BART 97A81 - Fritz Lang in USA (1936 -1956): Beyond a reasonable Doubt

A practice of re-reading (Barthes, Frye) of Fritz Lang's films through images and sounds. Through practical activities relatively to cinematographic techniques and collective discussions on films of Fritz Lang produced in USA (1936 - 1956), as well as theoretical models (critic, thematic, epistemological, philosophical and aesthetic), the workshop will attempt to build connections between artistic production and reflections about representations and relations in both modern and contemporary societies on different levels: individuals, social groups, medias, institutions, laws, states, economy, but also things — object and subject —, animals, plants, land-soundscapes; consciousness and unconsciousness; lights and shadows: images and sounds. Students will be invited to make — collectively or individually — their own short film, according to topics treated during the classes. The resulting works will be presented in a screening at the end of the workshop, assisted by a professional in the field of cinema or contemporary art. At the end of the course, the student is expected to : 1°) have watched and listened to a certain number of films directed by Fritz Lang, and thereby, to live the difficulty itself of watching and listening. 2°) make a film. 3°) try to re-read, after that, different representations that constitute contemporary societies.

Yohei YAMAKADO

Atelier

English

Ressources pédagogiques complémentaires: Fritz Lang's filmography in USA: 1936: Fury 1937: You Only Live Once 1938: You and Me 1940: The Return of Frank James 1941: Western Union 1941: Man Hunt 1943: Hangmen Also Die! 1944: Ministry of Fear 1944: Woman in the Window 1945: Scarlet Street 1946: Cloak and Dagger 1948: Secret Beyond the Door 1949: House by the River 1950: American Guerrilla in the Philippines 1951: Rancho Notorious 1952: Clash By Night 1953: The Blue Gardenia 1953: The Big Heat 1954: Human Desire 1955: Moonfleet 1956: While The City Sleeps 1956: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Other resources: Cinema, of our time: Filmmakers of our time : The dinosaur and the baby: An eight-part dialogue between Fritz Lang and Jean-Luc Godard Histoire(s) du cinéma by Jean-Luc Godard Scénario du film Passion by Jean-Luc-Godard Exploration du fonds Fritz Lang de la Cinémathèque française by Bernard Eisenschitz

No specific prerequisites. Students will be invited to engage in a practical and theoretical level in production of a film and, therefore, will use video and audio editing software, which they will be invited to become familiar with.

Spring 2024-2025

Students will be evaluated on presentation of their film, as well as on their practical and theoretical commitment in research and production phases. Collective activities in class will also be considered: discussing, exchanging, as well as weekly assignments, such as watching and listening to films or other resources (radio recordings, audiovisual archives), reading and writing texts. Film project: 40% Preparation and presentation of film project: 25% Practical activities / weekly assignments: 25% Participation in class / collective discussions : 10% Politique inhérente aux retards en cours / Late arrival policy Not accepted. Politique inhérente aux retards de rendu des travaux / Late work policy Not accepted.