Contemporary Film Theory

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

On campus

120

Admission to the postgraduate certificate or diploma or fourth year honours in screen studies or screen and cultural studies, gender studies, Master of Cinema Management, Master of Arts and Cultural Management (Moving Image).

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject will examine the development of contemporary film theory from the post-1968 period to the present. Students will be expected to evaluate critically the significance of a number of the following theoretical approaches to an understanding of the cinema. These approaches will be selected from the following: semiotics, post-structuralism, feminist film theory, surrealist theory, psychoanalysis, post-auteurism, postmodernism, postcolonial and queer theory. Students will attend seminars that involve a variety of approaches: close textual analysis, research, thesis writing and the presentations of papers.

Students who complete this subject will be able to:

• have a comprehensive understanding of key film theoretical models of the post-60s;
• apply various theories to an analysis of the cinema; and
• critically evaluate the significance of film theory for film interpretation.

A 2000 word tutorial paper 40% (due during the semester), and a 3000-word essay or web site 60% (due during examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• possess advanced skills of critical thinking and analysis;
• develop research and writing skills;
• be able to account for the relationship between the film industry and film form;
• possess an ability to communicate knowledge intelligibly, economically and effectively; and
• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.