The purpose of this course is to expose students to the deeper and richer aspects of how film, as a literary medium, uses literary elements to create a dialogue between filmmakers and audiences on the human condition. Students will study how film and filmmakers develop complex characters, reveal societal conflict, and develop plots in a way that delivers messages about the human experience on universal levels. Students will analyze how filmmakers employ traditional literary devices, such as symbolism, dialogue, and imagery to create the world on screen. While students will look at fiction and non-fiction source materials and evaluate how filmmakers bring these texts to screen, they will also evaluate how the film is its own legitimate literary genre and will look at the devices that only exist in films, such as music and sound effects, costuming, editing techniques, and set designs. Finally, students will also explore careers related to filmmaking through academic research, guest speakers, and other real-world opportunities.