Attention

Throughout the twentieth century, cinema has been theorized as a machine that molds the senses and produces new forms of attention. This course delves into debates about the impact of audio-visual media on a history of attention, from the rise of reproductive technologies (bringing concerns about the replacement of contemplation by distraction) to the contemporary landscape (where reactions to a perceived crisis of attention are front and center). Readings will draw from not just film studies, but also art history, music, and literature. Assignments will emphasize presentations that expand the range of case studies and exercise in reflecting on the conditions of the attention we pay as scholars and critics. Permission of instructor required.