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Exploring Communication Theory through International Films (CMST 493/593)
Format/Modality: 4-week, Online (Synchronous + Asynchronous)
Digital Technology: Zoom + D2L + Streaming Sevices
Instructional Design: lectures, discussion, reading, films, notes, writing, video discussion (Flipgrid)
Meeting Times:
- May 16 through June 12, 2022
- Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon via Zoom
- Thursday & Friday, Asynchronous
General Description
Interpretation and analysis of communication theories and concepts through the discussion of critically acclaimed international films.
This course is designed to introduce learners to various communication theories and how to evaluate communication theories, improve their techniques for developing communication theory, and discuss everyday communicative situations using international films as a shared text. Common theories of human communication are explored, including intra- and interpersonal communication, public communication, organizational communication, and intercultural communication theories.
Note: This is not a film criticism course. The course is designed to use the film as a source to observe character interactions, dialogue, and so on as useful information to contextualize communication theories.
Course Poster
Course Outline
Required Textbooks
Course Goals
- Enhance understanding of research paradigms and elements of sound and useful communication theory
- Explore a variety of general communication theories from humanistic and social scientific approaches
- Use film as a shared text for identifying and explaining communication theories in practice
- Introduce students to the world through film
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, learners should be able to
- By the end of this course, students should be able to
Use terminology associated with communication theory development and analysis - Describe how communication theories are developed and categorized
- Evaluate communication theories using analytical frameworks
- Explain the difference between social scientific and humanistic approaches to communication
- Analyze communication phenomenon from different paradigmatic perspectives
- Analyze communication situations and events using general communication theories
- Explain and demonstrate oral and written communication competence, which can be used to enhance professional success
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Some films include very explicit content, including nudity, sex, drug use, blood, and torture. You will be made aware of these films in advance and provided alternative films to watch if this type of content should violate your personal, religious, political, or philosophical beliefs.
Features (Click on Link for Trailer)
Shorts (if interested, will send you links)
- Five Minutes
- Boats
- Skin
- Elly
- A King’s Betrayal
- Address is Approximate (for fun)
Methods of Instruction
- Reading
- Lecture
- Class discussion
- Group and individual activities
- Films and post-film debriefs
Assignments
- Reading worksheets
- Mini-projects
- Discussions / participation
- Reflection paper
Will films be subtitled?
Yes, it’s the best way to watch films. Hearing the tones and expressions of actors is important. So, for the films that include non-English dialogue, you will be reading subtitles. Dubbing is B.S.
Will there be reading?
Yes. This is a college-level course.
- Intercultural Film Series (UK)
- Intercultural film database
- International Movie Database (IMDb)
- Roger Ebert’s Reviews
- How to Write a Film Script Treatment
- How to Write a Film Review
- Logline vs. Tagline (also frame your script pitch in terms of movies we watch)
- The Lives of Others
- A Separation
- Cinema Paradiso
- The Dead Lands
- Rising from the Ashes
- Handsome Devil
- And Breathe Normally
- Rafiki
- Samson and Delilah
- A Silent Agreement
- Legend No 17
- The Eagle Huntress
- Smoke Signals (Canada, U.S.)
- Omar (Palestine)
- Let the Right One In (Sweden)
- The Band’s Visit (Israel)
- Quinceañera (U.S., in Spanish)
- Babi Leto (Czech Republic)
- Waltz with Bashir (Multiple Countries)
- Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (India)
- Kavkazskiy Plennik: Prisoner of the Mountains (Russia)
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist (U.S., U.K., Qatar)
- The Intouchables (France)
- Whale Rider (New Zealand)
- City of God (Brazil)
- A Separation (Iran)
- Poetry (South Korea)
- Lost in Translation (U.S.)
- Skin (South Africa)
- Funny Games (Germany)
- The Singing Revolution (Estonia)
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch (U.S.)
- Persepolis (France)
- Central Station
- American Beauty
- Do the Right Thing
- Baran
- Burnt Money
- Winter’s Bone
- Gran Torino
- Salmon Fishing in Yemen
- West is West
- Nationale 7
- East is East (1999, Damien O’Donnell)
- Bicycle Thieves (1948, Vittorio De Sica)
- Dirty Pretty Things (2002,Stephen Frears)
- The Singing Revolution (2006, James Tusty, Maureen Castle Tusty)
- The Namesake (2006, Mira Nair)
- La Misma Luna (2007, Patricia Rigging)
- Good Bye Lenin! (2003, Wolfgang Becker)
- Chinaman (2005, Henrik Ruben Genz)
- Jalla! Jalla! (2000, Josef Faras)
- Hsi Yen (1993, Ang Lee)
- Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002, Phillip Noyce)