Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis 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%