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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Common Courses (School of Lit, Lang and Cult)

Undergraduate Course: Film Criticism and Analysis (CLLC10002)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryFilm Criticism and Analysis will introduce students to the interpretation of film through a consideration of the ways in which film style influences the meaning of any individual film. The course will also consider the history and development of film criticism and will present various theoretical and philosophical approaches to the study of film.

This course is open to year 4 Honours students in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures who are interested in film (except DELC joint degree students). No prior film study is necessary but if you love cinema and are keen on engaging seriously with its study, then Film Criticism and Analysis will give you the opportunity to learn to think and write about film in more depth.

The course will survey a broad range of film genres including contemporary popular film as well as art house cinema. At least 50% of films screened will be in English while any non-English language films will be subtitled. Delivery will be in English.
Course description Film Criticism and Analysis will introduce you to the interpretation of film through a consideration of the ways in which film style influences the meaning of any individual film. The course will also consider the history and development of film criticism and theory and will present various theoretical and philosophical approaches to the study of film.

There are many types of writing about film but here we will concentrate on evaluative and interpretive analysis. Most journalistic film reviewing is concerned with judging the merits of a film and advising the public on whether that film may be worth their time and money. Academic or theoretical film writing tends to be less interested in advertising cinema and concentrates on what meanings and value any particular film may have, either as an aesthetic or political object. However, it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to separate evaluation from interpretation.

We will consider a number of major theoretical approaches in relation to some exciting and challenging contemporary films.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking
Other requirements Entry to honours in a degree owned by the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Division of European Languages & Cultures: this course is not open to students on joint degrees, only single honours.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNot open to visiting students.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. - To understand the development of film criticism and analysis
  2. - To be conversant with the major approaches to film criticism and theory
  3. - To analyse individual films using particular theoretical approaches
  4. - To understand film as an aesthetic art form
  5. - To write critically about film in an academic tone
Reading List
Bordwell, David (1989) Making Meaning: Inference and Rhetoric in the Interpretation of Cinema. Harvard: Harvard University Press.

Branigan, Edward (1992) Narrative Comprehension and Film. London: Routledge.

Braudy, Leo and Marshall Cohen (eds.) (2004) Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings. 6th edt. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Elsaesser, Thomas and Warren Buckland (2002) Studying Contemporary American Film: A Guide to Movie Analysis. Hodder Arnold: London.

Etherington-Wright Christine and Ruth Doughty (2011) Understanding Film Theory. Houndmills: Palgrave McMillan.

Frey, Mattias (2014) The Permanent Crisis of Film Criticism: The Anxiety of Authority. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press. [Open Access: http://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=576930]

Frey, Mattias and Cecilia Sayad (2015) Film Criticism in the Digital Age. New Brunswick, New Jersey and London. Rutgers University Press.

Gibbs, John (2002) Mise-en-Scène: Film Style and Interpretation. London and New York: Wallflower.

Hayward, Susan (2000) Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts. Routledge: London & New York.

Miller, Toby and Robert Stam (eds.) (1999) A Companion to Film Theory. Blackwell: Malden, Mass. and Oxford.

Nichols, Bill (ed.) (1976) Movies and Methods: An Anthology, Volume I. University of California Press: Berkeley, Los Angeles and London.

Orpen, Valerie (2003) Film Editing: The Art of the Expressive. London and New York: Wallflower.

Nichols, Bill (ed.) (1985) Movies and Methods: An Anthology, Volume II. University of California Press: Berkeley, Los Angeles and London.

Rushton, Richard and Gary Bettinson (2010) What is Film Theory? An Introduction to Contemporary Debates. New York: McGraw Hill and Open University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Critical thinking, Time organisation, Cultural awareness, Aesthetic sensibility
KeywordsFilm Theory,Cinema,Film,Aesthetics,Interpretation,Criticism
Contacts
Course organiserDr David Sorfa
Tel: (0131 6)50 3637
Email: David.Sorfa@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Monique Brough
Tel: (0131 6)50 3618
Email: Monique.Brough@ed.ac.uk
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