107-132 Introduction to Hollywood & Art Cinema

Formerly available as 107-073. Students who have completed 107-073 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

This subject introduces students to the formal, stylistic and interpretative strategies of the moving image. Students will cover three interrelated areas: screen histories, screen styles and screen concepts - to generate a foundation of ideas about filmic time, space, narrative, architecture, genre, sound, movement, interactivity, spectatorship, meaning and experience. To scrutinise the gestures and attitudes of visual culture, the course will analyse examples of Hollywood cinema, film art, political cinema, silent film, experimental film and other media.

• be skilled in critical thinking and analysis;

• possess effective written communication skills;

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

An online quiz assessment of 1000 words (this is a hurdle requirement) 20% (due during the semester), a visual test of 1000 words 30% (due at the end of the semester) and an essay of 2000 words 50% (due at the end of the semester).

A subject reader will be available.

• D Bordwell & K Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction. (3rd ed), McGraw-Hill, 1990.