Contemporary International Cinema is designed as a basic introduction to world cinema, defined as the film output of other nations, regions and non-Hollywood cinema. Students will examine the major filmmakers, production and distribution practices of the global filmmaking community. Students will explore definitions of national and transnational cinema, issues of representation and post-colonialism, and concepts of authorship and genre from a global perspective. Students will gain a critical awareness of the ways in which cinema shapes our attitudes or perceptions of other cultures, and an appreciation of cinematic representations that originate from within other cultures. Through readings, discussion, screenings and research, students will gain a broader perspective of the current state of film as an art form, a globalized industry and cultural products.