Film Theory and History – (M.Phil.)

Contents

ourse Structure: the course consists of six modules: four core modules, two elective modules (at least one from Film Studies), and a dissertation.

1. Film Theory and History (1)
This course will consider key moments in the history of the moving image. It will pay particular attention to the diverse ways in which cinematic space and time has been conceived and constructed in different historical, cultural and aesthetic contexts. This will include a survey across the history of cinema including an examination of early cinema, popular genres, modernism, documentary and the avant-garde.

2. Film Theory and History (2)
This course will establish a dialogical relationship between theoretical and practical concerns in film studies with a view to enhancing understanding of how the medium has been used creatively at different times in its development.This will be achieved through a close examination of issues of performance, style and mise-en-scène, organized around key directors and/or film movements.

3. Post-Classical Hollywood Cinema
This module will introduce students to key concepts in the history and analysis of post-classical Hollywood cinema. In particular, the course will focus on issues of genre and authorship, with an emphasis on understanding popular cultural representations of issues within and external to American society from the 1960s to the present.

4. Post-Classical European Cinema
This module will introduce students to key concepts in the history and analysis of contemporary European cinema. This course will discuss a range of issues that arise in a selection of contemporary European films. The focus will be on social issues, including race and identity, although the course will also consider questions of form, particularly in the light of developments in digital cinema.

5. Elective Courses
Students will choose at least one module from the Film Studies elective courses available. These may include: Cinema and Ireland; Contemporary Irish Cinema; Documentary; and World Cinema. A sixth module may be selected from Film Studies electives (above) or from the menu of elective courses available on other M.Phil. programmes within the School of Drama, Film and Music. These may include: Applied Theatre; Intercultural Performance, Playwriting; Theatre and Ireland; Theatre and Performance in Digital Culture; The Comic Body; Theatre and Nationalism; Opera; Irish Music.

6. A dissertation
Approximately 15,000 words on an approved aspect of the course to be supervised by an appropriate member of staff.

Assessment is by a combination of coursework and dissertation: six essays of 4,000 words each (three each for Michaelmas and Hilary terms) for the core and elective courses (weighted at 10% each of the final grade); a Research Methodology exercise (weighted at 5% of the final grade); and a dissertation of approximately 15,000 words (weighted at 35% of the final grade).