In this course environmental issues will become our lens through which we will look at a number of mainstream and independent films. How do these films present relations between human and environment, destruction and resilience? In how far do they depend on spectacular performances of devastation and individualistic heroism? And in how far can they offer narrative and aesthetic alternatives to formulaic storytelling? Moreover, what are the possible repercussions
on reception and spectatorship?
In the first part of the course, we will develop a theoretical framework that can help us to critically analyze and assess ecocinema.
Requirements:
active participation
in-depth knowledge of the films and the reading material

• non-graded assessment: oral presentation (handout and PowerPoint presentation)
• graded assessment: oral presentation and written term paper to be submitted by September 15.