“Weimar cinema” brings to mind expressionist films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, films that Siegfried Kracauer called “[m]acabre, sinister, morbid” and saw as “exposing the German soul.” But Weimar cinema was more than this: producing an average of 250 films yearly, including comedies, musicals, farces, detective serials, and big-budget historical dramas, it was one of the most significant eras in film history and had an international impact. Weimar film is thus both bound up with national developments and connected to the global film scene. In examining Weimar cinema, this course traces some of the key technological, social, and economic developments that shaped the film industry and considers the long-lasting international influence of Weimar filmmakers’ innovations.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 20

Prerequisites: None

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video

Typical Periods Offered: Every other year

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: