This block seminar will introduce the three major areas of investigation that have defined film studies since its evolution in the 1970s: 1) film history, 2) film theory, and 3) film analysis. The course aims at giving an overview of the discipline as well as at providing the necessary analytical tools in order to understand how movies narrate stories and create meaning through the employment of stylistic devices (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound).

Day 1 will focus on film history, especially through the lens of genre (film noir), Hollywood as an industry and the development of film language in early cinema. We will then proceed on day 2 with classical film theories and the basics of film analysis with the films of Stanley Kubrick (particularly “2001 – A Space Odyssey”), while day 3 will be devoted to the analysis of opening sequences of films by Alfred Hitchcock (“Rear Window”, “Vertigo” and “Psycho”).

2-6 ECTS

Good command of the English language; interest in interpretation, film and media analysis

Active participation in discussions is explicitly expected in the seminar. Good English language skills are therefore required to ensure your active participation. The active participation is part of the performance requirements for earning credit points.

Qualification objectives:

• Learn how to analyze movies
• Learn about film history and the evolution of film language
• Learn about classical film theories

Registration required at: https://plus.campus.kit.edu/signmeup/procedures/6985

Good command of the English language, interest in interpretation, film and media analysis