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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CMS 345"
COURSE NAME: "Ecocinema: Environmentalism and Film"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Miriam Tola
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines a growing subfield of cinema studies, ecocinema, which is devoted to exploring the intersection between film and environmental issues. Ecocinema encompasses a range of movie genres, including documentary, Hollywood blockbusters, eco-horror, indigenous films, and animation. This course investigates how themes like environmental catastrophe, wilderness, animal rights, climate change, the construction of human-nature relations, ecojustice, and environmental politics are communicated through the particular medium properties of film. This course also examines the material impact of film on the environment. During the semester students will study films by combining traditional methods of film criticism with ecocriticism to explore production, aesthetics, narrative, reception, and culture in relationship to environmental themes.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course enables students to explore the relationship between cinema and environments. It considers how moving images shape human experiences of environments as well as the socio-ecological relations that shape film production, distribution and consumption. Combining film criticism and critical environmental humanities, students develop a critical awareness of key approaches and topics in ecocinema studies. These include the representation of the climate and ecological crisis, the environmental impact of media production; environmental justice through film; gender, race and species in ecocinema; queer Black ecologies and Indigenous ecocinema. The course is organized in weekly screenings, lectures and discussions. Students are expected to keep a journal of screening notes, engage with theoretical readings, participate in group discussion and work on a creative project related to ecocinema.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course examines a growing subfield of cinema studies, ecocinema, which is devoted to exploring the intersection between film and environmental issues. Ecocinema encompasses a range of movie genres, including documentary, Hollywood blockbusters, eco-horror, indigenous films, and animation. This course investigates how themes like environmental catastrophe, wilderness, animal rights, climate change, the construction of human-nature relations, ecojustice, and environmental politics are communicated through the particular medium properties of film. This course also examines the material impact of film on the environment. During the semester students will study films by combining traditional methods of film criticism with ecocriticism to explore production, aesthetics, narrative, reception, and culture in relationship to environmental themes.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Ecocinema Theory and Practice | Stephen Rust, Salma Monani, Sean Cubitt | Routledge | 0415899435 | | | | | |
| Ecocinema Theory and Practice 2 | Stephen Rust, Salma Monani, Sean Cubitt | Routledge | 1032154136 | | | Hard Copy | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Screening Notes | | 25% |
| Midterm Exam | | 25% |
| Creative Project | | 35% |
| Participation | | 15% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course examines a growing subfield of cinema studies, ecocinema, which is devoted to exploring the intersection between film and environmental issues. Ecocinema encompasses a range of movie genres, including documentary, Hollywood blockbusters, eco-horror, indigenous films, and animation. This course investigates how themes like environmental catastrophe, wilderness, animal rights, climate change, the construction of human-nature relations, ecojustice, and environmental politics are communicated through the particular medium properties of film. This course also examines the material impact of film on the environment. During the semester students will study films by combining traditional methods of film criticism with ecocriticism to explore production, aesthetics, narrative, reception, and culture in relationship to environmental themes.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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- Introducing Ecocinema
- Ecocinema: Key Concepts
- Hollywood and Climate Change: Don't Look Up (Adam McKay, 2021).
- Petrocultures in Italian ecocinema in Antonioni's Red Desert (1964).
- Science Fiction Cinema: Cities as Environments
- Landscapes of Toxicity in Costa Brava, Lebanon (Mounia Aki, 2021)
- African Ecocinema in Neptune Frost (Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman, 2022)
- Latin America Ecocinema
- Gender and Environments
- Queer Black Ecologies: Moolight (Barry Jenkins, 2016)
- Indigenous Ecocinema: Awake. A Dream From Standing Rock (Josh Fox and Myron Dewey, 2017)
- The Environmental Impact of Film Production
- Creative Project
- Review and Wrap Up
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