London in the Movies

This course examines the central place of the city in the history of cinema, with a specific focus on London. Within this framework, we will investigate the different dimensions of film form and the importance of historical and cultural contexts with special emphasis on themes of ideology, gender, race, and sexuality. Films to be discussed include Alfred Hitchock's 39 Steps (1935), Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow Up (1967), and Stephen Frears's My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) among others. Ideally, we will also attend some screenings at London theaters such as the British Film Institute.