Lesson 1 Reading Assignment
Film as an Art

Reading

How to Read a Film

Chapter 1, Film as an Art

Time Estimate

1 1/2 hours

Discussion

Movies summarize all the other, older arts. They have elements of painting, photography, narrative, theatre, music—even architecture. This conglomeration of arts leads us to the question: What makes a human activity an artform? Is it enough simply to declare yourself an artist? Is whatever work you do then considered art?

On the class message board, please post your responses to the following questions.

  1. Is cooking an art?
  2. Who is a greater artist: Mikhail Baryshnikov or Michael Jordan?
  3. Of all the other arts, which is most important to you, personally, as an element of film?