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Film Studies

Ina Rae Hark, Director


Overview

Film studies is an interdisciplinary program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences devoted to the study of film from various humanistic perspectives. Courses in the program may apply to the college’s fine arts and cognate requirements, as well as to a minor and a major.

Degree Requirements

(120 hours)

1. General Education Requirements (53-62)

For a general outline, see "College of Arts and Sciences."

2. Major Requirements

Prerequisite: FILM 240 Introduction to Film Studies (3 hours)

Major Courses (30 hours)

ARTH 365 {=ENGL 474 and THSP 480} History of Cinema I (3 hours)
ARTH 366 {=ENGL 475 and THSP 481} History of Cinema II (3 hours)
ENGL/PHIL 473 Film Theory (3 hours)
THSP 581 Film as Performance (3 hours)
3 hours devoted to the study of film genres: FILM/ENGL 566 (the musical, the Western, crime films, science fiction films, etc.) or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor
3 hours devoted to a course on national cinema outside the United States: FILM/FORL 598, FILM/CPLT 597, FREN 397, ITAL 412, JAPA 350, SPAN 380, ANTH 516, or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor
3 hours additional devoted to film production or performance: THSP 370, THSP 587, ENGL 604, 605, MART 490, or other appropriate special topics or Honors College course approved by the student's advisor
9 additional hours from the following list:
ANTH 300 Comparing Cultures Through Film
ANTH 516 Indonesian Culture Through Film
ANTH 517 Anthropological View of Blacks in Films
ANTH 570 Ethnographic Film
ARTH 569 Topics in Film History
ENGL 604, 605 Seminar in Composition for the Visual Media
FILM 555 {=ARTH 555} History of Documentary Film
FILM 566 {=ENGL 566} Topics in American Film
FILM 597 {=CPLT 597} Comparative Studies in Film
FILM 598 {=FORL 598} Topics in World Film
FREN 397 The French Film Experience
POLI
357 Film, Politics, and Social Change
HIST 492F Film and History
ITAL 412 Post-World War II Italian Cinema
JAPA 350 Japanese Culture and Society through Film
MART 490, 590 Special Topics in Media Arts
PHIL 336 Philosophy and Film
PORT 301 Cultural Manifestations of Modern Brazil
SPAN 380 Hispanic Film and Culture
THSP 370 Intermediate Acting
THSP 587 Film and Television Acting

Or other appropriate special topics or Honors College courses approved by the student’s advisor. Students should check with their advisor or with the director of the Film Studies Program for a complete list of film courses offered during a given semester.

3. Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)

See "College of Arts and Sciences."

4. Electives (7-22 hours)

For additional information, contact Ina Hark, director of Film Studies, at hark@sc.edu or 803-777-2122.


Course Descriptions (FILM)

  • 180 -- Film Culture. (3) How the film industry developed and the impact the movies have had on global popular culture. Does not count toward the film studies major.
  • 240 -- Introduction to Film Studies. (3) Basic concepts of how films convey meaning to viewers and viewers ascribe meaning to films.
  • 555 -- History of Documentary Film. [=ARTH 555] (3) History, theory, and practices of documentary film studied via screenings, readings, and lectures.
  • 566 -- Topics in American Film. {=ENGL 566} (3) Intensive study of a specific topic concerning American film. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of courses by suffix and title.
  • 597 -- Comparative Studies in Film. {=CPLT 597} (3) Topics in film from an international perspective. National cinematic traditions are compared and contrasted.
  • 598 -- Topics in World Film. {=FORL 598} (3) Intensive study of a specific topic concerning films produced in a country other than the United States. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of courses by suffix and title.

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