Global Cinema: Action Films introduces students to the major action subgenres—from spy thrillers and buddy films to sci-fi blockbusters and superhero spectaculars—while examining its aesthetic devices, history, cultural impact, and global evolution. The course traces the emergence of action cinema through its precursors, such as film noir and westerns, to establish the genre's codes, conventions, and preoccupations. It further situates action film as a global practice by analyzing Hollywood productions alongside Hong Kong wuxia, Bollywood masala films, Japanese samurai cinema, and Korean thrillers, revealing their influence on the idiom, tempo, and aesthetic strategies of the contemporary action film.
- Identify key historical periods and developments in action cinema from the silent era to our present
- Understand the deployment of formal techniques: editing, choreography, sound etc., in action sequences
- Compare action cinema traditions across different national contexts
- Think and write critically about cinema and popular culture
Readings will be made available on the course Canvas. Films will be available through the GT library/Swank and other streaming services
Grading System: A (90 - 100), B (80 - 89), C (70 - 79), D (60-69), F (below 60)
Attendance and Participation: 10%
Weekly Film Posts: 20%
Sequence Analysis: 20%
Adaptation Pitch: 20%
Final Essay/Project: 30%
[More details and rubric for each assignment will be available on Canvas]
Attendance means being present in class, having watched the assigned film, and being ready to participate in discussions. You will earn a perfect participation score by demonstrating high-level preparedness and actively contributing to discussions through thoughtful engagement. Participation also means staying focused on discussion rather than checking texts/social media or doing homework for other classes. Students are expected to attend all classes. Punctual attendance, advance preparation, and participation are required.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts in English or other languages, or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence