How to Watch Movies? Reading the Cinematic Text 3301-L2FILM
The aim of this course is to acquaint students with concepts and interpretative tools needed for an academic analysis of film, in reference to specific national contexts. On the examples of selected films, students will learn, first and foremost, how to analyse such technical aspects as the construction of the mise-en-scène (the combined cognitive and visual impact of the choice of actors, costume design, use of props and background settings), the uses of music, camera framing and film editing (the combined affective and ideological impact of sound and image selection, constructions of time and space), as well as the spheres of convergence between literary and filmic story-telling (the cognitive and ideological uses and abuses of camera-focalization, narrator and/or character constructs in relation to filmic genres). This focus on the technicalities of film production will be combined with discussions on the cultural contexts of film productions, so as to underscore the interdependence of film and national/socio-political issues.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students will be able to:
K_W01 use advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and region studies within the domain of English Studies
K_W06 discuss complexity and pluralism of cultures, as well as the historical and institutional conditions of culture, especially in relation to English speaking countries, at an advanced level.
Abilities
Students will be able to:
K_U01 apply advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and film studies within the domain of English Studies
K_U06 recognize and describe at an advanced level the complexity and pluralism of cultures, as well as the historical and institutional conditions of culture, especially in relation to English speaking countries.
K_U08 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law.
Social competences
Students will be ready to:
K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources
Assessment criteria
THREE (3) absences are allowed.
A written analysis of a selected film. A written analysis or a video essay.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the classroom is governed by the rules set forth in Resolution No. 16 of the Teaching Council for the programs English Studies, English Studies – Linguistics, and English Studies – Literature and Culture of 9 December 2025 (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1wKaGcMrfFe5GaziQgxXkHS1e6t9TvQcB&authuser=0&acrobatPromotionSource=gdrive_chrome-list).
Bibliography
Filmography to be selected by a teacher.
Critical Works:
Corrigan, Timothy and Patricia White. The Film Experience: An Introduction. (Boston and New York; Bedford / St. Martin’s, 2004)
Hill, John and Pamela Church Gibson (eds) The Oxford Guide to Film Studies (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)
Kolker, Robert. Film, Form and Culture (Boston and New York: McGraw Hill, 2006)