FMST 001. Critical Approaches to Media

In this course, students are presented with forms and histories of film and other moving-image media, as well as key concepts, theories, and methods in the discipline of film and media studies. In discussions and group work, we investigate how audiovisual media construct meaning, explore genre formats and the role of authorship and collaboration, and discover through case studies how media are always a product of and a reflection on their time as much as they are teaching us to (un)see structures of power. Emphasis is on developing critical viewing, writing, research, and multimedia authoring skills. Required weekly evening screenings of works from diverse periods, countries, and traditions. FMST 001 is the prerequisite for most other FMST classes.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Fall 2025. White.
Fall 2026. Simon and Almeida.
Fall 2027 Staff.
Catalog chapter: Film and Media Studies
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/film-media-studies

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