Purdue University College of Liberal Arts
Information for
General Course Descriptions
CHNS 594: Cities in Modern Chinese Literature and Film
This course
examines literature and film on modern Chinese cities from the early twentieth
century to the present. By discussing urban narrative structures and cinematic
imaginations as evidenced in a dozen of key literary and filmic texts, this
class aims to offer a new understanding of Chinese modernity as marked by its
unique urban sensibilities and configurations. Readings of marginal writing,
popular culture, and underground cinemas are also included in the class. The
main questions asked are urban awareness, historical consciousness,
individual/collective memories, and nationalist perceptions regarding the old
and new capital Beijing, the semi-colonial metropolis Shanghai and its remnants,
the “raped� and traumatized Nanjing, the “abandoned� capital Xi’an, the British
Crown Colony Hong Kong, and Taipei under Japanese colonial rule and the
subsequent Nationalist Party’s dominance.
COM 261: Introduction to Television Prouction
(Consent of
Department of Communication required. Telecommunication majors have
priority.) Introduction to the basic principles of television production.
Through lecture, viewings, discussion, critiques, and a wide range of exercises,
students will learn how television programs are designed, planned, and
produced.
COM 332: Television Production
(Prerequisite: COM 261; Consent
of Department of Communication required. Telecommunication majors have
priority.) Basic principles of producing, writing, and directing for
television. Treats program types and television criticism, and explores
creative treatment of visual, artistic, and nonverbal elements of communication
in television.
COM 337: Video Production Editing
(Prerequisite: COM 261;
Consent of Department of Communication required. Telecommunication majors have
priority.) Provides experience in writing program proposals and scripts,
taping with small-format television equipment, and audio and video editing for
various program formats. Special attention to editing, theory and technique,
aesthetic considerations, and institutional and community cable outlets.
ENGL 286: The Movies (History and Production)
One of the most
popular courses on campus, English 286 provides students from all disciplines
with a basic introduction to film art and history. Mostly it aims to provide
students with the ability to understand what any given film means, and how it
conveys that meaning cinematically, thus helping them to enjoy their movie-going
more. Topics include: basic concepts and terminology, comparative filmmaking
styles, sound, realism, authorship, genre, the art film. Depending on the
concerns of individual instructors, varying emphasis is placed on film history
as a topic running parallel to the ones noted above. There are weekly reading
assignments as well as the screening of at least one film. Films by such
internationally famous directors as D. W. Griffith, Alfred Hitchcock, and Orson
Welles are used to illustrate the course material. Papers and exams to be
specified by the individual instructors.
ENGL 386: History of Film to 1938
A survey of the American and
European cinema from its origins in technology and realism to the aesthetic
implications presented by the coming of sound. Emphasis on the feature film and
on the prevalent aesthetic attitudes in the first decades of the motion
picture.
ENGL 387: History of the Film 1938 to the Present
A survey of
international cinema for the period indicated. Emphasis is on the feature film
and its development as a communication tool, popular art form, medium of
personal expression, and self-exploring linguistic system.
ENGL 411: Studies in Major Authors
A study of the literary,
critical, or cinematic works of one or two influential authors or directors.
May be repeated for credity only with a different topic.
ENGL 412: Studies in Genre
A study of literary or cinematic works
that share distinctive formal features. May be repeated for credit only with a
different topic.
ENGL 413: Studies in Literature and History
A study of literature
or film produced during a particular well-defined historical period from the
point of view of its social, political, religious, and economic contexts. May
be repeated for credit only with a different topic.
ENGL 414: Studies in Literature and Culture
A study of literature
or film from the perspective of the cultural norms and values it expresses,
celebrates, challenges, and imaginatively opposes. May be repeated for credit
only with a different topic.
ENGL 586: Theory of Film
An intensive survey of film theory and
aesthetics utilizing both films and written texts. Topics covered include
changing conceptions of film language, theories of authorship and genre,
theories of narrative, social theory of film, film aesthetics as related to
other forms.
FLL 490: Special Topics in Foreign Languages and Literatures
FR 330: French Cinema
A general survey of major French cinematic
trends from the earliest examples (Méliès, Lumière) to the New Wave (Chabrol,
Truffaut, Resnais, Godard, etc.), with a discussion of the historical, social,
political, aesthetic, and literary contexts. The French film in relation to
world cinema. The relationship between the French cinema and French literature.
Reading and analysis of scripts and historical and critical materials.
Knowledge of French not required.
GER 330/H: German Cinema
Viewing and analysis of major German
contributions to the cinema from the earliest period to the 1960s. Emphasis on
relevant aesthetic theories and on the schools of literature and painting that
served as sources. Evaluation of the German film on the basis of social,
artistic, and political criteria. Knowledge of German not required.
IDIS 491: Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies
Special
topics or projects under the direction of the instructor in a particular field
of specialization.
IDIS 491C: Screenwriting
Screenwriting is a class designed as a
series of lectures, workshops,
and assignments covering the development,
writing, and rewriting of a
marketable, original, feature-length screenplay.
