FILM-552: The Poetics of Film Editing

Department
Credits 3
Instructional Method
Academic Level
A historical and aesthetic overview of film editing, ranging from the early days of silent film, to the innovations of modern techniques in the 21st century. Various editing scenarios and sequences will be explored in-depth; from Alfred Hitchcock's use of voyeurism, to the crafty use of Point-of-view edits in The Sopranos; the function of voice-over and music to create structure and pace in films by Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola; to the use of spatial and expressional sound design in films by David Lynch and Ridley Scott. This course is designed to spark curiosity and expand students' theoretical knowledge of film editing. The ultimate goal is to encourage learning through the act of watching films and to inspire students to employ thematic ingenuity in the planning and editing of their own projects.