107-079 Feminist Film and Television Theory

Usually 12.5 points of first-year cinema studies, or first-year gender studies. For cultural studies students 50 points of first-year arts including at least 25 points from a specified list of subject areas.

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.

A tutorial presentation 10 % (due during the semester), a 1500 word class paper 30% (due during the semester), and a 2500 word research essay 50% (due at the end of semester).