Fall 2018

The Documentary Impulse

Listed in: English, as ENGL-377  |  Film and Media Studies, as FAMS-383

Faculty

Pooja G. Rangan (Section 01)

Description

(Offered as ENGL 377 and FAMS 383.) Documentary is one of the fastest-growing areas of media production today, enjoying unprecedented commercial success in theaters, on television, and online streaming services. What drives the urgent desire to represent reality? Where did this impulse originate, and how do documentarians continue to channel it today? This course focuses on the innovative forms and ethical dilemmas that have resulted from the pursuit of reality. We look at different approaches to documentary (ethnographic, personal, observational, interactive, essayistic, activist) and emerging forms such as fake news, true crime podcasts, mockumentaries, web-docs, and documentary art. Our discussions consider the shifting boundaries of the documentary genre, the unique ethical and political considerations involved in making documentaries, and the impact of technological and socio-cultural changes on historical trends in documentary.

Open to students with no prior film classes. Limited to 35 students. Fall semester. Professor Rangan.

ENGL 377 - L/D

Section 01
Tu 02:30 PM - 03:50 PM NEWP 100
Th 02:30 PM - 03:50 PM NEWP 100

ENGL 377 - FIL

Section 01
Su 07:00 PM - 10:00 PM KECC 8

Offerings

2024-25: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2015, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019