TOPICS: CINEMA OF THE SEA in Spring 2026 (FM3910A)

This course explores the powerful role oceans have played in cinema, tracing the evolution of how the sea has been represented from early filmmaking, experimental films, documentaries, to contemporary Hollywood blockbusters. We will examine the ocean as both a setting and a symbol, analyzing its portrayal across genres, cultures, and cinematic movements. The course will examine the ocean as a space of adventure, terror, mythology, wonder, environmental crisis, and migration. From early maritime adventures, ethnographies, and mythological depictions to modern-day climate change documentaries and ocean-based thrillers, students will engage with a wide variety of films that reflect changing societal relationships with the sea.