ØST, East European and Russian History through Film (E21)

In this course we will examine how major events and relationships in Eastern European and Russian history have been addressed in film. Through close readings of cinema students will learn both about the history films depict as well as to understand how politics and historical events have changed the role of the artist over time from creative genius, to tool of propaganda, and at times, to dissenting rebel. 

We will examine major cinematic works and significant directors from Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Yugoslavia and their successor states. Questions of politics and ideology inevitably arise when watching films that reflect a totalitarian experience, but those will not be our only concerns in this course. Rather, while learning about history and socio-political conditions, we will also explore a wide range of questions regarding aesthetics. Each week we watch one or two movies and read relevant theory, history and literature to help our understanding of the films and of the conditions under which they were made. 

After completion of this class the student will be able to:

• account for major historical events in Russia and Eastern Europe;
• know how to distinguish between some main aesthetic movements of the 20th century;
• master important filmmaking and film theory terms;
• read secondary literature and theory critically.