FAVz024 Hollywood and the World

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 5 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Peter Krämer (lecturer)
Mgr. Anna Batistová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
doc. Mgr. Petr Szczepanik, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Petr Szczepanik, Ph.D.
Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Petr Szczepanik, Ph.D.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 120 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/120, only registered: 0/120, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/120
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to:
- understand and explain how recent Hollywood films which often tell stories about events affecting all of humanity relate to public debates about global challenges and to the ideal of a global consciousness
- whether they approach these debates and this ideal from a narrowly American perspective
- whether and how is Hollywood storytelling conducive to the idea of personal, social and political change
Syllabus
  • Hollywood and the World
  • Lecture Series, 26-29 April 2011
  • Peter Krämer
  • In recent years, there has been an ever intensifying public debate about the huge challenges confronting humanity, most notably the threat of global warming and demands for global justice. One of the preconditions for meeting these challenges, it has been argued, is what one might call global consciousness, that is the ability to conceive of, identify with and care for humanity as a whole. What role might Hollywood play in this?
  • Hollywood films are seen all around the world, and they also draw on resources (people, source material, locations, finance) from many countries. What is more, they often tell stories about events affecting all of humanity. How do such films, then, relate to public debates about global challenges and to the ideal of a global consciousness? Do they approach these debates and this ideal from a narrowly American perspective? What is known about the impact of Hollywood films within and outside the US? Is Hollywood storytelling conducive to the idea of personal, social and political change?
  • This lecture series begins to address these questions with reference to some of Hollywood’s biggest international hits of recent decades, notably James Cameron’s Avatar (2009). While taking the analysis of Hollywood’s global operations and of the themes and reception of particular films as a starting point, the lecture series also goes beyond the disciplinary framework of Film Studies, in particular by raising the issue of global ethics: What are our ethical responsibilities as film scholars and as citizens with regards to the global challenges of today?
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
written test
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Full time students: 100% presence at the lectures is required. Distance students: two absences are tolerated.
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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