Film as Visual and Literary Mythmaking
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this humanities course pairing films with literary texts that draw on classic Western myths, examining how each medium builds meaning through technique. Students study works of philosophy of film alongside mythic narratives, considering how visual storytelling and literary craft shape creative value. The course includes a syllabus, readings, film screenings, and assignments developed for MIT undergraduates, with lecture notes and discussion materials available for free download. Materials are provided under an open license (CC BY-NC-SA), and there is no certificate offered, consistent with MIT OCW's self-paced, non-credentialed format. The emphasis throughout stays on close analysis of technique and myth-making rather than film history or production, making it a good fit for anyone interested in how ancient stories get reworked into modern cinematic and literary form.