CDM 341 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Cinema and Digital Media

Course Name

Animals and Cinema

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
CDM 341	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	4

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Elective
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	Discussion Q&A Lecture / Presentation
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	-
Course Lecturer(s)	Öğr. Gör. Dr. Kadir Kayserilioğlu
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives	This course explores cinema’s centuries-old interest in animals. The course is structured around three key questions. First, how are animals used in cinema in ethical and political terms? Second, how are animals represented in cinema under an anthropocentric gaze? Third, are there alternative perspectives and narrative forms that intersect animals with cinema?
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; Explain the history of cinema and how it intersects with animals Explain how animals are depicted in cinema in both metaphorical and anthropomorphic terms Discuss the historical factors influencing how animals are portrayed and featured in cinema Compare how animals are depicted in different film genres such as documentary, horror, and animation Classify how animals are represented in cinema and how this affects social norms.
Course Description	In this course, cinema’s depictions of animals are examined on theoretical and historical levels. The focus is on selected films that address representations of how humans see animals. Students are expected to attend classes and watch the films. Students are responsible for participating in post-screening discussions and for completing the assigned coursework.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses	X
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction to the course
2	What is an animal? Why do we look at animals?	Todd Solondz – Wiener-Dog Robert Bresson – Au Hasard Balthazar
3	Animal Labor in Art and Cinema
4	Mythology and Animals: Monsters, Hybrids, Wild Creatures	Colin Trevorrow - Jurassic World / Richard Kearney – Strangers, Gods and Monsters
5	Anthropomorphism and Cinema: The Animal as Seen by Humans	Martin Rosen - Watership Down
6	Oedipalized Animals	Valdimar Jóhannsson – Lamb
7	When Animals Rise Up: Insect Invasions, Viruses, Rebellious Apes	Kornél Mundruczó – White God / Alfred Hitchcock – Birds / Franklin J. Schaffner – Planet of the Apes / The Last of Us Part I&II
8	Documented Animals: Documentary Cinema and Animals	Noel Marshall – Roar / Andrea Arnold – Cow / Victor Kossakovsky - Gunda
9	Research Assignment & Presentation I
10	Posthumanism and Companion Species	Bong Joon Ho – Okja / Michael Sarnoski - Pig
11	Becoming-Animal and Abjection Theory	Janis Rafailidou – Kala Azar
12	Eco-Cinema	Werner Herzog - Aguirre, the Wrath of God / Bela Tarr – The Turin Horse
13	Digital Species: Artificial animals, bots, virtual pets	Carlo Galbiati – Should Virtual Petz Die?
14	Research Assignment & Presentation II
15	Course review
16	Course review

Course Notes/Textbooks

.

Suggested Readings/Materials

Derek Ryan – Animal Theory: A Critical Introduction
Oxana Timofeeva – The History of Animals: A Philosophy
John Berger – Why Look at Animals?
Sezai Ozan Zeybek - Türkiye’nin Yakın Tarihinde Hayvanlar
Çağrı Yılmaz – Ekosinema: Çevreci Film Eleştrisine Giriş
Donna Harawy – A Cyborg Manifesto
Deleuze & Guattari – Anti-Oedipus
Richard Kearney – Strangers, Gods and Monsters
Marvin Harris – Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	20
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments	1	80
Presentation / Jury	1
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	100
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	14	3	42
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments	2	8	16
Presentation / Jury	1	14	14
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms			0
Final Exam			0
		Total	120

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to have fundamental knowledge about narrative forms in cinema, digital and interactive media, and the foundational concepts relevant to these forms.	-	X	-	-	-
2	To be able to create narratives based on creative and critical thinking skills, by using the forms and tools of expression specific to cinema and digital media arts.	-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to use the technical equipment and software required for becoming a specialist/expert in cinema and digital media.	-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to perform skills such as scriptwriting, production planning, use of the camera, sound recording, lighting and editing, at the basic level necessary for pre-production, production and post-production phases of an audio-visual work; and to perform at least one of them at an advanced level.	-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to discuss how meaning is made in cinema and digital media; how economy, politics and culture affect regimes of representation; and how processes of production, consumption, distribution and meaning-making shape narratives.	-	-	-	X	-
6	To be able to perform the special technical and aesthetic skills at the basic level necessary to create digital media narratives in the fields of interactive film, video installation, experimental cinema and virtual reality.	-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to critically analyze a film or digital media artwork from technical, intellectual and artistic perspectives.	-	X	-	-	-
8	To be able to participate in the production of a film or digital media artwork as a member or leader of a team, following the principles of work safety and norms of ethical behavior.	-	-	-	-	-
9	To be able to stay informed about global scientific, social, economic, cultural, political, institutional and industrial developments.	-	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to develop solutions to legal, scientific and professional problems surrounding the field of cinema and digital media.	-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to use a foreign language to communicate with colleagues and collect data in the field of cinema and digital media. ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to use a second foreign language at the medium level.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to connect the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to the field of expertise.	-	X	-	-	-