In honor of the Rice University Centennial Celebration, the Kino-Eye Center supported two courses in Film and Visual Arts at Rice University during the Spring 2012 semester. As a Rice alum (2002), it was my privilege and honor to develop and teach Auteur Film Theory (FILM 285/485, HART 283/481) and Advanced Cinematography and Sound (FILM 480). Both courses received outstanding reviews from students, and I had the pleasure of sharing the syllabus with Mr. Rob Zombie himself before his Oct. concert in Houston, TX!
Auteur Film Theory is the first university course to comparatively explore the works of filmmakers Werner Herzog, Rob Zombie, and Dario Argento, in relation to an overarching theme of “ecstatic truth” that is traditioned by classical theories of the sublime in art.
What students have are saying…
Rice University – Senior – HART 481 Auteur Film
“I also want to thank you for the course. I found the material very interesting; especially the discussions of the horror genre since I have always had trouble explaining to individuals that I am not a sadistic voyeur but am simply drawn to it (most likely for the “visceral” nature and the artful manifestation of discourse). Rice would definitely benefit from having more faculty members like yourself.”
Rice University – Senior – HART 481 Auteur Film
“Also, your class has been one of my favorites during my time at Rice. I don’t think I would have ever thought of Rob Zombie’s films the same way without your insight. Thanks for being awesome.”
Rice University – Junior – FILM 485 Auteur Film
“…thank you for a great semester! I really enjoyed your class, and I learned so much. I hope to take another class with you in the future.
Course Synopsis:
The course will explore the tradition of auteur filmmaking, with an emphasis on how this particular artistic mode situates the filmmaker, the work, and the audience. The auteur filmmaker exhibits an unparalleled degree of control over the creative process, such that the body of work is uniquely identifiable to the auteur through notable conventions of aesthetics, style, theme, content, atmosphere, etc. In this course, we will consider the auteur tradition through case studies of three directors: Werner Herzog, Dario Argento, and Rob Zombie. These filmmakers are distinct, in that they work both within and outside of the bounds of the Hollywood system, and thereby raise a counter-point to the argument that a true auteur can no longer exist within the collaborative, heterarchical, and institutionally homogenized contemporary Hollywood system.
As a musician and animator, Rob Zombie brings a unique sensibility to the post-modern horror film genre. Dario Argento’s revolutionary soundscapes and innovative cinematography create a uniquely powerful and metaphoric cinematic experience that transcends the Italian “giallo” tradition. Prolific filmmaker Werner Herzog compares the power of cinema to poetry, explaining: “When you read a great poem, you instantly would know in your heart, in your guts, that there is a deep inherent truth, an ecstatic truth… It has to do with our collective desires, our collective dreams…” Taking Herzog’s concept of “ecstatic truth” as a central conceit, we will consider a variety of films by Herzog, Argento, and Zombie.
