Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies

Film Logo

Full-time: 3 years
Awarding Body: HETAC

Films are now central to our experience of the world and the BA (Hons) Film Studies offers an opportunity to embark upon an invigorating and detailed exploration of this most pervasive and compelling of mediums. Across the three years of the programme you will engage with the full range of critical, theoretical, historical and other relevant debates that have accompanied the evolution of the cinema. You will also have the opportunity to experience the practical aspect of the subject and discover the many ways in which the practical and the critical combine to further develop your understanding of how films work. Whether studying the earliest documentary footage of workers leaving factories or watching the latest animated blockbuster the study of Film at Dublin Business School is an exciting, challenging and wholly rewarding experience.

 
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Year 1

Semester 1

Academic Supports Workshop I

Academic Supports Workshop I

The aim of this module is to promote academic confidence and awareness in new learners by allowing them to reflect upon the key issues that arise when starting a degree. This module will also outline and examine the key responsibilities all new learners have in relation to their own academic development. Guided by a series of pertinent questions and supported by practical exercises, workshops, site visits, seminars, discussions and other related activities learners will be given the opportunity to begin to develop the necessary skills required for participation and progression.
American Cinema And Society

American Cinema And Society

This module will introduce learners to American cinema between 1895 and 1960, tracing the development of film form in this period, addressing the rise of the studio system and the evolution of the classical Hollywood narrative. Learners will also be introduced to the analysis of American film form, drawing connections between film text and social and industrial context. This module will also introduce learners to the concepts of stardom and performance as well as the importance of genre to Hollywood cinema.
Critical Approaches to Film I

Critical Approaches to Film I

This module will provide an introduction to the various ways in which the study of Film has developed from a critical and theoretical perspective. Through the use of particular case studies, the module will offer a chronological exploration of the key moments when critical and theoretical concerns have intersected with major movements and/or individual contributions to the development of the medium. Learners will be given an opportunity to develop an understanding of the ways in which the history of the medium and the history of film theory are intertwined.
Introduction to European Cinema

Introduction to European Cinema

This module will introduce learners to the range of films which exist outside of the realm of popular Hollywood cinema, particularly films produced in Europe before World War 2, including cinema from France, Germany and Britain. This module will also consider the idea of film as an art form and examine the relationship between this notion and the understanding of cinema as an industry. Learners will also be introduced to the concept of national cinema.
Framing the Image

Framing the Image

This module will provide an introduction to the history and importance of photography as a medium, beginning with a history of the medium and a consideration of some of the key debates associated with it. It will offer practical instruction in the basics of digital photography and provide opportunities for the learner to develop an ability in this area. Learners will be encouraged to develop an awareness of the history and importance of photography as a medium. In conjunction with this they will be taught basic skills in digital photography and post-capture production using Adobe Photoshop. This module will initiate a crucial understanding of key photographic elements like framing, composition, light, perspective, depth and colour.
Introduction to Production Skills I

Introduction to Production Skills I

This module will introduce learners to the basic elements of film production.

Year 2

Semester 1

Post-war European Cinema

Post-war European Cinema

This module will introduce learners to the diverse cinematic output which has emerged from Europe since World War II, including Italian neo-realism, the French New-Wave and New German Cinema. This module will also examine the debates around cinematic realism, art cinema and authorship which have been central to the theorizing of European cinema. Learners will also be encouraged to challenge the simplistic characterization of European cinema as art cinema, instead developing a more nuanced understanding of Europe’s relationship to Hollywood and the notion of popular cinema.
Cinema & Identity

Cinema & Identity

This module will introduce learners to questions of identity and representation in cinema and examine how issues of gender, sexuality and race are explicitly and implicitly addressed in mainstream cinema as well as in more oppositional forms. The module will also ask learners to consider the relationship between ideology and film form, grounding the reading of film texts firmly in social context. This module will also engage with the theoretical debates which have arisen around issues of representation in film, in particular the critical approaches to film which have been offered by feminist and gay and lesbian film theory.
Mise-en-scéne: Film Style & Interpretation

Mise-en-scéne: Film Style & Interpretation

Taking as its starting point the question what does it mean to ‘read’ a film, this module will consider the history of mise-en-scène criticsm as a distinct approach to writing about films.
Documentary and Non-fiction Film

