Course Resources Archive

This module analyses a range of film genres and directors. Students will analyse how genres and the authorial corpus are sources of meaning within film.

Theories of genre and authorship have a long tradition in film studies, but their methodologies are often contradictory. This module explores the validity of both sides of the argument and offers a variety of ways to account for the generation of meaning in film. The module provides different approaches to comprehending the conventionalised construction genre films – such as iconography and narrative – before exploring issues in generic mixing. This is contextualised in relation to the auteur, and examines the concepts of "individuality", "genius" and "originality" within film production, focusing predominantly on the director as the source of meaning. After considering arguments that promote the director as auteur, the concept of film authorship is brought up-to-date through the introduction of complicating issues, such as the collaborative nature of film production and the various textual meanings of authorship generated through the application of film theory.

i. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the module students should be able to:
a) Apply detailed textual analysis as a means to demonstrate the distinctive features of film genres
b) Show significant judgement in being able to critically place a range of films
c) Formulate responses to theoretical and/or aesthetic problems concerning film genres
d) Evaluate the importance of auteur study as an approach in the historical evolution of film studies
e) Apply detailed textual analysis to the oeuvres of key directors and make judgements about their stylistic choices and techniques
f) Analyse film authorship in relation to aesthetic, theoretical and institutional factors

ii. Skills
By the end of the module students should be able to:
a) Demonstrate independent researching skills
b) Demonstrate essay writing abilities in expressing clear arguments and reasoned opinions
c) Apply analytical skills in assessing both film and printed data

Staff/student contact: approx 20%
Independent Study: approx 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.