Below are descriptions of courses offered in the department of Film & Media Arts. For specific information on which courses are being offered, class times and sections available during each semester, please visit the Temple University online course listing. To register for classes, visit the Owlnet website, or for more information, visit the Temple Registration information website. FMA classes fill up extremely quickly, so keep track of when registration opens and sign-up for classes as soon as possible.
An introductory course in media arts and theory, which examines the history and practice of image making, sound production, and new technologies. Students will explore both hands-on production processes and theoretical foundations of film, video, and audio in a range of technologies including low-tech formats, professional studio, and computerized digital settings. Coursework will emphasize individual students' rigorous exploration of creative, personal visions, along with commercial applications. Note: This course is for majors only.
[Prerequisite: FMA 1141]
A continuation of media arts and theory with an increased emphasis on aesthetics,
genres, writing, and project design. Assigned production projects and readings
will include documentary, financial, and experimental formats. Note: This course
is for majors only.
Course website,
Spring 2000, Prof. Allan Barber
[Prerequisite: Permission of department chair required. Prior study of production
courses required.]
An introductory course in media arts production and theory, which examines
image making, sound, and new technology for those students who already have
a production background. Course will further develop hands-on production process,
while relating them to the theoretical and expressive foundations of media
arts. Course work will include production projects, readings and writing. Note:
This course is for majors only. Duplicate Courses: FMA 1143 counts in place
of FMA 1141 and FMA 1142.
An overview of cultural production, distribution, and reception explored through lectures, readings, and screenings. Equally oriented towards practical concerns such as the economics of the arts and the mass media, and theoretical debates on the social, political, and economic forces that shape culture. Note: This course is for majors only.
Film and television analysis through screenings, lectures, and readings in the context of theory, history, and aesthetics.
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA Core.]
This lecture course introduces the history and theory of computer and telecommunications
media and new media arts. Readings include the commentaries and works of theorists,
writers and artists addressing these and other relevant themes. Course materials
draw on diverse interactive and linear media and the internet.
Course
Website, Prof. Sarah Drury
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core or permission of instructor.]
Intensive instruction and practice with the tools of recording and structuring
video. Coursework will consist of individual and group exercises and projects
conducted in the studio and in the field. Note: This course is for majors only.
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core or permission
of instructor]
Seminar and workshop exploration of various approaches to fiction and nonfiction
media writing. Note: This course is for majors only.
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core or permission
of instructor]
The course will describe how cultural studies have grown out of film and media
studies, combining intellectual and social history with changing representational
practices. Students will analyze the dynamic relationship between ideas, socio-cultural,
practices and technologies. Note: This course is for majors only.
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core or permission of instructor]
Intensive instruction and practice with the tools off recording and structuring
16mm film. Coursework will consist of individual and group film exercises and
projects. Note: This course is for majors only.
[Prerequisite: Special permission required for non majors.]
This course is an introduction to audio production and aduio as a form of aesthetic
expression. Students will explore theoretical concepts as they use digital
audio recording and editing systems to complete projects. Note: This course
is primarily for FMA majors. Mode: lecture, hands on instruction, discussion.
Course website, Prof. LeAnn Erickson
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core or permission of instructor]
Intensive laboratory and field experience exploring personal, aesthetic, and
social applications of video-utilizing camcorders, editing and multimedia facilities.
This course includes regularly scheduled screenings of significant experimental
video and multimedia projects.
[Prerequisite: Completion of FMA core. Permission of instructor required. Crosslisted with BTMM.]
Students explore the aesthetic, communications, and practical aspects of creating
web sites with user input and feedback, and with streaming audio or video.
They also will consider these issues in designing and producing multimedia
CD’s. Course will concentrate on both message-based and artistic uses
of multimedia production.
Course
website, Prof. Sarah Drury
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core or permission of the instructor]
Techniques, practices, equipment, procedures, and theories involved in achieving
structure in film and video.
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core or permission of instructor.]
An examination of artistic aspects of film and video outside the mainstream
of the commercial industries; includes economic, social, and political factors
that have contributed to the concept of an "independent" or "personal" cinema
and video. Includes selected screenings and readings.
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core is required before
taking this course.]
An intermediate exploratory seminar in film study. Topics vary.
[Prerequisites: FMA 0200, 0210, photography or theater lighting course, or
permission of the instructor]
This workshop will function both to explore the technical, aesthetic, and compositional
aspects of lighting for cinematic, photographic, and electronic media for all
students, and to cover advanced issues of cinematography and synchronous sound
for those students who wish to continue study of filmmaking. The course will
analyze the evolution of lighting styles (such as classical Hollywood, neorealist,
film noir, and expressionism) in fiction and non-fiction moviemaking, commercials,
trailers, and music videos. Each student will complete an individual and/or
group portfolio of different lighting exercises. Students with an advanced
interest in filmmaking will substitute camera and synchronous sound exercises
for some of the lighting exercises.
[Prerequisite: FMA 245; proficiency in Adobe Premiere and Final
Cut Pro; completion of the basic FMA core.]
This production course explores digital animation and techniques of processing
and layering the moving image within film/video language and non-linear media.
Primary focus on 2D compositing with Adobe After Effects and Macromedia Flash.
Course
website, Prof. Sarah Drury
Course
website, Prof. LeAnne Erickerson
[Prerequisite: FMA 0201 or permission of the instructor]
An advanced course concentrating on the preparation of a complete television,
motion picture or nonfiction script.
