ARHT2655 - Cinema and Spectatorship (2006)

Undergraduate - Senior

 

Department: Art History and Theory School: School of Letters, Art and Media Semester(s): Semester 2 Credit Points: 6 Co-ordinator: Dr Keith Broadfoot Email: keith.broadfoot@arts.usyd.edu.au Telephone: 9351 6906

UoS Description

This unit of study will give an introduction to how film studies has analysed the meaning of a film in relation to how the film incorporates or addresses the spectator (what is known as theories of spectatorship). Commencing with debates around classical Hollywood cinema and the functioning of the point of view shot, the unit will examine how theories of spectatorship have understood the significance of different genres.

UoS Objectives:

This unit of study will provide students with:
- an understanding of the history of theories of spectatorship in film studies
- an understanding of the interdisciplinary background to theories of spectatorship
- an introduction to the methods of analysing a film by utilising different theories of spectatorship
- an understanding of how theories of spectatorship interpret different film genres

UoS Outcomes:

By the conclusion of this Unit of Study, students should be able to:
- understand the key critical and theoretical debates around spectatorship
- demonstrate the ability to critically engage with different approaches to the interpretation and analysis of a film
- demonstrate an improved capability with both oral and written tasks of a critical nature
- exercise their improved ability to undertake the visual (and audio) analysis of a film exercise their improved ability to formulate reasoned and substantiated arguments.

UoS Learning Situations:

Lectures, Tutorials, Other ,  2hr lecture, 1hr tutorial and 2hr film screening.
2hr lecture, 1hr tutorial and 2hr film screening.

UoS Assessment:

essay and tutorial paper totalling 4000-4500 words

UoS Readings/References:

Recommended Readings:
'Studying contemporary American film: a guide to movie analysis', Thomas Elsaesser & Warren Buckland, Oxford University Press, 2002;
'Viewing positions:ways of seeing film', ed., Linda Williams, Rutgers University Press, 1995.

Prerequisites:

ARHT 1001 and ARHT 1002 (For Art History Major) ARHT 1002 or ENGL1025 (for Film Majors).

Prohibition:

ARHT2055

Online Components:

Online components may include:
A listing of Lecture and Tutorial topics
Additional reading references
Assessment topics and assessment criteria

How the Online Components work with the rest of the UoS:

The on line component of this unit is optional. It provides a supplementary guide to information supplied in classes.

Minimum Requirements for Hardware/Software:

WEB BROWSERS:

* for Windows users( Microsoft IE 5.0 or higher, Netscape 6.2 or higher)

* for Macintosh users ( Microsoft IE 5.1 or higher, Netscape 6.2 or higher, Safari 1.2 or higher)

INTERNET CONNECTION: 56k modem