Module overview
This module is an exploration of the main issues and debates that surround the study of film in the period between 1895-1929.
Linked modules
FILM1001 or FILM1002 or FILM2006
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Accurately summarise primary, archival research material as well as published arguments and reports found in secondary sources
- Construct a reasoned argument based on archival research and the analysis of texts, critical material and primary research data
- Effectively research a topic or issue in a local or national archive
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Place local historical archive work within the context of the national and international history of film during this period
- The main issues and debates that surround the study of film in the period between 1895-1929
- The historical development of the Hollywood film industry in relation to the European film industry between 1895-1929
- Understand the salient historical developments in film history of this period and their significance
- Analyse early and silent film texts based on accurate historical understanding
- The historical development of film exhibition practices between 1910-1929
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Undertake primary research in a national and local archive in order to pursue a line of historical inquiry
- Apply and test the critical models associated with early film aesthetics
- Organise primary research within the framework of a reasoned and coherent argument
- Understand and engage with the critical debates concerning early film history and aesthetics
Syllabus
The subject of Early Cinema is a lively one and is a particular branch of Film Studies that has been a significant force in recent film and media scholarship. No longer the preserve of archivists, this subject has made an impact on cultural studies, social history, studies in aesthetics, reception studies and histories of technology. This module is an exploration of the main issues and debates that surround the study of film in the period between 1895-1928. In the first part of the module the focus is on the early period 1895-1912 and the move from novelty to narrative. The second part is organised around the development of the feature, the changing exhibition practices and the rise of the Hollywood industry from 1912-1920 with a particular focus on the cultural and historical context of exhibition and reception in Britain. The third part of the module utilises case studies to explore the intertwining nature of the aesthetics and politics of the Hollywood silent films of the Twenties.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- Lecture
- Seminar
- Screenings
- Individual tutorials
Learning activities include
- Essay
- Preparing and delivering presentations
- Archival research project
- Individual study
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 40 |
| Seminar | 10 |
| Lecture | 10 |
| Practical classes and workshops | 30 |
| Completion of assessment task | 60 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
David Robinson (1996). From Peep Show to Palace: The Birth of American Film. Columbia University Press.
Lee Grieveson and Peter Kramer (eds) (2004). The Silent Cinema Reader. London: Routledge.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
1) Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback: - Contribute actively to the weekly seminars on an aspect of the reading assignment and the film or films viewed at the screening. - Informal presentation of archival research in the final three weeks of the module in seminar. - Advice on essay topics and plans 2) Guidance on oral presentations and feedback on performanceSummative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 40% |
| Research project | 60% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External