Film Studies A2 Film Studies A2

FS4 – Film: Making FS4 – Film: Making Meaning 2Meaning 2

The study of…The study of…

Practical activities related to meaning Practical activities related to meaning production. One is production. One is research-basedresearch-based; the ; the other involves other involves creative workcreative work. Both . Both activities, though in different ways, focus on activities, though in different ways, focus on the ways in which meaning production the ways in which meaning production negotiates tensions between authorship, negotiates tensions between authorship, medium-specific conventions and medium-specific conventions and professional practices.professional practices.

Close observation of the features of Close observation of the features of particular films that inform the practical particular films that inform the practical activities: their form, style and themesactivities: their form, style and themes

Specific recurring features across a Specific recurring features across a group of films based on the input of group of films based on the input of auteur and/or performer and/or auteur and/or performer and/or genregenre

Critical approaches used in film Critical approaches used in film studies, with emphasis on the studies, with emphasis on the relationship of some or all of: relationship of some or all of: authorship/performance/genre to authorship/performance/genre to institutional structures;institutional structures;

Assessed by two projects: Assessed by two projects: Research Project and Presentation (50%):Research Project and Presentation (50%):

– Catalogue of research materialsCatalogue of research materials– Commentary upon the research materials, Commentary upon the research materials,

investigating a problematic in the form of a 1000-investigating a problematic in the form of a 1000-word presentation scriptword presentation script

– EvaluationEvaluation Practical Application of Learning – Creative Practical Application of Learning – Creative

Work (50%)Work (50%)– Aims and RationaleAims and Rationale– Finished practical projectFinished practical project (film journalism, (film journalism,

screenwriting, film/video-making)screenwriting, film/video-making)– Self-EvaluationSelf-Evaluation

FS5 – Studies in World FS5 – Studies in World CinemaCinema

The study of…The study of… The variety of film forms and institutional The variety of film forms and institutional

contexts in World Cinema and, as contexts in World Cinema and, as appropriate, their significance in film history.appropriate, their significance in film history.

Characteristic features of different kinds of Characteristic features of different kinds of cinema. cinema.

The differences between, and similarities to, The differences between, and similarities to, the mainstream commercial narrative form the mainstream commercial narrative form of Hollywood-type cinema.of Hollywood-type cinema.

A developing overview of film history and A developing overview of film history and film culture, within a contextual and film culture, within a contextual and historical study.historical study.

Section A – Film Styles and Section A – Film Styles and MovementsMovements

A comparative study of films from A comparative study of films from different surrealist styles such as different surrealist styles such as

Alice (Svankmajer)Alice (Svankmajer) The phantom of Liberty (Bunuel)The phantom of Liberty (Bunuel)

Section B - Close Study : Section B - Close Study : Contemporary World Contemporary World

CinemaCinemaCity of God City of God (Lund & Meirelles, Brazil, (Lund & Meirelles, Brazil,

2002) 2002) – Contextual study, reflecting auteur, Contextual study, reflecting auteur,

national cinema or institutional issues, national cinema or institutional issues, as well as a broader cultural and social as well as a broader cultural and social framework.framework.

AssessmentAssessment

– Assessed by 1 ½ hour exam, with two Assessed by 1 ½ hour exam, with two essays: One on the single case study, essays: One on the single case study, oneone on the comparative studyon the comparative study

– Externally assessed, counts for 30% of Externally assessed, counts for 30% of A2 marksA2 marks

FS6 – Critical StudiesFS6 – Critical Studies

The study of…The study of… Film texts, Film texts, and the broader study of and the broader study of

cinema in social and economic cinema in social and economic contextscontexts. .

Critical approaches used in the analysis of Critical approaches used in the analysis of film texts.film texts.

– Section A – The Film Text and Spectator: Section A – The Film Text and Spectator: Specialist Studies in Shocking CinemaSpecialist Studies in Shocking Cinema

– Section B – Producers and Audiences: Section B – Producers and Audiences: Issues Issues and Debatesand Debates - - The Dominance of Hollywood and The Dominance of Hollywood and indigenous film productionindigenous film production

FS6 – Critical StudiesFS6 – Critical Studies

– Section C – Messages and Values: Section C – Messages and Values: Critical Critical ApproachesApproaches toto Gendered Film StudiesGendered Film Studies

– Assessed by 1 ½ hour exam, with three essays, Assessed by 1 ½ hour exam, with three essays, one from each area of studyone from each area of study

– Externally assessed, counts for 30% of A2 marksExternally assessed, counts for 30% of A2 marks

– As a synoptic unit, it is also concerned with the As a synoptic unit, it is also concerned with the academic skills required to draw together learning academic skills required to draw together learning from different parts of the course.from different parts of the course.