Contemporary cinema is action-oriented. This course examines the formal qualities of the action genre and its interaction with historical, sociocultural and industrial contexts. We focus on action aesthetics, such as narrative devices, spectacle and sound, the conventions and developments of the genre, and how the genre engages with discourses of identity, gender, youth, nation, ethnicity and geopolitics.
Each week we focus on studying one film in class. The General Library has a comprehensive collection of books, journals and videos. The required reading materials are available on Talis. Recommended reading will help you better understand the film and the context in which the film was produced. You should complete the required viewing and reading before attending the lecture and tutorial.