| Unit name | Post-War European Cinema |
|---|---|
| Unit code | DRAM00001 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | QCA-3 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Alex Clayton |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Students require a proficiency of at least 6.0 in IELTS (min 5.5 in writing and 5.0 in other components). |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Film and Television |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit introduces students to the diversity and ambition of European film-making in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and in the following decades. Weekly lectures will discuss the innovations and special qualities of a particular European film, situating it within the social and cultural contexts of its production, including wider film movements and broader trends in national cinemas. Seminars will develop skills of film analysis with a focus on particular sequences, allowing students to gain an understanding of the distinctive styles and methods of some of the most significant filmmakers in the history of cinema.
Aims:
This unit aims to introduce students to European cinema and to teach them how to approach film in an informed critical manner. Students will gain an understanding of the history of post-war European cinema and some of its significant filmmakers, learn to appreciate how films are formally constructed, and develop an ability to analyse and interpret audiovisual texts.
By the end of this unit students will have gained:
1. An understanding of how to approach film in an informed critical manner
2. Foundational skills of film analysis
3. Knowledge of the history of post-war European cinema
This unit is taught over 12 weeks of two contact hours per week through a combination of lectures and seminars in addition to screening hours:
1 hour - lecture
1 hour - seminar
3 hours - screening time
This unit will be assessed through the submission of two pieces of coursework.
Assessment of Learning:
Sequence Analysis (1000 words; ILOs 2 & 3; weighting: 30%)
Essay (1500 words; ILOs 1, 2, 3; weighting 70%)
Bordwell, D & Thompson, K. (2015) FilmArt: An Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill
Fowler, C. (2002) The European Cinema Reader. London: Routledge
Orr, J. & Taxidou, O. (2000) Post-War Cinema and Modernity: A Film Reader. UK: EUP
