Metacinema From 1960S to the Present

Metacinematic gestures have been present since the
earliest years of film. Like metafiction in
literature, metacinema refers to films that make
the audience aware of the filmmaking or viewing
processes. Such films interrogate the medium and
its history by rendering visible production
practices, referencing the history and culture of
cinema, or breaking conventions that encourage us
to uncritically accept a film's diegetic world.
Metacinema can be found in comedy, horror,
musicals, socio-political films, experimental
films, and documentary. First-person diary films
are often inherently metacinematic as are essay
films and video essays.

This seminar explores metacinema in various
guises, genres, and geo-political contexts - from
fiction and documentary features to experimental
films, from feminist and Brechtian counter-cinemas
to Iranian international festival favorites. We
focus on films that have critical and political
aims and that problematize or illuminate the
paradoxes of cinematic representation. Works by
Robert Frank, William Greaves, Jon Jost, Laura
Mulvey and Peter Wollen, Abbas Kiarostami, Kitty
Green, Joanna Hogg will be included as well as a
number of experimental shorts. The class assumes
some knowledge of film theory; readings will be
provided for those who need them. Weekly reading,
short papers and monthly presentations are
required, but final projects can be in writing,
film, performance or digital media.