Critical Approaches to Film

Essay Preparation& Critical Approaches recap

What will you learn by doing this? Develop analytical writing skills and engagement

with critical concepts and scholarly literature.

Word count: 2000

% Of module mark: 40%Deadline: 7th March 2014 (4pm)

Type of assessment

Question: Auteur theory and genre theory are often considered to be in opposition to one another.

Which is a more useful critical approach to The Searchers OR Unforgiven OR The Big Sleep?

 Your response should seek to combine a demonstration of understanding of theories of authorship and genre with original analysis of the film; that is, you should aim to apply and assess the theories rather than simply describe it. Please note that you are expected to be creative and original in your response to this question, and to bear in mind that depth of analysis of the film is what is sought.

Remember that your response must be expressed in continuous prose, and that you must avoid personalisation and uncritical vocabulary.  You must also make sure you refer to the relevant guidelines for proper referencing. Plagiarism will result in a fail. See Guidelines for Film Studies Submission.

Important advice to remember

What you will be marked on:  As a guide, the Essay will be assessed according to the following criteria: Depth, originality and persuasiveness of analysis of the films.

Understanding, application and assessment of the theories.

Level of independent research employed, in addition to lecture material.

Construction of a convincing, well-structured intellectual argument.

Appropriateness of presentational style, including accuracy of referencing.

How can you prepare for this?

1. Read up on auteur & genre theory

2. Read up on the director

3. Ideally, watch other films by the same director(s)

4. Watch the film several times and analyse it in detail

Recap (Genre Theory)

Genre Theory • Way to study film • Not just about films belonging to a group• Genres based on different things e.g. • story content (the war film)• artistic status (the art film)• racial identity (black cinema)• location (The Western)• sexual orientation (Queer cinema) • As far back as 1950s Bazin discussing genre• 60s & 70s: genre criticism saw move away

from auteur concept • Genre study = more inclusive discipline?

Chicken or the egg?A problem with using genre theory?

Andrew Tutor (Genre 1974) finds the term genre problematic.

Using genre to analyse films

Formal ElementsIconography (symbolic meaning we attach to images)

More easily identifiable

Deeper level of analysis needed. Read layers of production

Tone (lighting, music, cinematography)

Examples of formal elements & Genre

Costume Setting

StagingStar

Can be used for all genres

ToneHow do the formal elements create a tone to a film?Noir lightingPOV shots for thriller/ horrorUse of music associated with genres

Narrative• Genres typically adhere to

formulaic way of telling story

• Blueprints

• Frequently repeated across number of films

• E.G. Jim Kitses on The Western & Binary Oppositions

Advantages & disadvantages of using genre theory?

• Genre = inclusive – easy to construct long list of films that fall into specific genre

• Genre theory – too preoccupied with semiotics (signs, iconography & meaning)

• Need to consider historical emergence of genre movies

• Need to account for how genres develop, mutate, rise and fall in popularity

Semantics & Syntax

2 approaches for analysing genre

Greater understanding is achieved through combination of both

Rick Altman (1984)

Audiences

• Should consider audiences

• They get targeted by the industry

• Certain films associated with men/ women

• Genre dependent on audience expectation

Steve Neale (‘Questions of Genre’ 1990)

Two things central to understanding of genre

3 things to consider:1. Pre-history (Development from other forms of media)2. All films regardless of quality3. Factors other than content (advertising, studio policy, stars)

Genre Revisionism

Genre Hybridity

Recap (Auteur Theory)

Auteur TheoryA film director whose personal influence and artistic control over his or her films are so great that he or she may be regarded as their author, and whose films may be regarded collectively as a body of work sharing common themes or techniques and 

expressing an individual style or vision

Auteur theory: recap

Defending film as an art form

Director as main creative force

Focus on mise-en-scène

The politique des auteurs

Identifying auteur signatureAuteur theory

Other important factors to remember

Francois Truffaut ‘Une Certaine Tendance du Cinema Francais’ (1954)

Mise-en-scene (crucial to reading film)Set design (props & décor)

Lighting (& shadow)Acting (movement & gesture)

Costume and make-up

Personal filmmaking

Andrew Sarris ‘Notes on the Auteur Theory’ (1962)3 circles: technique, personal style, interior meaning 

Identifying an auteur director

• Biographical details • Themes present in work (usually recurring

themes) • Aesthetics (mise-en-scene, cinematography…)• Production (What budgets can they secure?

Use same cast and crew? Style dependent on others?)

Auteur Theory as a critical approach

• Director as auteur allows cinema to claim artistic & academic legitimacy. Film seen as important as other art forms

• Academics & critics – champion director. Easier to attribute responsibility to sole individual. Using dir. As shorthand is norm and promotes Auteur Theory

• Is key to cultural capital of fan communities, film buffs, journalists & academics who publish on this topic.

• Promotion of director to audiences• Marketing tool – extras with dir. Commentaries etc…

Problematizing the auteur

• Film is collaborative process?• Crew’s input ignored when

applying theory• Emphasis on personal & unique

vision• Should others be given auteur

title? Actor? Cinematographer? Writer? Composer?

• Roland Barthes ‘Death of the Author’ (1968): Gave preference to reader. Reader who gave text meaning.