COM3408 - Screen Theories and Techniques

Leader: Dr Simon Cooper

Offered

Gippsland Second semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Malaysia Second semester 2007 (Day)
Singapore Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

An introduction to the study of film and television/video as mediums of fictional and documentary narrative. Major developments in the history of cinema. Films will be analysed formally in terms of narrative, editing, mise en scene, shots, lighting and sound, and stylistically in terms of genre and authorship. Different theoretical approaches to screen studies including aestheticism, discourse analysis and semiotics.

Objectives

Students successfully completing this unit will have demonstrated an ability to analyse and evaluate screen representations, on film and television, in terms of: stylistic elements (mise-en-scene, shots, editing, lighting and sound); narrative form; aspects of screen theory: genre, authorship. gender, psychoanalysis; historical and social contexts of production and
reception. They will also have an extended understanding of a range of critical and theoretical approaches to screen studies and their place in the wider field of cultural studies.

Assessment

Essay (2500 words): 50%
Examination (2 hours): 50%
Third-year students will be required to demonstrate a greater breadth of reading and a more extended understanding of the theoretical issues covered in the unit

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites

COM1010 and COM1020 or equivalents

Prohibitions

COM2408, GSC2408, GSC3408