| Unit name | Classics of European Cinema |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODL10010 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Ms. Taylor |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit introduces students to some "classics" of European cinema. It explores these films in the context of their national film industries and histories and analyses the distinct and common features of a variety of films made in Europe in the twentieth century. The following general issues are addressed: what makes a film a "classic"; what themes of methods unite or distinguish these films; and how does film language in Europe differ from nation to nation. Films to be studied may include: Lang: Metropolis (1925); Eisenstein: The Battleship Potemkin (1925); Renoir: La Règle du Jeu (1939); Buñuel: Viridiana (1961); Rossellini: Rome Open City (1945).
Aims:
Through the study of a minimum of eight cinematic texts, this unit aims to introduce students to European cinema in its national context and to teach them how to approach film in an informed critical manner. Lectures on individual films will be complemented by generic lectures on theoretical and cultural aspects of film production and criticism. Students will gain an understanding of European cinema in its historical dimension, learn to appreciate aspects of how films are made, and develop their ability to analyse and interpret visual texts.
This unit is taught over 12 weeks of two contact hours per week, which will include Lectures and Seminars.
One essay of 2,500 - 3000 words (75%); one individual presentation/ commentary on one aspect of European cinema (25%).
Criteria for the award of credit points: satisfactory attendance, completion of course work, presentation and end of unit essay.
