.)
     with a strong emphasis on clarity of written expression.
     Photography Component
     One (1) required
          FS 161 Photography I
          FS 167 Documentary Photography: The study of the
          visual image at the basis of the film experience.
          Photography and cinema are the focus of the course as
          they come together historically and at the present time.
     FS 171 Filmmaking I
     Reinforces film language and history but with an an emphasis
     on creativity.
     Three (3) Electives--200 (1) and 300 or 400 (2) level.
     Courses offered in the department in addition to those listed
     above include:
          FA 182 Documentary Film
          FA 280 History of American Cinema I
          FA 281 History of American Cinema II
          FA 282 Political Fiction Film
          FA 284 Eastern European Film
          FA 288 French Literary Filmmakers
          FA 289 French Cinema
          FA 292 History of American Cinema III
          FA 380 Latin American Cinema
          FA 381 Propaganda Film
          FA 382 Women & Film
          FA 386 Italian Cinema
          FA 388 Costa-Garvas
          Courses in Non-Linear Editing, Filmmaking II, and
          Photography II are highly encouraged to supplement the
          Major.
     Junior/Senior Year:
          FA 384 History and Art History into Film and/or
          FA 182 Documentary Film (primarily historical) are
          oriented toward research in preparation for the Senior
          Research Project.
     Senior Seminar
     A seminar that serves as a basis for and accompanies the
     student research project. An advisor will determine if the
     student is prepared to undertake the specific written thesis.

Since film is a humanistic discipline, the students are also
encouraged to take the supplementary courses in history, political
science, literature, music, and theater.
 

Film Studies Minor Requirements

A) Three required courses (Filmmaking I, History of European Film, and Mass Media in the Twentieth Century or Film as Communication or Broadcast Programming or Media Effects Theory) and

B) Three electives from the areas of production, film criticism, and history, communications, and photography.

Communications Courses for film studies credit include:

CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication

CO 280 Broadcast Programming and Promotion

CO 285 Cultural Diversity in the Media

CO 372 Mass Communication Theory

CO 377 Visual Communication Theory

CO 379 Advanced Visual Theory and Aesthetics

CO 443 Ethical Considerations in Mass Communications

CO 460 Seminar in Fiction, Film and Video