In this hybrid theory/practice seminar, we analyze the category of films referred to as essay films. Described as resisting classification, interrogating boundaries between fact and fiction, and transgressing dominant ways ofseeing and thinking, essay films draw from and subvert a range of established practices, including nonfiction, narrative, and avant-garde cinema. Whatis the history of essayistic filmmaking? What does the essayistic mode offer filmmakers and scholars today? Through readings, screenings, student-led presentations, and exercises, students will gain both a conceptual foundation and hands-on experience with the essay film. The course culminates in a final independent project.

Prerequisites: Film studies 46 or upper-division standing, and consent of instructor.

4

Units

Optional

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

Seniors only

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
These majors only famst
WASOW A
Althea Wasow
1.0
6 reviews
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7
1.0
FAMST101A . Wasow A A Month Ago

Avoid if possible. Creative project, research paper, and final exam all due in one week at end, 12 page study guide provided only few days before. Got annoyed that we werent participating enough so made a wheel with all our names to call on people to talk. Would go off on random tangents for 20 min.

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FAMST101A . Wasow A 8 Months Ago

Professor Wasow is nice, but very disorganized and does not have a good grasp of teaching. Her lecture slides have no text, and she doesn't follow them, so there is no use in note-taking. There was no syllabus until Week 3, and she didn't even release final information until the day prior. She does the bare minimum and this class is to avoid.

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FAMST101A . Wasow A 9 Months Ago

I don't often rate professors, but I guarantee you this is the worst class I'd ever taken in my life, being my first ever F. The professor taught as if a toddler was teaching. There was inhuman amounts of material and a 1 hour screening during our final? I was instantly failed because my final essay offended her. Please, save yourself the trouble.

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FAMST101A . Wasow A 10 Months Ago

Was extremely disorganized and boring. Lectures were mandatory but she rarely ever put up slides to follow along to and when she “lectures” she rambles on about nothing making it hard to take notes. Refused to give us a study guide for the final for some reason so nobody knew what to study. Genuinely the worst film professor I've ever taken.

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FAMST101A . Wasow A 10 Months Ago

This was a nightmare class. The professor is so intelligent however she has no idea how to teach a class this big. Lectures were extremely hard to follow, and on her final study guide she basically included every single reading/film/vocab term we ever talked about in the class. I found myself writing "I hate this class" on my iPad every lecture.

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FAMST101A . Wasow A 10 Months Ago

A kind individual, which has no bearing on her instruction. Her class had barely any guidance, no syllabus until week 3, and she didn't write the final exam (on top of a final essay) until the day before we took it. Her expectations were scattered and disorganized, and her lack of slides made it hard to pay attention to her meandering lectures.

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