The intensive course focuses on recognizing, interpreting, and discussing aesthetic intensities found in the selected films by contemporary English, Canadian, and American filmmakers. The selected works, which the filmmakers in question not only directed but also wrote and produced, all in their own way present highly stylized, thematically involved, and vividly expressive aesthetics. The assigned films are chosen for the intensity with which they enfold and envelop their reflection of reality in the genre-defining aesthetic evocation of anxiety. The assigned readings accompanying the films are chosen as thematic supplements, suggesting a connection to the anglophone literary history of aesthetic thematization of aesthetic intensity. The overarching aim of this intensive course is to cultivate the student’s sensitivity to thematic structure and emergent meaning by way of drawing attention to the aesthetic intensity of the imagery which expresses them. The intensive course format will be employed in order to confront the students with aesthetically intense films and to invite and encourage them to react and produce sensible commentary in the shortly following discussion session. This should enhance the student’s ability to comfortably produce sensible commentary in future studies, research, publications, and teaching practice.
- Professor: Jan Čapek