Film Studies

Film Studies

If your acquaintances are constantly shunning you from cinema outings due to your habit of poking them throughout the feature to discuss the noir-like atmosphere borrowed from iconic pictures of the 1940s and 50s then maybe you should take steps to save your friendships and enrol yourself in a film studies nightcourse where your musings may be more welcome.

The only prerequisite to a film studies course is an unadulterated love of films. During the 100 years of its existence film has become the chief storyteller and mythmaker of our time and is recognised by the informed masses as being both entertainment and art. Although it is a relatively new subject area compared to something like English literature there will be no shortage of material to study. Just as a novel can be analysed in terms of its structure, plot, style and genre so too can a film. Aspects such as editing techniques, the introduction of jump-cuts, set, costume and sound design all enhance and increase a films plot and meaning; it is the students aim to evaluate these elements thoroughly and assess it then as an overall work.

The history of film may be a short one but it has also been one full of many twists and turns; with countless trends emerging as genres reinvented themselves in attempts to improve technique and appeal to audiences everywhere. The development from the silent era to the advent of the international blockbuster is not one that happened due to a simple change in taste. What is now offered at your local Cineplex has much more to do with the international climate; in a political, social and religious sense. Demand has played a dangerously large role in what has been created; the backlash of this social truth has resulted in a rise in popularity of the independent film industry; an effort to maintain innovative film-making and discourage generic plots and obvious character developments.

In addition to watching a lot of films, students will also obtain an extensive knowledge of the historical and cultural values that shaped them; the true representation of these will be questionable at times; such as in John Ford’s Quiet Man. Issues such as gender inequality, racism and the use of violence will also be assessed in certain films; for example Quentin Tarantino’s films are renowned for the ease and casual ways in which the director utilises brutality and bloodshed; he is often accused as glamorising the use of violence, although others would argue that the fate most of his characters suffer negates this view, doing quite the opposite.

Imagine saying you’re going to the cinema to study? Or buying popcorn as a study tool? Along with the obvious benefits to gain from doing a course in film studies there are more long terms ones. When your friends say it’s not a real subject here’s the spiel to give them: Film studies students learn how to critically reflect upon the relationship between film and it’s political, social and cultural contexts; while achieving a massive knowledge of film history along with developing analytical skills; communicated both in the oral and written sense…and all while sitting down, being entertained, so get down to your closest class ASAP to get a good seat…