Film and Globalization: Journeys through our Interconnected World

Depending on whom you ask, globalization can be defined in financial, commercial, economic, technological, informational, political, ethical, or cultural terms. Understanding the various dimensions of globalization is the first step towards tackling the complex problems of the contemporary world. In this course, we will explore the cultural and ethical dimensions of globalization through the entry point of the inherently globalized medium of film. We will assess both what films reveal about the processes and impacts of globalization and how globalization affects the films that are made and that we see.  We will undertake case studies of how film production and distribution is part of a globalized network that stretches – from our local vantage point – from the production of globally distributed films in Cincinnati to Bollywood and Nollywood, the Cannes Film Festival, and the global offices of platforms/creators such as Netflix. We also discuss and critique a selection of films from around the world that represent key issues such as globalization and health, narratives and conceptions of borders, migration and immigration, refugee crises, economic transformation, culture shock, social justice, the impact on Web 2.0 technologies on individual and community connectivity and identity, and the transformation of place. 

 Globalization processes –borders, migration, supply chains, cultural mixing, mobility, and wealth inequality–lie at the very heart of many of the large-scale challenges of contemporary society. From climate change, the politics of borders, war and diplomacy, identity politics and LGBTQ rights, globalization processes allow for a systematic analysis of many contemporary issues. Students that enter the workforce today are expected to respond to several of these challenges but often do not understand them from a fundamental, system-level perspective. Often, globalization is thought of as planetary, abstract, and too broad to apprehend. In this course, students will be given a sneak peek into the workings of globalization through a fundamentally globalized medium: film. Films reflect globalization, but they are also products of globalization. This course allows students to work through the theoretical abstractions of globalization through the grammar of film. At the same time, it demonstrates how the mechanics of film production and distribution depend on a network of globalized connections. Students will have the opportunity to interact with film professionals from across the globe and reflect on how globalization affects culture in various national contexts.