Reading Movies - A Practitioner's Guide (11140.1)

This unit looks at film theory from a filmmaking perspective. Students are introduced to theories of film analysis, learning how to read a film, understand its tropes and themes, genres and audience expectations, in the context of film making.
Through a series of film theory readings, discussions and screenings, students will expand their visual vocabulary as they gain insight into the filmmaker's cinematic decisions and how sound design, cinematography and editing aid the story, and why mise en scène is very important.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of film theory;
2. Analyse a film with reference to ideas of genre, theme, narrative, story and audience expectation; and
3. Contextualise film theory in terms of film practice.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Skills development

This unit looks at film theory from a filmmaking perspective. Students are introduced to theories of film analysis, learning how to read a film, understand its tropes and themes, genres and audience expectations, in the context of film making. Through a series of film theory readings, discussions and screenings, students will expand their visual vocabulary as they gain insight into the filmmaker's cinematic decisions and how sound design, cinematography and editing aid the story.

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

9676 Reading Movies - A Practitioner's Guide

Assumed knowledge

None.