Special Topics in Media Studies
COM FT 553
Topics vary per semester.
SPRG 2026 Schedule
| Section | Instructor | Location | Schedule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Grundmann | COM B05 | R 9:30 am-11:15 am | Topic: The Musical The prerequisite for COMFT 553 A1 is COMFT 250 Description: The class charts the history of the musical from its beginnings to the recent past and examines the musical in terms of genre theory, investigating how the genre’s inherently hybrid form has sprouted various permutations over its history. Drawing on regular feature presentations and numerous excerpts, the course gives students a historical overview mainly over US-made musicals. We also pay attention to how source materials have shaped various subgenres including the Broadway musical, the juke box musical, the dance film—and within these genres, we will trace a range of creative traditions, such as the influence of jazz and other African-American musical tropes, the creative stamp of certain auteurs of the genre (such as Bob Fosse) and of certain composers (such as Andrew Loyd Webber), as well as the significance of dance and choreography, which varies a great deal in the contemporary musical. Films include Gold Diggers of 1933, Show Boat, The Pirate, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Bandwagon, Silk Stockings, West Side Story (Original and remake), Cabaret, Dirty Dancing, Saturday Nigh Fever, Hairspray (Original and Remake), Chicago, Moulin Rouge (2000), and others. Students will also be able to inform the class of their favorite musical subgenre through in-class presentations. |
| A1 | Grundmann | COM B05 | M 6:30 pm-9:15 pm | Topic: The Musical The prerequisite for COMFT 553 A1 is COMFT 250 Description: The class charts the history of the musical from its beginnings to the recent past and examines the musical in terms of genre theory, investigating how the genre’s inherently hybrid form has sprouted various permutations over its history. Drawing on regular feature presentations and numerous excerpts, the course gives students a historical overview mainly over US-made musicals. We also pay attention to how source materials have shaped various subgenres including the Broadway musical, the juke box musical, the dance film—and within these genres, we will trace a range of creative traditions, such as the influence of jazz and other African-American musical tropes, the creative stamp of certain auteurs of the genre (such as Bob Fosse) and of certain composers (such as Andrew Loyd Webber), as well as the significance of dance and choreography, which varies a great deal in the contemporary musical. Films include Gold Diggers of 1933, Show Boat, The Pirate, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Bandwagon, Silk Stockings, West Side Story (Original and remake), Cabaret, Dirty Dancing, Saturday Nigh Fever, Hairspray (Original and Remake), Chicago, Moulin Rouge (2000), and others. Students will also be able to inform the class of their favorite musical subgenre through in-class presentations. |
SPRG 2026 Schedule
| Section | Instructor | Location | Schedule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Hall | COM B05 | MW 12:20 pm-2:05 pm | Topic: 1970s New York City Film: Alienation and Excess The prerequisite for COMFT 553 B1 is COMFT 250 Description: 1970s New York City gets a bad rap for its crime, corruption and decay. But the films of that era capture much more. A key part of the “New Hollywood” movement, the visionary films convey a kinetic city where the challenges of everyday life become larger-than-life dramas. Other NYC films of that era also show a place for new dreams and new personas. Featured films may include Midnight Cowboy, Shaft, Klute, The French Connection, Serpico, Taxi Driver, Girlfriends, Dog Day Afternoon, Saturday Night Fever, The Warriors and Manhattan, among others. |
Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.
