Challenging Assumptions at AUP's First Student Cinémathèque
The AUP film department broke new ground last week by launching the very first Student Cinémathèque. Students from the Western Seminar presented Sergio Leone's 1968 classic, “Once Upon a Time in the West”, challenging the audience with questions to keep in mind as they watch regarding the politics of the film and the Western genre.
Image credit: Julie Robelot
The Western Seminar students began the evening by addressing misconceptions about the Western genre, for example, whether or not they are sexist or boring. The students then challenged the audience with questions such as:
How can we discover and unpack certain cultural assumptions that have been become subconsciously integrated through the Western?
What can we learn about how we tell stories and what we leave out?
How does the Western create and enforce gender presumption?
Image credit: Paramount Pictures
For many of the audience members it was their first time viewing Sergio Leone’s film. “Once Upon a Time in the West” has breathtaking cinematography, expressive framing and creative sound design (not to mention a thrilling narrative). Viewing the film on a big screen was a much richer experience, then say viewing it on your laptop. Thinking about these questions while viewing made me pay attention to aspects of the film that I may not have noticed on my own and challenged my assumptions about Western's impact on society.
Overall, it was fun way to spend the evening, see a great film and enjoy conversation with fellow students around drinks, gummy candy and an endless supply of popcorn. The AUP Film Department plans to continue the Student Cinémathèque in future semesters to present a variety of genres and topics, so be sure to check it out!
