The Documentary Body: Advanced Media Production

Abstract

This course focuses on the theory and craft of documentary film through an exploration of representations of the body, broadly defined: human, animal, machine, bodies of land and water, ideal and remembered bodies. Students will produce short documentaries on topics of their choosing, developing them from start to finish, with a focus on how to translate a non-fiction idea \ud into a time-based media piece with a clear visual and aural aesthetic and a narrative structure. Projects may be generated specifically for this class or may arise from and engage with students’ ongoing scholarly work. Students may create single-channel videos or they may explore other media platforms, such as web documentaries, installations, and mobile media. Production labs will help students further develop their pre-existing production skills in camera, lighting, sound, and editing. We will also develop our understanding of the course theme through weekly documentary screenings, student presentations, and thematic and craft readings