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Film Criticism & Style Module Guide

This document provides an overview of the Film Criticism, Film Style optional module. The module will focus on close analysis of films through studying elements of film style such as mise-en-scène, editing, camerawork, and performance. Both experienced and inexperienced film analysts can benefit from the module's aim to improve observation and articulation of how film style shapes meaning. The module features lectures, seminars, readings, and a 5,000 word assessed essay. Suggested summer readings cover topics in film criticism, analysis, and style from sources that are freely available online.

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James MacDowell
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102 views2 pages

Film Criticism & Style Module Guide

This document provides an overview of the Film Criticism, Film Style optional module. The module will focus on close analysis of films through studying elements of film style such as mise-en-scène, editing, camerawork, and performance. Both experienced and inexperienced film analysts can benefit from the module's aim to improve observation and articulation of how film style shapes meaning. The module features lectures, seminars, readings, and a 5,000 word assessed essay. Suggested summer readings cover topics in film criticism, analysis, and style from sources that are freely available online.

Uploaded by

James MacDowell
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Film Criticism, Film Style (Optional Module)

Module Tutor: James MacDowell

Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)

MODULE OVERVIEW

The focus of the module Film Criticism, Film Style is the close observation, description,
and interpretation of particular films in precise detail. Its aim is to help improve the
penetration of your observations about the significance of film style, to refine your ability to
engage with some of the best film criticism, and to enable you to better articulate in the
medium of words what you see and hear in the medium of film: from music to mise-en-scne,
editing to performance, composition to camera movement.

This module will be equally accessible to those who have little experience of film analysis as
to those who wish to deepen their existing skills. It is imperative always to continue striving
to improve the keenness with which we perceive and respond to film style, since everything
else that we might wish to discuss about films their value, themes, emotional effects,
political meanings, etc. are only ever manifested through their style. The aim of this module
is to reflect upon and wrestle with the challenge of this fact, and to help you rise to that
challenge in your analyses.

The module will include lectures, seminars, readings of outstanding film criticism,
presentations by students, and a 5000 word assessed essay, the title of which can be
developed in consultation with the module tutor.

The films to be studied on the module are TBC, but they will cover a broad historical range,
and will include works by at least some of the following: Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Haneke,
Douglas Sirk, Mary Harron, Max Ophuls, the Coen Brothers, Jean Renoir, and/or Paul
Thomas Anderson.
SUMMER READING

The following are suggested readings that you might consider undertaking, or at least
perusing, before term begins. The texts have been selected for the generality of their
discussion on matters of film criticism or film style, but also because they are freely
accessible online. They range from short articles or chapters to entire books, so I dont
expect you to have completed them all by October. Where appropriate, I have suggested
sections that would be particularly helpful introductory reading for this module.

David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson (1997) 'The Shot: Mise-en-Scene',


from Film Art: An Introduction (5th Edition). Chapter downloadable here:
http://bit.ly/2ud4lqP

Alex Clayton and Andrew Klevan (eds.) (2011) The Language and Style of
Film Criticism. Especially the chapters Introduction (Clayton/Klevan),
Coming to Terms (Clayton), and Description (Klevan). Entire book
downloadable here: http://bit.ly/2umo9Z7

Timothy Corrigan (2001) A Short Guide to Writing About Film (4th Edition).
Especially the chapters 'Beginning to Think, Preparing to Watch, and Starting
to Write', and 'Film Terms and Topics for Film Analysis and Writing'. Entire
book downloadable here: http://bit.ly/2uVjAlL

John Gibbs (2001) The Elements of Mise-en-Scne, from Mise-en-Scne:


Film Style and Interpretation. Chapter downloadable here:
http://bit.ly/2tMxKXU

Paisley Livingston and Carl Plantinga (eds.) (2008) The Routledge Companion
to Philosophy and Film. Especially the chapters 'Authorship' (Aaron Meskin),
'Emotion and Affect' (Carl Plantinga), 'Interpretation' (George Wilson), and
'Style' (Noel Carroll). Entire book downloadable here:
http://bit.ly/2rPq7xm

V. F. Perkins (1981) Moments of Choice. Article accessible here:


http://www.rouge.com.au/9/moments_choice.html

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