Key facts

Type	Weekly Classes
Location	Reading
Address	Room 111 Building 22 London Road Campus Reading
Dates	Mon 14 Jan to Mon 18 Mar 2013 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	R12P411FIW
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Overview

An exciting opportunity to see and discuss some of the films of German direcor Max Ophüls who was noted for his elaborate camera moves and long takes.

Description

Max Ophüls' films are celebrated for their sophisticated isual style and complex narration. His love of complex tracking shots inspired actor James Mason to write a short poem which poked gentle fun at this aspect of his work. In this ten-week course we'll look at a number of Ophüls' American films (such as 'Letter from an Unknown Woman' and 'The Reckless Moment') and examine their visual style an visual narration.

We'll also consider the relationship between a number of his films and the conventions of melodrama and consider his treatment and representation of gender and instiutions such as the family.

Where appropriate, films will be screened in their entirety and discussed in class the following week.

Programme details

Week 1: Max Ophüls: melodrama and the long take
Week 2: Screening: Letter from an unknown woman
Week 3: Style and point of view in Letter from…
Week 4: Style and the long take Letter from…
Week 5: Screening: Caught
Week 6: Caught and melodrama
Week 7: Screening: The Reckless Moment
Week 8: The Reckless Moment and melodrama
Week 9: Screening: Le Plaisir
Week 10: Style and narration in Le Plaisir

Background reading:

Thomas Schatz: Hollywood Genres
Steave Neale: Genre and Hollywood
David Bordwell & Kristin Thompson: Film Art: An Introduction
Lutz Bacher: Max Ophüls in the Hollywood Studios

Staff

Course aims

Course aim:
The course aims to examine the work of director Max Ophüls 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 Max Ophüls 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 highlight 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 this course students wll 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 Ophüls' visual style and thematic preoccupations.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Home/EU fee: £145.00

Non-EU fee: £145.00

Apply for this course