East-Central European Cinema - BMEGT43XZZZ

By the end of the course, it is expected that you will be able to: • Understand and discuss important films and movements since 1950 within their social-cultural contexts • Explain and discus specificities of socialism and post-socialism in the region with the help of cinematic examples • Read and understand academic essays about films

1. Solid knowledge of the theory and history of communication and media sciences.
2. Basic knowledge of social science methodologies
3. Solid knowledge of the most important social science conceptualizations needed to study the communication phenomena

1. Skills of making independent analysis, knowledge claims, explanations and drawing valid conclusions.
2. Research skills
3. Analytical skills

1. Awareness of the historical and social embeddedness of cultural processes and institutions
2. Awareness of the historical and social embeddedness of cultural processes and institutions
3. Presence from social science egocentrism in other disciplinary fields

1. Independence, constructivity, assertivity either in one’s own organization or interorganizational cooperations.
2. Adoption and enforcement of professional standards
3. Responsible, professionally based social presence

The course will be delivered in a lecture-based format, complemented by collective film analysis and class discussions. Each week, students are expected to watch one film and read one to two academic articles or book chapters related to the weekly topic. Students should prepare for sessions by completing the assigned readings and watching the assigned films in advance.

• Arens, Katherine.
• Hames, Peter (ed.) The Cinema of Central Europe. Wallflower Press, 2004.
• Imre, Anikó. (ed.) A companion to Eastern European cinemas (2012): 1-21.
• Iordanova, Dina. Cinema of the other Europe: the industry and artistry of East Central European film. Wallflower Press, 2003.
• Kalmár, György. Formations of masculinity in post-communist Hungarian cinema: labyrinthian men. Springer, 2017.
• Kovács, András Bálint. Screening modernism: European art cinema, 1950-1980. University of Chicago Press, 2007.
• Mazierska, Ewa.
• Mazierska, Ewa. Polish Postcommunist Cinema: From Pavement Level. Peter Lang, 2007.
• Ostrowska, Elżbieta, and Joanna Rydzewska.
• Ostrowska, Elzbieta.
• Parvulescu, Constantin. Orphans of the East: Postwar Eastern European Cinema and the Revolutionary Subject. Indiana University Press, 2015.
• Strausz, László. Hesitant histories on the Romanian screen. Springer, 2017.

Participation is mandatory, no more than 3 missed classes.

• classwork: 10
• homework: 30
• mid-term exam: 20
• final paper: 40
• sum: 100

Participation

Retake and make-up test options are defined by the valid regulations of the University’s Code on Education and Examination.

Consulted with the Faculty Student Representative Committee, approved by the Vice Dean for Education, valid from: 02.06.2024.

The course will explore major themes, trends and auteurs in Central and Eastern European cinemas (namely Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian and Romanian screen cultures) during and after socialism. We will focus on the changes in the region’s screen culture in connection with the social and political changes: the course will introduce East-Central European socialism and socialism via screen culture – and give an overview of the region’s film history with the help and discussion of (post)socialist experiences.