Premier Graphics
& Animation
Work with us
Menu
Studio
OverviewServicesCapabilitiesThe Collection
Institute
OverviewProgrammesCourse libraryHow we teachCareersGuidesFor universities
Journal About Contact Work with us
Film & TV · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Memetic Cinema

This experimental theory and production course examines the “Meme” not just as an internet joke, but as a new cinematic language. Students will explore how the aesthetics of the internet—remix culture, irony, absurdity, and rapid-fire editing—are reshaping traditional filmmaking. The curriculum analyzes “Post-Cinema” and challenges students to produce films that speak the native language of the digital generation.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Analyze the syntax of "Memetic Filmmaking" (Repetition, Remix, Intertextuality)
  2. Apply the "Database Narrative" structure to non-linear storytelling
  3. Master the art of the "Supercut" and Video Essay
  4. Explore the aesthetics of "Post-Irony" and "New Sincerity" in film
  5. Produce viral-ready cinematic content that leverages trend cycles
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Meme as a Unit of Culture (Dawkins to TikTok)
  2. 02Post-Cinema: Filmmaking in the Age of Screens
  3. 03Remix Culture: Copyright, Fair Use & Piracy
  4. 04The Supercut: Narrative through database logic
  5. 05Editing for Dopamine: Pacing & Rhythm
  6. 06Screen-Life Cinema (e.g., Searching, Unfriended)
  7. 07Fan Edits & Fan Fiction as Cinema
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Video Essay: Cinema as Critique
  10. 10Absurdism & Surrealism: The Gen Z Aesthetic
  11. 11"Cursed" Images & Liminal Spaces in Film
  12. 12Glitch Art & Datamoshing as Narrative Tools
  13. 13Interactive & Alternate Reality Games (ARGs)
  14. 14The Aesthetics of "Cringe"
  15. 15Virality: Engineering Shareability
  16. 16Final Project: The Memetic Short Film

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Memetic Short Film

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Post-Cinema: Theorizing 21st-Century Film by Shane Denson and Julia Leyda
  2. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy by Lawrence Lessig
  3. Memes in Digital Culture by Limor Shifman
  4. The Speed of Cinema by Steve Shaviro
  5. Kill All Normies (Context on internet subcultures) by Angela Nagle
More in Film & TV
Acting for Film & Film AnalysisThis hybrid course combines practical performance training with critical film theory. Students will learn the specific techniques of screen acting—minimalism, eye lines, and continuity—while simultaneously analyzing legendary performances from cinema history.
Acting for the CameraThe camera lens acts as a microscope for human behavior. This practical course helps actors transition from the projection required for stage to the intimacy required for screen.
Advanced Camera TechniquesThis technical course is designed for aspiring cinematographers who wish to master the visual language of cinema.
Advanced Film Editing (MS elective)This course moves beyond the basics of cutting to explore editing as an art of storytelling and emotional manipulation.
Advanced Film EditingThis course covers advanced techniques and concepts in film editing, focusing on narrative structure, pacing, continuity, and the creative use of editing software.
AI-Driven CinematographyThis futuristic course explores the convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Director of Photography (DoP).