What is film? Why do we go to the movies? What is the function of film in society? The BDP in Film Studies introduces students to film as a subject of critical analysis and scholarly inquiry. Through courses in foreign languages and literatures, English, Radio-Television-Film, History, Music, and other disciplines, students learn about how filmmakers tell stories, the relationship of film to other mass media, and how film functions in cultures and societies.
The Film Studies BDP teaches students how to look at film from a variety of perspectives: the role of film as an industry and art form; the development of film form and style; the relationship between entertainment and ideology; the contribution of film to definitions of gender, race, and nation; foreign films and the global film industry; and the dynamics of mainstream cinema, art film, and alternative filmmaking.
An interdisciplinary faculty panel guides students in selecting courses related to film studies, identifying internship opportunities, and getting involved in research.
“I applied for the Film Studies BDP because I wanted to pair my journalism major with some film courses so that I could pursue a career in film criticism. The BDP offers so many unique classes, and I knew that I would get a well-rounded education in film history around the world through the Film Studies BDP.”