• view, discuss and analyze films in order to develop an understanding of, and a greater appreciation for, the art and history of cinema.
• practice critical analysis skills to better understand film and filmmakers' intentions by examining how filmmaking techniques contribute to an understanding of the meaning of a film.
• participate in class-based online discussion groups and/or blogs in which they will share their opinions and reactions to the films watched in class.
• conduct research into a special topic of their choice and share with the class their findings in the form of a presentation including film clips.

There are many approaches to the study of film. We can take the side of the creator or of the audience, we can look at film history, or we can examine technological developments. We can even examine theories such as Auteurism, Feminist Film Theory, or Ethnicity. I have chosen genre as a basis for organizing the class because it is easily understandable on the surface, yet provides a basis for much deeper learning about film.

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