Today, our most popular blockbusters are 3D effects extravaganzas, hyper-kinetic action/adventure flicks, horror films, and gross out comedies. Pornography is a mainstream phenomenon, and products are increasingly marketed as lifestyle experiences. This course interrogates how these powerful interfaces between bodily sensation and images work through surveying the domain of media theory focused on perception, sensation, and feeling. Students read works by both contemporary thinkers of affect and historical precursors, and screen films that function as case studies and as theoretical interventions. Course requirements include screening films on one one's own, in-class presentations, student discussion posts, and a major final essay. Readings are often challenging. [Tracks M, S]