Video Essay
Content
When writing about movies scholars and students of film and TV always had to devote large parts of the essay or book chapter to describing the scene they wanted to analyze. Moreover, these descriptions may have failed to recreate a similar notion of the scene by the reader of this essay or chapter.
With the development of high performance hardware and powerful video editing software ‘normal’ consumers (including students and professors) have access to a different mode of analysis: the video essay or “videographic criticism” (Keithley/Mittell). Video essays are themselves short videos which present an argument about a movie or TV series using footage from that source, voice over commentaries, and sub-/intertitles.
In this course, we will explore elements, characteristics, and the theoretical background of a video essay, before groups of students will work on their individual video essays.
Aims
By the end of the semester, students are able to plan, develop and produce a video essay on a topic of their choice. Topics include the interplay of cultural, aesthetic, and economic aspects of a particular movie, TV series, or group of movies and series.
Method
A workshop with instructional parts and group work in the Blockwochen. Individual consultations and biweekly meetings with group work, readings assignments, short input sessions, and student presentations in the semester.
Credits
For ‚regular‘ students Studium Generale, Lernbereich 2: Wissen und Gesellschaft. For exchange and international students: 2.5 CP.
Examination
The final video essay of each group is due by the end of the semestre.