Summer 2025: JUN 9 — JUL 18
Subject: FILM
Course Level: 300
Number of Credits: 3 U.S. / 6 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Tue, Fri 19:00 – 20:30 CET (Berlin) | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT (New York)
Crosslist: HIST (History)
Language of Instruction: English
Course Prerequisites: English B2 / Equivalent or higher

Decadence is not a mere synonym for moral, or cultural, decline but a unique  paradigm in the history of culture rooted in what is called fin de siècle. The course  goal is to explore comprehensively the concept of decadence in film art. Decadence  becomes a context for addressing the cinematic concepts of Belle Époque, art  nouveau, symbolism, and Silver Age (not to be confused with Silver Age of Comic  books, or Silver Age of Hollywood). For those interested in film history, the unique  archival silent fin de siècle findings are offered as a part of the class. For those  interested in decadence as such, the course scope goes beyond any timeframe, genre,  or trend, investigating decadence in the present day through the lens of film.  Interdisciplinary learning, intercultural competence, and critical thinking are the key  learning objectives for this class. The course does not require any specific prior  background in film studies, art history, or cultural studies, as prerequisites,  enhancing student research and experiential learning instead.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.