Contemporary Cinema & Film Critique
Have you ever wondered about the impact films have on shaping ideas about identity within society or how culture influences characters in film? In this course, we will approach film studies and critique from the relatable lens of teen cinema. From Rebel Without a Cause (1955) to Mean Girls (2004), teen films have consistently been a popular and profitable genre. Teen films both idealize and demonize adolescents while mirroring and shaping societal expectations and fears about teen identities and roles. We will take a critical cultural studies approach to the analysis of representations of teens in film and consider the U.S. cultural values these images illuminate.
This course provides an introductory survey of teen films as a distinct art form that can reflect, critique, reshape, and impact society and culture. We will critically examine and analyze the teen film genre and its relationship to various aspects of society and culture (i.e., race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, and its relationship to various aspects of society and culture (i.e., race, class, gender, ability, sexuality).
Learning Outcomes in this course
Describe the concepts and theories of representations in film.
Explain and implement intersectional critical critique of contemporary film.
Critically analyze constructions of youth in media.
Formulate effective and persuasive written documents and presentations.
Recognize and evaluate the ways film representations have “real world” implications.
When
Session One
June 30 - July 12, 2024
Tuition
On-Campus Residential
$5,298 USD
Proposed Activities
TBD
Instructor
Dr. Emily Ryalls, Associate Professor Cal Poly SLO
Emily Ryalls is an Associate Professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies in the Liberal Arts Department. She received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in Communication Studies. Dr. Ryalls is a recipient of the 2022-2023 Distinguished Teaching Award. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of critical/cultural studies and feminist media studies. Dr. Ryalls research has explored issues of age, race, class, gender, and sexuality in media sites such as Scream Queens, Gossip Girl, 13 Reasons Why, and The Hunger Games. Her book, The Culture of Mean: Representing Victims and Bullies in Popular Culture, is the first sustained feminist critique of the contemporary bullying narrative in media. In her free time, she can be found watching Bravo TV and hanging with her dog, Henry.
