This course explores the work of Woody Allen, a major figure in American humor and among our most influential, controversial, and prolific filmmakers. A pioneer of the American personal film, Allen makes movies steeped in film history, technically masterful, intellectually ambitious and, despite all this, popular. Exploring European art cinema, satirizing American culture, transforming a genre, or criticizing himself, Allen invariably smartens whatever genre he embraces. He has created great roles for women, reinvented romantic comedy and wised up the crime story. What he has done with the musical we’ll talk about some other time. Entwining the everyday with the philosophical, Allen's films explore the meaning of life, love, and death, the value of art, the silence of God. Our course will likely view twelve of his films, including Take the Money and Run, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Match Point, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Coursework includes film screenings, readings, short weekly writings, and a collaborative screenwriting and filmmaking project.