Film theory and film criticism: part 2
L Naughton
10 points * 3 hours per week * Second semester * Clayton
In this seminar subject students will be required to engage actively with aspects of contemporary film theory. Psychoanalytic theory and contemporary film theory will provide the foundation for examination of the role of spectatorship in the cinema and feminist film theory. Characteristics of the hysterical, the masochistic and the sadistic film text will be analysed to understand further the nature of cinematic pleasure. The `woman's film' will be examined with reference to recent feminist writings of Silverman, Doane and Gledhill. Although the subject - like VSA4040 (Film theory and criticism: part 1) - is primarily a reading course, film will be screened for discussion and analysis. Examples will be drawn from divergent sources: popular, commercial film, European art cinema and alternative and avant-garde practices.
Assessment
Essay (3000 words): 40% * Longer essay (4500 words): 50% * Seminar participation: 10%
Preliminary reading
Kuhn A Women's pictures: Feminism and cinema RKP, 1982
Mitchell J E Psychoanalysis and feminism Penguin, 1982
Prescribed texts
Collins J and Radner H Film theory goes to the movies AFI, 1993
Burgin V and others (ed.) Formations of fantasy Methuen, 1986
Silverman K The acoustic mirror: The female voice in psychoanalysis and cinema 1988