Unit information: Film and Television Forms and Analysis in 2013/14

Unit name	Film and Television Forms and Analysis
Unit code	DRAM11005
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Pete Falconer
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Drama: Theatre, Film, Television
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

In this unit, students are introduced to a range of film and television forms and to different methods of critical and textual analysis. This unit will develop close analytical skills and contextual understanding by considering topics such as: • Film and television narrative • Cinematography • Mise-en-scène • Editing • Performance • Sound • Television • Genre • National cinemas • Postcinematic forms

Lectures, seminars and screenings will explore the ways in which elements of film and television have been used and understood in different periods and cultural contexts. The unit will establish conceptual vocabularies and theoretical frameworks, which students can use to engage creatively with the complexities of film and television texts. • to introduce students to key areas in the study and analysis of the moving image; • to undertake a close investigation of selected historical and contemporary film and television forms; • to encourage critical understandings of the crucial components of film and television forms; • to explore how elements of film and television forms have been configured in different periods and cultural contexts; • to establish conceptual vocabularies and theoretical frameworks for the creative analysis of the complexities of film and television texts and their production; • to introduce a range of approaches to the formal analysis of film and television

Intended Learning Outcomes

• students will be able to identify key areas in the study and analysis of the moving image;
• students will demonstrate an understanding the issues involved in a close investigation of selected historical and contemporary film and television forms;
• students will demonstrate developing critical understandings of the crucial components of film and television forms;
• students will demonstrate effective exploration of how elements of film and television forms have been configured in different periods and cultural contexts;
• students will deploy conceptual vocabularies and theoretical frameworks in their creative analyses of the dynamics of screen media;
• students will demonstrate developing understandings of the range of approaches to the teaching and learning of film and television formal analysis.

Teaching Information

Blended teaching: 10 x 1hr lectures 10 x 1hr seminars 10 x 2hr screenings Blackboard discussion board exercises, as appropriate.

Assessment Information

1,000-word written exercise (25%); 1,000-word written exercise (25%); 2,000-word essay (50%).

Participation in Blackboard seminar discussion (P/F)

Reading and References

• Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K. (1976 and any subsequent editions), Film Art: an Introduction, New York and London: McGraw-Hill.
• Braudy, L. and Cohen, M. (2004) Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, New York: Oxford University Press.
• Cook, P. (1985 and 1999 editions), The Cinema Book, London, British Film Institute.
• Corrigan, T. (2009) A Short Guide to Writing About Film, London: Longman.
• Gibbs, J. (2001) Mise-en-Scène: Film Style and Interpretation, London: Wallflower.
• Kawin, B. (1992) How Movies Work, Berkeley, L.A. & London: University of California Press.
• Perkins, V. F. (1993) Film as Film, London: Da Capo Press.