Cinematic Modernism

ENGL 323 - Prof. Younger

The 30-year period from 1950-1980 is often regarded as the golden age of European cinema. Launched by the post-war epiphanies of Italian Neorealism, a new cinematic language, modernism, was forged by movements of young radicals and older directors eager to transcend their past achievements. Embraced by an expanding audience of cinephiles (self-educated film-lovers), modernist cinema became one of the most dynamic and significant phenomena of late 20th century culture and continues to thrive today. This course offers an introduction to this essential area of film history and will situate key directors and movements within the exciting political and cultural contexts of the times.

Readings

You will find the following required texts at the Trinity Bookstore listed under the course number in the spring but are also encouraged to purchase inexpensive used editions online over the winter break if you wish. Additional required readings will be posted on Moodle.

András Bálint Kovács, Screening Modernism: European Art Cinema, 1950-1980 (University of Chicago Press, 2008).