ARTS 350
Subjective Documentary Spring 2017
Division I
This is not the current course catalog

This documentary film course proposes to look at how even the most seemingly objective films are shaped by a subjective eye. An eye which is molded by gender, race, culture, class and the social structures of our societies. Just as these influence our economics and politics, they also influence the entire filmmaking process from decisions about how something is framed to how it is edited as well as how the viewer experiences and interprets what’s on the screen. How we look at something, for how long we look at it and how it is contextualized carries as much meaning as the content of our films. Similarly, the subjective eye of the viewer shapes how he or she understands and relates to the film. So then, what are we really talking about when we talk about documentary films? What makes a documentary a documentary? Why is such a categorization valuable? necessary? useful? The course will consist of a series of documentary exercises to put into practice these concepts on subjectivity. Students will refine their filmmaking skills (shooting and editing) so that they can make more precise decisions about form to most effectively tell the stories they want to tell. Students will also develop critique skills by reviewing each other’s projects as part of the creative process, with the goal of creating a supportive and constructive critique environment. The production aspect of the course will be supplemented with screenings and readings.