Course website, Prof. Allan Barber
[Prerequisite: 200 level production course or permission of the instructor]
Theories of directing, dramatic form, and acting are examined through lectures,
demonstrations, readings, and applied exercises to establish a theoretical
and practical foundation in film and television directing.
[Prerequisite: Completion of 200 level production course or permission of the
instructor. Cross Listed with Theater 0319.]
Acting theory and advanced acting technique as applied to television and film;
individual and ensemble exercises on location and in the studio.
[Prerequisite: FMA 0201 and either 0200, 0210, or 0241]
Analysis and exercises dealing with the conventional language of mainstream
narrative film, including how this language, traditionally presented as the
only way to organize narrative films, actually serves to circumscribe the kind
of stories that may be told.
[Prerequisite: FMA 0200 and 0201 or permission of instructor.]
An advanced workshop in the theory, practice, and ethics of documentary production.
The workshop will feature exercises in oral history and interview techniques,
camerawork, field-sound recording, and music research, specialized editing
assignments, and a final project. These skills will be integrated with screenings
along with readings and discussion.
[Prerequisite: FMA 0230 or permission of instructor.]
Theory and practice of sound as it relates to film and video production location
recording techniques, wild sound pick-up, Foley and sound effects creation,
sound sweetening, scoring for film, and sound mixing for film.
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core or permission
of the instructor]
An advanced workshop to develop projects in experimental, documentary, or narrative
forms using portable video, TV studio, and editing facilities.
[Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor]
Exploration, study, design, production, and implementation of hypermedia projects
including interactive and computer controlled video, computer graphics, digital
sound, videodisc, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies. Interdisciplinary
collaborations will be encouraged between Film and Media Arts, Mass Media and
Telecommunications, Computer Science, Engineering, Architecture, Art, and Music.
Course website,
Prof. Peter D'Agostino
[Prerequisite: FMA 0257]
An advanced course on the techniques of editing film and video. It is one of
the advanced courses in a series of post-production courses offered by the
FMA curriculum. The course continues the development of technical skills
and knowledge begun in FMA 257 and incorporates screenings of classic and
contemporary films with discussions on the aesthetics of editing.
Course website, Fall 2005, Prof. LeAnn Erickerson
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core or permission
of the instructor]
An interpretive historical survey of the non-fiction film explored through
lectures, readings, and screenings. Films and writings to be studied will include
work by Muybridge, Marey, Flaherty, Cooper, Grierson, Jennings, Lorentz, Van
Dyke, Vertov, Ruttmann, Murrow, Leacock, Wiseman, Trinh Min Ha, and others.
The course will survey and examine the various cultural determinants of international film forms through screenings, lectures and readings. It will attempt to define the differences and similarities between mainstream Hollywood cinema and the range off international film forms from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core or permission
of the instructor]
Major trends in theatrical film history and the methods and issues in the writing
of film history.
[Prerequisites: Grade of B or better in FMA core courses, plus
FMA 0202 and 0203 and senior status]
The planning, conceptualization and design of a written research project that
combines skills in theory, criticism and historiography, or a producible script
based on research.
[Prerequisite: FMA 0380 Senior Media Culture Thesis.]
The completion of the project or script begun in FMA 0380.
[Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in FMA core courses, plus
FMA 0200 and 0201, senior status and an approved project proposal]
Advanced preproduction, production and post- production of film, video and
emerging technologies with specific emphasis on producing works of artistic
and social consequence, with critiques and evaluations by faculty and visiting
professionals. Intensive field and laboratory work leading towards individual
or collaborative final project for exhibition. Note: First semester of a two-semester
sequence (FMA 0382-0383).
[Prerequisite: FMA 0382 Senior Project I]
This course is a continuation of FMA 0382. Note: Second semester of a two-semester
sequence (0382-0383).
[Prerequisite: Completion of the basic FMA core and permission
of the instructor]
An exploratory seminar with varying special topics, which might include "Gender," "Theories
of Subjectivity," and "Marginalization and Representation." Note:
Course may be repeated. Mode: Lectures, screenings, discussion, and written
assignments.
[Prerequisite: Application to Los
Angeles Internship Program]
A writing intensive seminar with varying special topics which might include East European Cinema, The Auteur Theory Re-examined, and Ideology and Hollywood Cinema of the `50s.
[Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor]
A workshop in film, video, audio, or emerging new technologies. The course
will address a particular production issue (an aspect of technology or an aesthetic
approach) each time it is offered, such as special effects, field recording,
audio experimentation, computer imagery, video verite, and film/video diary.
[Prerequisites: Formal acceptance of project in writing by faculty
sponsor and approval of FMA Department Chair.]
Individual projects proposed by advanced students. Candidates submit a detailed
project plan on prescribed form before registration.
Students selected on the basis of special qualifications are assigned as interns on an unpaid basis with organizations professionally engaged in broadcasting and film. Enrollment subject to availability of openings.
[Prerequisites: Open to departmental honors students only; permission
of departmental honors director]
Designed to orient students to the field of Film and Media Arts through assigned
readings. Oral and written reports presented in seminars.
[Prerequisites: Open to departmental honors students only; permission
of departmental honors director]
Honors students in consultation with an assigned advisor will design and complete
individual research studies or experimental projects.