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Chemnitz University of Technology

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English Literature(s) SS 06 British Film

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Proseminar: Introduction to Film Studies: British Film

Course Description

This course comprises three main strands. Firstly, you will be taught the basics of film studies. You will learn how to analyse film form and diegesis (lighting, camera position, film sound, editing, etc.) and film narrative (plot, montage of scenes, etc.). The thematic framework will be the British Film. Starting with the question ‘What is “British Film”?’ or ‘Is there something like “British Film”?’, we will soon discover the complexity of this endeavour. You will secondly learn about the British Film Industry, legislation, censorship, economy and institutions in general and thirdly, about British films from the beginning of the 20th century to the present in particular. We will work on important genres such as thriller and suspense, heritage cinema or “British Costume Drama”, social problem films and comedy as well as influential currents such as Free Cinema and British New Wave. Moreover, the matter of national identity will not be forgotten – leading us to Scottish, Irish and Welsh film production. At the end of the course you will be able to analyse all levels of a film and will possess a profound knowledge of the British Film Industry and of selected British films.

Main secondary literature:

Bordwell, David & Kristin Thompson (2001). Film Art: An Introduction. New York: Graw-Hill.
Hayward, Susan (1996). Key Concepts in Cinema Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Helbig, Jörg (1999). Geschichte des Britischen Films. Stuttgart & Weimar: Metzler.
Street, Sarah (1997). British National Cinema. London: Routledge.

Primary literature (t.b.c.):

The Private Life of Henry VIII. Dir. Alexander Korda, 1933.
The 39 Steps. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1935.
Brief Encounter. Dir. David Lean, 1945.
The Third Man. Dir. Carol Reed, 1949.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Dir. Tony Richardson, 1962.
Peeping Tom. Dir. Michael Powell, 1960.
A Clockwork Orange. Dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1972.
My Beautiful Laundrette. Dir. Stephen Frears, 1985.
A Room with a View. Dir. James Ivory, 1986.
A Fish Called Wanda. Dir. Charles Crichton, 1988.
The Crying Game. Dir. Neil Jordan, 1992.

Credit requirements:

Regular attendance, active participation in class (discussion and completion of worksheets) and an oral presentation of one key topic. A seminar paper at the end of the semester (only Leistungsschein).

Required reading:

A course reader will be available at the start of the semester.

Seminar papers:

The seminar paper should be 10-15 pages long delivering a film analysis connected to an original argument of yours about one film we discussed in class. You should use at least five secondary sources to support your argument(s). The deadline for handing in your work is September 30th – late essays will not be accepted!

Enrolment:

The number of participants is restricted to 30. Please register with me before March 31st if you want to join this course (tober@hrz.tu-chemnitz.de).

! N.B. This course is a regular Proseminar. Here, you may not acquire a Schein for the compulsory introductory Literature course!