ENG-10024: Reading Film

School of Humanities

ENG-10024

Reading Film

Co-ordinator:

Dr Beth Johnson Room: CBB0.026, Tel:01782 734576

Teaching Team:

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

American Studies Dual Honours
American Studies Minor
American Studies Single Honours
English and American Literatures Single Honours
English Dual Honours
English Minor
Media, Communications and Culture Dual Honours
Media, Communications and Culture Minor
Music Dual Honours
Music Minor
Music Single Honours
Music Technology Single Honours

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description

Of all forms of communication, film often seems the most obvious, pleasurable and self-explanatory. With an emphasis on variety of film practice, this module aims to introduce students to the essential elements of film narrative and engage them in thinking critically about the choices made by film-makers in constructing the look and sound of their films. We will be asking, therefore, how meaning is created in the cinema, as well as what ideas and arguments such meanings may generate among critically aware spectators of it. In doing so we will be exploring the richness and complexity of cinema's potential to communicate with its spectators through a carefully selected variety of films. Represented amongst these will not only be the classic Hollywood model with which we are all most familiar, but also films from other national and artistic traditions. These will be examined in the context of both fortnightly lecture/workshops and small group classes.

Aims

To familiarise students with essential terminology and concepts used in film analysis
To identify and analysis through diverse examples the five key areas of film aesthetics
To enable students to practice close film analysis through verbal and written exercises

Intended Learning Outcomes

engage in detailed film analysis using appropriate terminology accurately. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
write concisely and competently, in both short and extended written forms, about a variety of forms of cinema. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
identify and describe the defining features of film narrative. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
discuss the role of different aspects of film aesthetics in the production of narrative meaning in the cinema. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
interact confidently with dvd film technology. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
.interact confidently and regularly with WebCT, as well as other electronic and online resources. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2,3
work as part of a group to deliver a clear presentation of a set of ideas about a film. will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

6 x 2 hour lectures = 12 hours
6 x 2 hour small group classes = 12 hours
Weekly 2 hour screening = 20 hours
Class preparation (including presentation) and private study: 45 hours
Essay writing and preparation: 40 hours
WebCT exercises: 20 hours
Personal consultation and feedback: 1 hour

Description of Module Assessment

01: Presentation (must pass this element)

Class presentation
Group presentation (groups of 2-3) lasting no more than 10 minutes in which students will present a brief film analysis based on one short clip of film and referring to some of the key film aesthetics terms covered in the module.

02: Essay weighted 50%

1500 word essay.
Students will answer one question from a list provided. All questions will ask students to analyse in detail aspects of film aesthetics through one example from the films on the course.

03: Webct weighted 50%

Continuous assessment: 4 x fortnightly WebCT tests
In weeks 3, 5, 7 &9, students will take a WebCT test based on the material covered during the previous fortnight. Students will be asked a series of questions based only on the material covered in the lectures. They will be expected to show clear knowledge of key information and terms used in film analysis.

Version: (1.04S) Created: 04/Jun/2010

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.