51³ÉÈËÁÔÆæ

Course Description

Summary

Film openings both credit all the film "makers" and set the tone for what will follow. Unlike the cover of a book, they immerse the viewer in a multi-sensory experience designed to engage and prepare. Explored as palimpsests, these opening titles will be examined as examples of paratexts, as well as entry points into the films they introduce and the cultures they reflect. Screenings and theoretical readings by authors such as bell hooks and Derrida will guide the class discussions. With a focus on filmmakers from French-speaking countries, screenings will include films by Claire Denis, Max Ophüls, Euzhan Palcy, and Agnès Varda, among others.  Weekly viewings required. Course conducted in English. No knowledge of French necessary.