MCS 280 - Documentary Film History and Theory

3 credits
This course explores the history and theory of documentary film, tracing the genres roots to the Latin docere, meaning to teach or to warn and its enduring relationship to social change. Students will examine how the aesthetics of reality are constructed across various international styles, including travelogue, city symphony, cinéma vérité, direct cinema, video diary, and personal essay. The course develops critical skills in interpreting and creating nonfiction media, emphasizing rhetorical and visual techniques and the global history and diversity of documentary practices.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 100 or ENG 101