film/theory: A Practice-Based Film Class

Film/Theory

An Experimental Cinema Lecture & Study Series

Sundays, 6pm - 8:30pm
3/1 • 3/8 • 3/15 • 3/22

Film/Theory is a discussion- and practice-based class exploring what makes an 'experimental film', and how experimental cinema functions as a way of thinking, seeing, and asking questions, rather than telling stories.

Through shared readings, screenings, and conversation, this class introduces critical theory through the lens of film. Blending philosophy, art history, science, and alternative filmmaking practices, participants will engage with foundational texts and films that challenge narrative cinema, authorship, realism, spectatorship, and the mechanics of vision itself.

Rather than focusing on polished outcomes, this class emphasizes inquiry, experimentation, and accessibility, creating a supportive environment for participants to explore film as a medium of investigation.

What We’ll Explore:

• What defines 'experimental' cinema
• Film as inquiry, not explanation
• Seeing vs. viewing vs. looking
• Memory, movement, time, and perception
• The relationship between image, body, and meaning
• Accessible methods for experimental filmmaking
• Open feedback, discussion, and shared works-in-progress

Readings & Texts (Selections):

Works by Henri Bergson, Gilles Deleuze, Roland Barthes, Laura Mulvey, Werner Herzog, Eadweard Muybridge, Bruce Lee, John Alec Baker, and others. Utilizing philosophy and film theory to movement studies and creative journals creates a broader understanding of the subject.

Screenings & Film Excerpts (Selections):

Films and archival materials by Abbas Kiarostami, Jim Jarmusch, Werner Herzog, Chantal Akerman-adjacent practices, Eadweard Muybridge, Yasujiro Ozu, Michel Brault, Michael Snow, Lars von Trier, David Lynch, Patricio Guzmán, and more, not just leaning on the experimental, but rather also documentary, essay film, and expanded cinema.

Weekly Structure:

March 1st, Week 1: The Study of the Eye
Art, philosophy, science, and the mechanics of seeing

March 8th, Week 2: Camera Lucida
Viewing, seeing, and looking

March 15th, Week 3: Camera Obscura
Creating, finding, and capturing

March 22nd, Week 4: Showing, Sharing, Translating
Presentation, feedback, and collective reflection

Who This Is For:

• Artists, filmmakers, and writers
• People curious about experimental cinema
• Those without formal film education
• Anyone interested in film as a way of thinking

Includes:

• 4 classes
• Writing materials
• Microphones
• Tripods
• Access to tools and props
• All readings and viewings
• Coffee & tea

No prior filmmaking experience required. All levels welcome.