Film critic André Bazin's famous question, "What is cinema?," gained new relevance with the advent of digital media. This course introduces classical film theory (theories of modernity and perception, montage, realism), contemporary film theory (theories of film language, ideology, the cinematic apparatus, and spectatorship), approaches that cut across media (authorship, genre, stardom, semiotics, narratology, feminism, production and reception studies, cognitivism), and theorizations of new media. Through readings and weekly screenings, we explore the significance of film and other media in shaping and expressing our identities and cultural experiences. Strongly recommended for FMST majors and minors.