This course offers an introduction to the history of moving images in Japanese film and animation from 1945 to the present as a method for understanding how one nation's film culture has contributed to global political, social, and ecological movements. Students learn how Japanese cinema has been an essential contributor to the development of global film genres and cultures. This course fulfills the Global Perspective because it illustrates the rich history of Asian cinema in a global mediascape. Students will learn how moving images from Asia provide important perspectives on global social, political, and environmental issues. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to use their new skills in film and animation interpretation to analyze media in their daily lives. They will have tools for critical analysis of dominant Western and Hollywood media forms.
Students will analyze films from multiple angles, engaging in a multi-optic analysis.