The year 1960 represents a pivotal moment in the history of documentary filmmaking. This significance arises not only from the emergence of two influential movements—cinéma vérité and direct cinema—but also from advancements in portable camera equipment and synchronized sound technologies. These innovations enabled filmmakers to engage more directly with unfolding events, challenging traditional boundaries between public and private spheres, observer and observed, as well as fiction and non-fiction. This course will analyze both political and ethical transformations of documentary film practice since then, while exploring the continued importance of film as a documentary medium relative to television and other mass communication platforms.
4
UnitsOptional
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeNone
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeLearned so much from him! Tough class but totally worth it.
Very stubborn. Don't expect him to give any leniency. More worried about students selling his lectures than providing materials outside of class.
Yamamoto comes across as being fairly passionate and deeply knowledgeable about film theory, but sometimes it's to the student's detriment - the classes were organised a little weirdly so we only ended up watching maybe four of what was planned in the subject reader which was disappointing. very theory heavy, no discussion of specific films :(
Overall pretty straightforward and doable class. His accent isn't really that bad, just used as an excuse. He does take attendance, but the screenings were good and he gives you some freedom with the assignments which were few and far apart.
Probably the worst teacher I have had at UCSB. His lectures are unbearable, it honestly doesn't seem like he knows what he is talking about, and on top of that he is extremely hard to understand. His "review" for the midterm consisted of a series of questions he wouldn't answer, probably because he doesn't know the answers himself. Avoid if you can
He literally won't answer your questions because he says he can't, but then expects you to answer them on the exams. Lectures are horrible and I want to die.