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FIL-10019 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

FIL-10019 - Film Style: History, Theory, Technology
Coordinator: Neil Archer Tel: +44 1782 7 33202
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Film style is one of the primary ways through which we understand and appreciate any given film, but how do we identify its effects on viewers? And how, too, do we make sense of the evolutions of style across different contexts of film production? This module provides an invaluable grounding in the analysis and theoretical understanding of film style, in terms of its historical development, its movement across different sites and cultures of film production, and its basis in technological invention and change. Combining the close analysis of particular films and film tendencies, with a comparative view of changing conventions and innovations, the module will give students the technical and analytical vocabulary to identify, and discuss the impacts, of film style across and within a range of contexts. As such, it will be an important base for the further study of film, as well as the application of theoretical ideas of film style to practical filmmaking options.

Aims
This module will provide students with the historical and theoretical knowledge, and the analytical tools, to be able to identify and discuss film style across a range of film-production contexts. It will inform wider study and analysis of film at all subsequent levels, and also support students engaged in practical filmmaking options.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify and compare different film styles across specific contexts of film production: 1,2
Enter into theoretical discussion around the impacts of film style choices, and the ideas and intentions behind them: 1,2
Demonstrate their understanding of film style and its effects, via close analysis and discussion of content: 1,2
Produce detailed and informed works of film analysis and comparison, utilising screen images in conjunction with textual discussion: 1,2
Apply knowledge of film style both to wider practical work, and other theoretical and historical discussions of film at all levels of study: 1,2

Study hours

10 x 2-hour film screenings, including short introduction = 20 hours
12 x 1-hour lectures = 12 hours
12 x 1-hour seminars = 12 hours
1 hour individual discussion/feedback of assessment = 1 hours
Reading and preparation for seminars 12 x 2 hours = 24 hours
Preparation for first assessment = 31 hours
Preparation for second assessment = 50 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Commentary weighted 40%
Scene Commentary
Students can choose one of two options for the commentary. In either option the commentary will be based on a short chosen scene from a list of films provided by the tutor: 1) They will produce a 500-word written scene commentary. The commentary will analyse and contextualize specific choices of film style within the chosen scene. The students will make extensive use of screen images in conjunction with their discussion, in support of their argument or 2) They will produce a short film (maximum 3 minutes) using the chosen scene as its primary basis. Students can choose to produce a spoken commentary over the visual images or enter text within the image itself. Students will be able to manipulate the screen image (freeze-frames, highlighting, signing, amplification, etc) as part of their argument. For either option, students should make use of available academic material in support of their commentary.

2: Essay weighted 60%
Essay
Students complete a 1000 word essay comparing and contextualising the stylistic choices across two films from different contexts of film production. Students may make their own choice of films, and are encouraged to compare either individual scenes, or common stylistic traits relevant to each film as a whole. Students are required to make use of suitable academic materials in support of their discussion, and are encouraged also to make use of appropriate screen images.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024