Key facts

Type	Weekly Classes
Location	Reading
Address	Room 111 Building 22 London Road Campus Reading
Dates	Mon 1 Oct to Mon 3 Dec 2012 Day: Monday Time of meeting: 7.00-9.00pm Number of meetings: 10
Subject area(s)	Film Studies
CATS points	10
Fees	From £145.00
Application status	Course ended
Course code	R12P410FIW
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Overview

Douglas Sirk was responsible for some the most memorable and engaging Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. This course offers an exciting opportunity to see and discuss some of his most well known work, such as ‘Written on the Wind’

Description

Douglas Sirk was responsible for some of the most popular, memorable and emotionally engaging Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. His work became synonymous with a dense, highly controlled visual style and a complex, often critical attitude towards the American family.

This course offers an exciting opportunity to see and discuss some of his most well known work (such as 'All That Heaven Allows' and ‘Written on the Wind’) We'll discuss their distinctive style and treatment of their subjects as well as thinking about their relationship to the broader conventions of melodrama. Where appropriate, films will be screened in their entirety and discussed in class the following week.

Programme details

Week 1: Douglas Sirk and melodrama
Week 2: Screening: 'All I Desire'
Week 3: Discussion of All I Desire
Week 4: Extracts from 'There's Always Tomorrow'
Week 5: Screening: 'All That Heaven Allows'
Week 6: Discussion of 'All That Heaven Allows'
Week 7: Screening: 'Written on the Wind'
Week 8: Discussion 'Written on the Wind'
Week 9: Screening: 'Imitation of Life'
Week 10: Discussion of 'Imitation of Life'

Background Reading:
Christine Gledhill (ed.): Home is where the Heart is
Barbara Klinger: Melodrama and Meaning: History, Culture and the Films of Douglas Sirk
Steve Neale: Genre and Hollywood
Thomas Schatz: Hollywood Genres

Staff

Course aims

Course aim:
The course aims to examine the work of film-maker Douglas Sirk and consider major decisions and effects concerning their use of narrative and generic conventions, their visual style and representation of their characters.

Course objectives:
1. To introduce the student to the methodology of film analysis
2. To introduce student to the voacublary of film ananlysis
3. To apply the above two aims to the work of Douglas Sirk in an effort to detmine their handling of film form and visual style

Assessment methods

Students choose ONE of the following methods of assesment.

An option of a single, 1000-word essay/report of a course film will be available (titles will be provided), or after discussion with me, the student can formulate their own title.

A third option will be available in the form of a 10-minute presentation, based on an extract from a course film. The presentation must highllgt relevant critical issues, decisions and effects and be supported by notes, which must be submitted for accreditation.

Teaching methods

Teaching and learning will be conducted mainly through the analysis of extracts and group dicussion of relevant clips. Students may be asked to dicuss some clips/issues in group or pairs. Some key topics will be introduced by means of a short, informal lecture.

Teaching outcomes

By the end of the course student will be expected to:
Be familiar with basic methodology of film analysis
Be familiar with basic vocabulary of film analysis
Have basic insight into key decisions and effects that make up Sirk's visual style and thematic preoccupations.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Home/EU fee: £145.00

Non-EU fee: £145.00

Apply for this course