Le Septieme Art: A Survey of French Film

In this course you will study French cinema, le septième art in French, from a critical, historical and sociological angle starting with the first projections of the Lumière movies and ending with recent contemporary French films. While examining a broad range of French cinema you will learn about the development of different film schools, techniques and film styles including periods, trends, directors and artists. Additionally, in order to gain a greater appreciation of the role that films, cinemas and moving-going play in the contemporary social fabric of Paris, all of which are intimately linked to the history of film in France, you will frequent the local cinemas including, but not limited to, the older structures of the Left Bank such as Le Champo, the newer Cinémathèque at the Centre Pompidou, as well as the megaplexes of Bercy and Les Halles with their wider appeal.

During in-class investigations, you will learn to look at French film critically in its historical context. From the early competition between the Lumière Brothers and Thomas Edison to the French autheurist interpretation of Hollywood by the Nouvelle Vague, French film history is best understood through its relations with other film industries. By adopting this approach, you will analyze and challenge the notion of French Cultural Exceptionalism in the history of French cinema. You will study the phenomenon of exceptionalism from the viewpoint of the production system, which has functioned both through strong governmental support since World War II, and as a social practice. Finally, you will analyze the role, influence and activity of French film critics as a continual and notable force in French cinema and culture today.