HON 371 - Tales of a Creative Mind: Fellini, the Dream-Director

Prerequisite, acceptance to the University Honors Program. Federico Fellini, Italy’s greatest film director, was voted in 1992 as the most important film director in the history of the cinema by 100 directors and people in the industry (edging out Orson Welles); and, in a parallel vote on the best films during the same year, two of Fellini’s-La strada and 8½-were selected for a list of the best 10 films ever made. More recently, Martin Scorsese stated that Fellini is “a good place to start” in the attempt “to refine our notions of what cinema is and what it isn’t.” This course investigates the nature, development, and impact of Fellini’s artistic career, taken within its cultural and intellectual contexts. It will explore how a personal vision, even a poetic and intimate perspective, can become a groundbreaking career in the world of entertainment. Coursework entails the screening of Fellini’s oeuvre, collaborative and creative projects based on unrealized scripts, and the investigation of Fellini’s influence in global culture. Letter grade. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits