107-088 Love Stories: Film and Narrative Theory

Usually 25 points of first-year cinema studies, see Prerequisites, or first-year gender studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject is a study of narrative forms in relation to the love story in its many manifestations. Prescribed films will explore areas such as romantic love, mad love (l'amour fou), forbidden love, perverse and melancholic love. Students should become familiar with topics such as melodrama, film narrative and the structuralist controversy; the relationship between myth and narrative; classical and alternative narrative forms; narrative and audience; the feminist critique of the Hollywood classical narrative; postmodern narrative forms. There will be a special emphasis on issues of gender and the male melodrama.

• be skilled in critical thinking and analysis;

• possess effective written communication skills;

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

A research essay of 3000 words 60% (due during the semester) and a take-home examination of 1000 words 40% (during the examination period).