Animation, Design and Cultural Identity

This is a class where theory meets practice.
Animators have to design and create their
characters from scratch, and whatever designs they
come up with convey social and cultural meaning,
whether consciously or not.
This class aims to raise awareness of these
meanings through screenings, readings and
discussion.
A range of animation - both historical and
contemporary - will be screened, plus related
visual material from the history of art and
popular culture. Students will be required to read
basic texts, plus further reading related to their
chosen area of research. The aim is to give
students a working knowledge of cultural theory
related to the area of diversity and
representation. Students will be expected to
participate in critique and discussion
in class and in written work, as well as create
original designs for characters that reflect their
research.
Films that will be examined include He Named Me
Malala, Persepolis, The Breadwinner, Coco, and
more.

Students should expect to spend up to $40 on
additional course supplies.