TFM0130 - THE FILM TEXT: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Module Identifier

TFM0130

Module Title

THE FILM TEXT: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Academic Year

2007/2008

Co-ordinator

Dr Kevin J Donnelly

Semester

Semester 1

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay 5,000 words	60%
Semester Assessment	Annotated detailed close analysis 3,000 words	40%
Supplementary Assessment	Resits of assignments when necessary. The essays will follow a similar structure but focus on a different topic.	100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

demonstrate a clear and advanced understanding of the film theory that has established Film Studies as an academic discipline.
employ skills of close textual analysis and interpretation to films.
evaluate in a sophisticated manner certain canonical film theories, in the light of their applications to film and their relation to film culture more generally.
demonstrate an understanding of the complex relationship between film, film theory and the issues that have animated public debate about films.

Aims

This module provides a foundation in terms of film theory and close textual analysis for, Film Studies MA, joining theory and issues-based approaches to Film Studies at the site of close film analysis.

Brief description

The module will be centred on a small group of related films (initially the Alien series) and will involve students in detailed close analysis and the practice of film interpretation. As a backdrop to this, the module will be founded upon a bedrock of traditional film theory, which students will be asked to re-consider. Some of the theory will be concerned with issues surrounding film (and remain important arguments in the public sphere), while much of the theory will be important canonical writings that have served to establish and develop Film Studies as a discipline

Content

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Textual analysis
Hermeneutics
Formalism I
Formalism II
Realism debates
Genre cinema
Authorship
Psychoanalytic criticism
Ideological criticism
Ideological criticism II

Module Skills

Problem solving	Through student thought about and evaluation of the appropriateness of film theories in the use of film analysis. Some of the learning will focus on issues or key questions.
Research skills	This element is developed through students' own investigations into written and audiovisual material that they can bring to bear upon the course and their essays.
Communication	Students will be expected to contribute to in-class discussions and relate their own research progress orally.
Improving own Learning and Performance	In the course of the module, there will be points where students will be asked to think reflexively about their reading and viewing, as well as how their research is progressing.
Team work	Although there is no official groupwork on the course, it is hope that students will work together in seminars for small tasks and small-group discussions.
Information Technology	Students will have to word-process essays, and can make use of the internet for research purposes.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7