The objective of the
class is to gain a working knowledge of basic narrative
elements and how
these elements work in conjunction to form a story. Your
success in the
class will be determined on how well you apply this knowledge
in the
writing of your own script. At the conclusion of this course
your
experience in completing a three act outline and writing and
re-writing
the first two acts of an original feature length screenplay will
give
you an understanding of script language and process.
IDIS 491: Intro to non-linear editing
(A different
alpha suffix is assigned each semester.)
Intro
to Non-Linear Editing, is an experiential class that compliments material
introduced in Technical Video Production. Students will learn beginer though
advance techniques of non-linear editing using the AVID family of editing
products (specifically AVID Xpress DV), AS WELL AS Apple's increasingly popular
Final Cut Pro Studio. Using these applications the student will gain both
knowledge and understanding of the editing process and have hands-on experience
with the industry standards for non-linear video editing. Labs will be based on
the training material that both AVID and Apple use to train professional
editors. The course will also focus on the systems and techniques of editing as
used in film, television, video, animation, multimedia, etc. Intro to
Non-linear editing contains some of the same material once covered in "AVID
non-linear editing" but expands upon it in new and exciting ways. This
happens by allowing the students to directly apply basic editing skills in two
different sotware applications used in industry. For this reason students who
have already completed AVID non-linear editing are strongly encouraged to take
this course as well.
(A different alpha suffix is assigned each semester.)
Advanced Non-Linear Editing, is a projects based cousrse that builds upon foundations began in Intro to non-linear Editing. Students will learn more in depth techniques regarding the craft of editing. Students will produce several projects designed to explore the art of telling a story, as well as further solidify the pratical skills needed to work in the post production industries. Basic concepts and advanced insights will also be studied through viewings and discussion about all aspects of the editing process. Advanced Non-linear editing contains some of the same material once covered in "AVID non-linear editing" but expands upon it in new and exciting ways. This happens by removing focus on building a foundation of editing skills (now found in Intro to NLE), and allowing more time for the course to explore the more subtle techniques of the editing process. For this reason students who have already completed AVID non-linear editing are still encouraged to take this course as well.
IDIS 491: Technical Video Production I
(A different alpha
suffix is assigned each semester.)
In today's job market employers are
looking for employees who are technically competent in the use of video
equipment and know how to use this powerful medium to turn a client's idea or
concept into a successful video production. Through lectures, viewings,
discussions, and practical exercises, frequently working in a real-world
environment, students will be exposed to the technical aspects of video
production in order to gain mastery of the technology and equipment.
IDIS 491: Internship in Video/Media Production
(A different
alpha suffix is assigned each semester.)
Prerequisite: Technical
Video Production. Select students who have completed Technical Video
Production I refine their skills in areas of particular interest. Among other
things students work on real-world productions as camera operators (SONY BVP
550), VTR operators, editors (AVID, Media 100, Adobe), instant replay operators,
camera shaders, computer graphics operators, recording engineers, technical
directors, and eventually as directors of programs ranging from sports events
(Purdue University basketball, football, baseball, and soccer games),
University-related events (press conferences, dinners, and awards), and
entertainment events (from ballet to opera to the Dave Matthews concert to the
University Sing).
IDIS 491: Advanced Technical Video Production
(A different
alpha suffix is assigned each semester.)
Advanced Technical Video
Production, is an experiential class similar in format to Technical Video
Production. Students will learn more advanced techniques of camera operation,
editing, system configuration and operation with an emphasis on the technical
aspects of the equipment. The class will also focus on professionalism and
ethics in the video industry, how to prepare yourself for the workforce, and
dealing with everyone from clients to producers.
IDIS 591: Selected Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies
A study of
selected topics, taught by an instructor in whose particular field of
specialization the content of the course falls.
ITAL 330/H: The Italian Cinema
The development and evolution of
Italian cinema after World War II. The class will center on the viewing and
discussion of films and will survey a broad spectrum of directors and styles.
Knowledge of Italian not required.
PTGS 330: Brazilian, Portuguese and African Film
Screening and
analysis of selected films from Portuguese- speaking countries: Brazil,
Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, with discussion of
their historical, social, political, aesthetic contexts. Knowledge of
Portuguese not required. 3 CREDITS. Satisfies "Other Cultures" core
requirement.
RUSS 330: Russian and Eastern European Cinema
Viewing and analysis
of significant Russian and East European films. Evolution of the Russian and
East European cinema, its place in world cinema, and its relation to cultural,
political, and social trends. Cinematic adaptation of literary and theatrical
works. Knowledge of Russian or East European language not required.
SPAN 330/H: Spanish and Latin American Cinema
Screening and
analysis of selected Spanish and Latin American films with readings and
discussions relative to their historical, social, political, aesthetic,
literary, and linguistic contexts. No reading knowledge required.
THTR 263: Introduction to Sound Studios
An introduction to theories
and techniques of audio production, with special emphasis on theatre
productions; In this course you will learn the basic techniques of audio
production, and have opportunities to apply those techniques to short
soundscapes, designs and recordings; Offered every semester; Prerequisites:
none; open to Theatre, Telecommunications, Interdisciplinary Film studies, ECET,
and Interdisciplinary Engineering Majors Only; 3 credits.