STPS 603 Moving Pictures: Connecting with Documentary Film

3 credits 42.0 hours
600 level graduate course

Documentary films often depend on primary archival source and later themselves become primary sources for studying the culture, technology, history and aesthetics of the time in which they were made. This course explores the role of archival sources within documentary through screenings, discussions and projects using the Library of Congress collection Selections from the National Film Registry. Educators will produce a short film that draws upon this resource and, in the process, learn about research techniques, non-linear editing and ethics around archival usage. Lessons that may be brought forward to students include the artistic and/or historical possibilities of working with such resources and best practices for using online research tools. There will also be a discussion of rights and Fair Use.

This course is not repeatable for credit.