FILM 213 - Conspiracy Films and Series

1 unit(s)

How can film and television visualize a system that defies comprehension? How do such media articulate the flows of power that shape our world? Conspiracy narratives have been a hallmark of popular cinematic crime genres since the early 20th century, yet they proliferate far beyond expected generic boundaries to emerge in films about investigative journalism and animated series about urban park management alike. This course traces the development of conspiracy narratives from their emergence in early genre cinema through key inflection points in films of the 1970s (Parallax View) and 1990s (LA Confidential), as well as contemporary television series (Central Park, Chernobyl). We place these examples in conversation with key theories of conspiracy as a mechanism for making sense of global capital and its infrastructures like Fredric Jameson’s and Brian Larkin’s. Assignments include a short paper, a screening journal, discussion leadership, and an annotated bibliography.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 209.

Two 75-minute periods plus outside screenings.

Not offered in 2023/24.

Course Format: CLS