Documentary Filmmaking: MENA

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course incorporates a study of documentary films from across the Middle East and North Africa (SWANA), alongside and inspiring a beginning practice of documentary filmmaking. Film selections co-curated by instructor and students will include documentary and hybrid genres, historical and contemporary, to highlight diverse approaches to aesthetics, ethics and strategies of representation. Themes may range from human rights, culture and politics, environmental and social justice, gender and sexuality. Class meetings will include film screenings, student-facilitated discussions, peer review and conceptual exercises. Students will create short documentary projects individually or in small groups. Be prepared for substantial asynchronous work outside class hours.