Competences of the course



1. Familiarize the students with the major singularities of the first 60 years in film history.

2. Foster students’ awareness of the economic, social and political contexts in which cinema developed and the impact which cinema had, in turn, on nations, identities, cultures, and historical events.

3. Analyze with proper methodological tools any film from this period.



Competences of the degree

1.To analyze, explain and critically evaluate facts, social processes, texts and communicative projects.



2.To acquire knowledge and understand the meaning and relevance of theories, concepts and methodologies in the context of the (inter) disciplinary field of audiovisual communication.

This course looks at the history of cinema from its origins at the end of the 19th century up to the moment in which a classic paradigm is completely developed and starts showing its cracks, leading to the ‘new cinemas’ in the 1960s. The program is based on 5 blocks:



1.The birth of cinema

2.Avant-garde cinemas

3.Classic Hollywood.

4.The grounds of modern cinema.

5.Peripheral cinemas





Practical content

Together with the theoretical explanations, we will analyze and discuss certain landmark films and particular sequences.

Theoretical explanations and specific case studies.

1)Continuous grading



Final grade will be based on these three assignments:



* Written assignment (50%)

* Practical exercises (20%)

* Group Project (30%)



The specificities of every assignment will be explained at the beginning of the course and every detail will be available on eGela.

Together with theoretical explanations the student is expected to watch one or two films per subject in her/his own time. Content of these films is subject of being evaluated. The film list will be handed out at the beginning.



2)Final assignment

*Available according to student regulation (article 43.C)

*To be completed at the set time of the final exam.

*Written assignment.

*100% of the final grade

They will be uploaded on eGela.
Films and clips will be made available to the class.

Basic bibliography

Kristin Thompson, K. y Bordwell D (2009). Film History. An Introduction, McGraw-Hill, (Third edition).

Robert Stam (2002). Film theory: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishers.

In-depth bibliography

When mandatory, the teacher will indicate in class and / or in the support computer platform (eGela) the specific bibliography referring to the different sections of the syllabus.

Journals

- Caimán Cuadernos de cine
- Cahiers du cinéma.