107-079 Feminist Film and Television Theory

Usually 25 points of first-year cinema studies, see Prerequisites or first-year gender studies, see Prerequisites. For cultural studies students 50 points of first-year arts including at least 25 points from a specified list of subject areas, see Prerequisites.

This subject will explore the representation of women and men in popular Hollywood film, television and alternative films directed by women. Topics studied will include stereotyping, sexual difference, spectatorship, the erotic, pornography, soap operas, queer sexuality and political film-making. On completion of the subject students should recognise the major themes and methods in the study of the representation of women and men in classic Hollywood narrative cinema and television; understand the major methods in the study of the position of the female spectator; analyse the differences in the systems of representation of women in classic Hollywood, European and feminist cinemas, both independent and mainstream.

• be skilled in critical thinking and analysis;

• possess effective written communication skills;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

Written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.