Topics in Cross Cultural Studies — Documentary in Practice
Course Number: 82-315
This mini-course introduces students to the full documentary filmmaking process, from the first idea through filming and post-production, using a hands-on, experiential learning model. Students will immediately put theory into practice by creating a short documentary (maximum 2 minutes) focused on the self and the city — exploring personal perspective in relation to urban space, memory, identity and everyday life.
The course combines practical workshops, critical discussion and guided viewing. Alongside learning core documentary tools — research, ethics, interviewing, visual storytelling, sound and editing — students will watch and analyze documentary films from the Arab world, situating personal storytelling within broader social and political contexts. Through this dual approach, students gain technical skills while expanding their understanding of cinema as a medium for civic engagement and social reflection.
Degree: Undergraduate
Concentration: Arabic Studies
Semester(s): Mini 4
Units: 6