170.041 (21W) Introduction to film studies - with excursion

Wintersemester 2021/22

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
30.10.2021 09:00 - 13:00 HS 2 On Campus
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Overview

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to make changes to courses and examinations at short notice (e.g. cancellation of attendance-based courses and switching to online examinations).

For further information regarding teaching on campus, please visit: https://www.aau.at/en/corona.
Lecturer
Course title german Introduction to Film Studies - with Excursion
Type Lecture - Course (continuous assessment course )
Course model Blended learning course
Online proportion 50%
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 6.0
Registrations 27 (25 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
Course begins on 30.10.2021
eLearning Go to Moodle course

Time and place

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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

The course will encourage and equip the students to become active spectator of film and consequently an engaged, sovereign writer, articulating their viewing experience. The basic of active viewing is not only to think carefully about movies but also an analytical approach to the construction of their meaning. Therefore, the course will provide an insight into common types of film analysis, and offer strategies and resources for analysis and interpretation of particular means of film expression, which are crucial for the production of meaning. The final goal is to engage students in the process of transforming the excitement and pleasure of watching a film into the satisfaction of articulating ideas and insights about that movie.

Part of the course is an excursion to the Slovenian Cinematheque in Ljubljana. The excursion includes a visit to the exhibition about the most important Slovenian cineaste France Štiglic and a screening of short films by one of the most eminent directors of the Yugoslav "black wave" cinema movement, Karpo Godina, who will be present for the discussion.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

Lessons of the course combine lectures and seminars intensively supported with film screenings and discussions about selected texts and movies. Students will write short examples of different types of film texts, such as a screening report, a movie review, and a critical essay, during the seminar.

Course content

Timothy Corrigan, an author of A Short Guide to Writing about Film, is convinced that"students write better about a subject they know and like and that few subjects today are enjoyed and understood more universally than the movies". The purpose of this course is based on this conviction and assumption that the foundation to develop skills for balance between personal opinion and critical evaluation of the movie is a profound understanding of means of film expression. The starting point ofbecoming an active and critical spectator is an ability to analyse these means and to articulate analytical outcomes. Therefore, students will get the knowledge of the most common types of film analysis, such as shot-by-shot analysis, mise-en-scène analysis, analysis of film aesthetics, narrative structure analysis, analysis of film style and contextual analysis. At the same time, the course will equip the students with the skills to articulate the findings of a particular analysis, which allow them to transform their insight into a persuasive vocabulary for writing assignments.However, the important aim is also to assure that careful thinking and analytical writing don't disrupt the enjoyment of the movie-watching experience. On the contrary, it enriches it with the confidence of a more in-depth understanding of a film's meaning cinematic techniques used to provide it.

Literature

Timothy Corrigan, A Short Guide to Writing about Film,Boston (etc.), Pearson, 2015, (selected chapters p.p. 15-32 and 145-164).

 Michael Ryan and Melissa Leons, An Introduction toFilm Analysis: Technique and Meaning in Narrative Film, London, NewYork, Continuum, 2012 (selected chapters p.p. 1-46).

RobertEdgar-Hunt, John Marland and Steven Rawle, TheLanguage of Film, Lausanne, AVA Publishing SA, 2010 (selected chapters p.p. 118-148).

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

Course attendance. Reading of prescribed texts (5 book chapters). Active collaboration duringclass. Writing of short examples of different type of film texts about aselected movie. Presentation of the individual text in class.

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 15W.3)
    • Subject: Freie Wahlfächer (Optional subject)
      • Freie Wahlfächer ( 0.0h XX / 20.0 ECTS)
        • 170.041 Introduction to film studies - with excursion (2.0h VC / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
  • Master's degree programme Visual Culture (SKZ: 655, Version: 18W.2)
    • Subject: Medien des Visuellen zwischen Hoch- und Populärkultur (Compulsory subject)
      • 3.1 Einführung in die Geschichte Visueller Kulturen ( 0.0h VC, SE / 6.0 ECTS)
        • 170.041 Introduction to film studies - with excursion (2.0h VC / 6.0 ECTS)

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

There is no equivalent course for the purpose of counting examination attempts.