American Film Culture

L295 — Spring 2022

Instructor
De Witt Douglas Kilgore
Days and Times
4:45 - 6:00p TR (3 CR)
Course Description

Topic: Infinite Frontiers - Science Fiction Cinema

Over the past century science fiction films have evolved into a uniquely expressive genre of narrative cinema. We will define science fiction film as a genre, explore the story-telling potentials of special effects and their meaning, and investigate the impact of futurist or exotic design on narrative.  Major themes will be the city of the future; space travel, its machines and environments; the monster and first contact with extraterrestrial aliens; the robot and other artificial intelligences.  Films such as 2001:  A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, Forbidden Planet, and The Matrix will be our primary texts.  Critical readings will supplement our reading, thinking, and discussion.