Course taught by IDA's visiting artist, Chinaka Hodge. In this course, we will examine The Bay Area's radical influence on Modern American Cinema from the standpoint of both creator and critic. Students can expect to learn the fundamentals of traditional three act structure, gain a comprehensive knowledge of industry workings, and investigate a wide swath of genre and approach. Work from directors and composers from Northern California or with films set in the area will be the core of our syllabus, with special attention given to Ryan Coogler, Nijla Mumin, Boots Riley, Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, Joslyn Rose Lyons, Barry Jenkins and Ambrose Akinmusire. We will look at forms in feature film, musical variety, hour long and half hour TV, original soundtracks and scores. In person screenings and mock writers' rooms will serve as the lab for the course, and are mandatory*. All students will write either a screenplay or critical response paper as our final exam. Presented by IDA, the Institute for Diversity in the Arts. *Students with accessibility or sensory needs will be accommodated. This course counts towards a concentration in Identity, Diversity, and Aesthetics. Students can complete CSRE 15 units of Institute for Diversity in the Arts courses to fulfill this subplan.
4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Course taught by IDA's visiting artist, Chinaka Hodge. In this course, we will examine The Bay Area's radical influence on Modern American Cinema from the standpoint of both creator and critic. Students can expect to learn the fundamentals of traditional three act structure, gain a comprehensive knowledge of industry workings, and investigate a wide swath of genre and approach. Work from directors and composers from Northern California or with films set in the area will be the core of our syllabus, with special attention given to Ryan Coogler, Nijla Mumin, Boots Riley, Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, Joslyn Rose Lyons, Barry Jenkins and Ambrose Akinmusire. We will look at forms in feature film, musical variety, hour long and half hour TV, original soundtracks and scores. In person screenings and mock writers' rooms will serve as the lab for the course, and are mandatory*. All students will write either a screenplay or critical response paper as our final exam. Presented by IDA, the Institute for Diversity in the Arts. *Students with accessibility or sensory needs will be accommodated. This course counts towards a concentration in Identity, Diversity, and Aesthetics. Students can complete 15 units of Institute for Diversity in the Arts courses to fulfill this subplan.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.