Cinema of Oppression
Lukasz Sicinski
Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
This course discusses cinematic representations of oppression, including depictions of systemic violence used by totalitarian regimes, unjust power relations of capitalist society, the destructive influence of patriarchal norms, and toxic family relations. We will explore specific scenarios of oppression presented in Polish films made between the 1970s and the present day, focusing on how they problematize clear-cut moral distinctions and resist one-dimensional interpretations. Paying attention to the contexts in which these films were created and to which they refer, we will also use the stories they present to discuss issues concerning agency, compliance, transgression, and human dignity.
Knowledge of Polish language and culture is not required to succeed in this course.
Catalog Information: HON-H 303 INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLOQUIA