Theory & Methodology of Cinema

An introduction to the development of film theory from its “classical” period of formalism and realism through the various approaches to film analysis that have emerged since the 1960s including auteur theory, semiotics, psychoanalysis, feminism, etc. The course aims to familiarize students with the major schools of thought in film theory and a wide range of critical methods and theoretical perspectives in the study of cinema, cultivating critical and analytical skills. Theoretical discussions are combined with exercises in film analysis.

Students will acquire a general awareness of film theory and methodology and develop critical and analytical thinking.

By the end of the course, students can expect to be able to:

• understand basic concepts and arguments of film theory
• compare and contrast different schools of thought in film studies
• apply different theories and methodologies of film criticism and analysis

Week 1: What is Film Theory?

Week 2: Early Silent Film Theory

Week 3: Film Formalism

Week 4: Film Realism

Week 5: The Auteur and Auteur Theory

Week 6: Structuralism and Semiotics

Week 7: Ideology and Marxism

Week 8: Psychoanalysis and Cinema

Week 9: Gender and Feminism

Week 10: Queer Theory

Week 11: Film Audiences and Reception

Week 12: Third Cinema and Post-Colonialism

Week 13: Postmodernism

Hill John and Pamela Church Gibson (eds) (2000), Film studies: critical approaches, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Stam, Robert (2000), Film Theory: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

The course consists of a series of lectures with the use of PowerPoint presentation and the inclusion of screenings of short films and of extracts of feature films. It encourages active participation and discussions and includes exercises in film analysis.

Enhanced by multimedia content.
The learning process is supported by the asyncrhonous e-learning platform e-class.

Film essay