Admission requirements
BA degree
Description
After years of so-called ‘Grand Theory’ in the 1970s and early 1980s – with a cocktail of semiotics, psychoanalysis, and ideology criticism (think of Metz, Baudry, Comolli, Mulvey) – film studies took a few different ‘post-theoretical’ turns from the mid-1980s onwards. One can think of a rise in prominence of cognitive and empiricist research; media archaeology; the field of film philosophy; and the reflections on film’s materiality in the era of digitization. These turns tie in with some noteworthy shifts: from cinema and its questions of medium specificity to the cinematic as event; from index as a trace (in the analogue era) to index as a sign (in the age of digital reproduction); from the film viewer as a theoretical construct to theories of affect; and cinema’s position in relation to and within the world.
In this course we will delve into some of the consequences of these shifts with close readings of assigned texts and seminar discussions. In considering cinema as representation and experience, we will explore the relationship between cinema and the world, and the place of the world within cinema, through examining contemporary theoretical discussions concerning environmental humanities, the Anthropocene, ecocriticism, ecology, affect theory and elemental cinema, among other theoretical explorations as they relate to cinema.
Course objectives
After completing this course, the student can:
Conduct independent research and learning into contemporary theories of film
Analyse and summarise key arguments in film and media
Analyse film and media using key theoretical concepts
Critically reflect on key developments in contemporary film theory
Participate via oral communication with peers in the seminar
Conduct written communication on contemporary theories of film.
Work together with peers by preparing small presentations as conversation leaders
Work together with peers to discuss seminar questions
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar. Class attendance is mandatory.
Assessment method
Assessment
Two essays
Conversation leader participation in seminar
Weighing
Assessment
Two essays
Conversation leader participation in seminar
Weighing
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
Essay 1 (mid-term) – 50%
Essay 2 (end term) – 50%
Conversation leader participation in seminar – pass/fail
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
Resit is available for both essays.
Inspection and feedback
Students will receive a feedback form, which will be sent within two weeks.
Reading list
Reading list will be accessible via the library catalogue or online.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
Not applicable