Module Identifier TF23220  
Module Title FILM GENRE STUDY  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Mikel Koven  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Ernest Mathijs  
Pre-Requisite TF10220  
Course delivery Lecture   10 x 1 hour  
  Seminars / Tutorials   5 x 2 hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Essay 1: 2500 words  40%
Semester Assessment Essay 2: 2500 words For information on due dates for submission of assessed work, please refer to the departmental web pages at http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/duedates.shtml60%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Display good knowledge of the genre studied;

Discuss the historical development of a specific cinematic genre with attention to the social, historical and cultural influences on it;

Be able to apply issues and methods of film theory to films within that genre

Aims

- This module aims to present to students the historical development of a single cinematic genre, exploring the way the genre changes as the historical, cultural and social contexts change.
- To introduce to students certain aspects of film theory relevant to the study of that particular genre
- Although focused on a single specific genre, implicit throughout will be a consideration in general of genre theory, particularly as it has been used within film studies

Brief description

Genre films are perennially popular, and often are one of the chief determinates of which movies we choose to go and see. This module takes an in-depth look at one particular genre, which may change annually, and traces its development over time, examining a combination of Hollywood and world cinema approaches to that genre. Each of the major genres has generated its own significant body of theory, as well as more general theories of film genre study, and this module also introduces students to some of those discourses. Regardless of the genre chosen for examination, this module focuses on the major artistic movements which have influenced the genre, the key film texts, and some of the more dominant theoretical paradigms which have been used to explore film genres.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Background
Altman, Rick (1999) Film/Genre London: BFI
Braudy, Leo (1998) 'Genre: The Conventions of Connection' in Leo bRaudy and Marshall Cohen ers. Film Theory and Criticism. 5th edition Oxford: Oxford UP
Buscombe, Edward (1970) 'The idea of genre in American cinema' Screen 2.2
Collins, Richard (1976) 'Genre: A Reply to Ed Buscombe' in Bill Nichols ed. Movies and Methods Volume I. Berkeley: University of California Press
Grant, Barry (ed) (1977) Film Genre: Theory and Criticism Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press
Grant, Barry (ed) (1995) Film Genre Reader II Austin: University of Texas Press
Griffith, Richard (1976) 'Cycles and Genres' in Bill Nichols ed. Movies and Methods Volume I Berkeley: University of California Press
Neale, Stephen (1980) Genre London: BFI
Neale, Stephen (2000) Genre and Hollywood London: Routledge
Neale, Stephen (ed) (2002) Genre and Contemporary Hollywood London: BFI
Schatz, Thomas (1981) Hollywood Genres: Formulas, Film-making and the Studio System New York: Random House
Tudor, Andrew (1976) 'Genre and Critical Methodology' in Bill Nichols ed. Movies and Methods Volume I Berkeley: University of California Press

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5