Denah A. Johnston
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COLLEGE-LEVEL TEACHING

City College of San Francisco
Cinema Department

Spring 2016
Cine 20B Film History
Cine 21 Introduction to Film Studies
Cine 23A Films of Alfred Hitchcock
​Cine 40 Film Festival

Fall 2015

Cine 20A Film History: Evolution of Film Expression
Cine 21 Introduction to Film Studies
Cine 23A Films of Alfred Hitchcock
Cine 23B Focus on Film Noir

California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California
Visual Studies and Film Departments


Film Genres & Practices (FILMS 360)
Spring 2015
This course provides an introduction to a wide range of cinematic styles, genres, and practices. Each session will provide a historical survey of a particular mode of film practice, tracing the development of indie cinema, experimental film and video, documentary styles, types of art house cinema, and tendencies within mainstream Hollywood narratives. One guiding question throughout the semester will be how contemporary trends can be traced back to their earlier historical roots in global film culture. In addition to our exploration of genres and types of films, we will also discuss both changing and enduring viewing practices, as well as modes of distribution and exhibition. Students will be required to develop and present research or creative projects in which they delve deeper into a topic introduced in our class sessions.


Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California
Liberal Arts and Motion Pictures & Television Departments       
                    


Genres in Film (LA 182)
Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Summer 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2015
This course introduces students to a variety of film genres, such as drama, comedy, western, science fiction, mystery/suspense, musical and film noir implementing concepts such as reflectionism, social functions of genre, the four cycles of genre and rules and regulations set by the Production Code and later the MPAA. I aim to broaden their understanding of basic elements of each genre beginning with film history and moving into contemporary examples of hybrid-genres that rely on developed familiarity with tropes and elements to fully enjoy contemporary film. Through a number of writing assignments, students explore the similarities and differences between genres such as Melodrama/Horror, Western/Science Fiction.

History of Film 2: Post-War Cinema (1941-1974) (LA 282/MPT 256)
Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Summer 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Summer 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, 
Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014,
Fall 2014, Spring 2015

This course explores the major movements in the modern world of cinema from World War II to Vietnam including Neo-realism, the French New Wave, Classical Hollywood, Cinema Vérité and New Hollywood Cinema. We examine the work of John Huston, Vittorio de Sica, Billy Wilder, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut, Stanley Kubrick and other directors.

History of Film 3: Contemporary Cinema (1975-Present) (LA 382)
Summer 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012
This course explores the major movements in contemporary cinema and the birth of the video/digital revolution from 1975 to the present including: the Hollywood Blockbuster, Sundance Film Festival, Dogme 95, The Political Documentary, and Third World New Wave. We examine the work of Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Jane Campion, David Lynch, The Coen Brothers, Lars von Trier, Wong Kar Wai.

Exploring Science Fiction Cinema (LA 386)
Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014
This course investigates the history of science fiction cinema beginning with George Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis in the early 20th century through the Golden Era of the 1950s, counter-culture and international efforts in the 1960s, revisionist approaches of the 1970s, big budget 1980s, cyberpunk influenced 1990s and ending with today’s genre-bending special-effects-laden epics. In class we perform close review of scenes and films with detailed discussions about narrative structure and visual style, making students aware of how the use of filmic elements, such as cinematography, mise-en-scène, and editing contribute to the impact of the cinematic experience within the genre. 

analog before digital: punk/no wave film & music (LA 408)
Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015
This course investigates the film, music and art world cross-over activities that were unique to New York, London, Los Angeles and San Francisco from 1975-1989, as well as influences from the 1950s and 1960s. We screen and discuss the historical background of each film through the filters of the late 1970s-mid 1980s art world, club scene and music with selected readings. A number of short critical writing assignments are paired with an short form essay midterm and a project based final that is reviewed and critiqued by the class.


Art and Ideology of the 20th Century (GLA 602) Graduate
Summer 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2015
After a brief review of the art of the 19th century and the avant-garde, this course focuses on the artistic movements, styles and world of ideas of the 20th century. Various philosophies, social movements and artists will be considered while exploring what constitutes modernism, art and culture.


Motion Picture Theory and Style (GLA 605/MPT 602) Graduate
Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015
This graduate course addresses the formation and evolution of motion picture production and style in the areas of camera, lighting, editing, mise-en-scène, sound, story and performance. The history of cinema is examined with an emphasis on aesthetic developments and the forces behind technical, theoretical and formal innovations that influence contemporary works.


Crossing Borders: Art & Culture in Global Society (GS 606) Graduate
Summer 2009, Summer 2011, Summer 2012
This graduate course explores the historical relationships between the dominant, Euro-American culture and other cultures.  Students consider concepts including post-colonialism, transnationalism and globalism, and examine how these factors have shaped the production, circulation and consumption of art. Through presentation of art, film and music the class surveys trans-national influences via museum exhibits to question modes of presentation of European, Asian and non-Western art and artifacts.

European Graduate School
Media & Communication
Saas-Fee, Switzerland


Experimental Cinema, Teaching Assistant to Barbara Hammer 
(MCF42)
Summer 2007
Support for seminar on Experimental Cinema, Personal Documentary and the Essay Film. I presented screenings and led class discussion about Marlon Riggs’ Tongues Untied (1989) and the rise of LGBT, personal/documentary film and New Queer Cinema.

San Francisco Art Institute
Film Department
San Francisco, California


Estranged Cinema: How to Make Film(s) (on) Your Own
Fall 2004
A 15-week beginning film production class offered through Adult Continuing Education introducing students excited and passionate about film as a form of expression to the mechanics and how-to of small scale, independent/DIY production, providing them with a background and structure through experimental, narrative and documentary examples from film history. Projects include the production of hand-made film, a haiku super-8 film, graphic editing exercises and in-class demonstrations of hand-processing of super-8 b&w film.

Introduction to Film, Teaching Assistant to Jay Rosenblatt (FM101)
Spring 2004
This course is a practical hands-on introduction to filmmaking. Its primary aim is for students to come away with a working knowledge of issues pertaining to filmmaking and moving image language.  Emphasis is placed on visual/temporal developments, working with technology and developing an understanding of the basics of film language and grammar. Striving to stretch and expand beyond the ways in which film has traditionally been used in the industry, this class explores various definitions of the medium as artists use it. Assisting in course layout, content and structure, I provided daily technical support and trouble-shooting.  I also lectured and provided demonstration and instruction in darkroom safety, hand-processing and hand-made film practices.

Introduction to Film Editing, Teaching Assistant to Jay Rosenblatt (FM204)
Fall 2003
This course introduces students to practical skills and conceptual issues connected with the history, techniques and effects of editing, utilizing image, sound and music. Assisting in course layout, content and structure, I lectured on a number of examples of diverse editing approaches for documentary, experimental and narrative films.     
© Denah A. Johnston 2013-2020