Documentary and Non-fiction Film

From the earliest examples of documentary practices found at the end of the 19th Century to contemporary developments across various national cinemas, this module is designed to introduce the learner to the history and development of various forms of documentary and other non-fiction film-making and the critical and theoretical responses to them. Learners will also explore other issues relevant to this area of film including technological innovations, ethics and aesthetics, censorship and propaganda, cultural memory, reportage, realism, reflexivity and representation.
Introduction to Scriptwriting

Introduction to Scriptwriting

The purpose of this module is to introduce the learner to the process of scriptwriting for the screen. The module will explore the fundamentals of storytelling and help the learner develop the practical skills necessary to construct the final version of a short film script. This module will also introduce the learner to the variety of strategies involved in visualising drama and constructing dialogue. Learners will also be given a regular opportunity to develop a creative response to the process through regular workshops, read-throughs and feedback sessions. In order to facilitate process learners will be expected to write and develop their scripts outside of the timetabled hours.

Year 3

Semester 1

Contemporary American Cinema

Contemporary American Cinema

This module will introduce learners to American cinema of the post-classical era, drawing connections between social and industrial shifts and the changing aesthetics of American film in this period. The module will begin with the director-led cinema of the 1970s, before addressing the rise of the blockbuster and the return of independent filmmaking in the 1990s. The module will address the films of the period from a variety of perspectives and will also consider both the connections and discontinuities which can be traced between contemporary and classical Hollywood, including the transformation of classical genres.
National Cinemas I

National Cinemas I

Writing about Film

Writing about Film

This module will examine in detail the practical process of film reviewing. The module will begin by examining significant examples of film reviewing across the history of cinema.Learners will then develop their own reviewing skills through a series of classroom exercises, seminar discussions and other activities designed to allow learners to respond appropriately to mainstream, independent and foreign language films within a variety of professional reviewing formats. Learners will also be given the opportunity to develop a personal writing style and create an individual portfolio of reviews.
Auteur Studies

Auteur Studies

This module will apply the concept of auteurism in cinema, as developed after World War II, to a close study of a chosen post-war film director or directors. The module will seek to place the close discussion of a director’s output in the context of the contemporary critical and theoretical debates on auteur cinema. Learners will also become familiar with the critical literature (reviews, interviews, commentaries, critical studies in journals and books) pertaining to the studied films of a director or directors.
Production Project

Production Project

The aim of this module is to allow the learner to bring together all of the practical skills so far developed on the programme and complete a practical media production project either independently or as part of a group. This project may take the form of a film or video. Alternatively, and in agreement with the department, this project may take other related forms such as animation, moving image installations or a portfolio of creative production work. The final nature of the project will be determined by the learner’s experience of the programme to date, the critical and practical skills they have developed and the feasibility of the project. The key aim of this module will be to allow learners the opportunity to develop creative ideas through the application of practical skills. This module will be workshop-driven and will take the form of a programme of guided and individual or group-learning opportunities organised in consultation between the learner(s) and the department and continually monitored. Masterclasses and case studies from both internal and external expertise will also be arranged to ensure that the learner experience is as broad as possible and that the opportunities for creative expression are fully realised.

 

Year 1

Semester 2

Academic Supports Workshop II

Academic Supports Workshop II

Following on from many of the issues raised in the first semester this module will consider in more detail the various areas of learner confidence and development pertinent to Third Level. Areas for consideration will include critical thinking, self-directed learning, coordinating research activities, synthesising arguments and establishing connections between ideas. Guided by a series of pertinent questions and supported by practical exercises, workshops, site visits, seminars, discussions and other related activities learners will be given the further opportunity to develop their academic confidence and engagement.
Genre and American Cinema

Genre and American Cinema

This module will introduce learners to the concept of genre as a means of categorizing and theorizing film. In particular, this module will address the evolution of individual genres within American cinema, situating their development within the social and economic contexts in which they emerge. Learners will also be introduced to the methodological approaches and problems of genre study whilst presenting the features of key American genres like the western, film noir, the ‘women’s film’ and the horror film. This module will also consider the ideological implications of genre operations, particularly the ways in which different genres articulate gender relationships.
Critical Approaches to Film II

Critical Approaches to Film II

This module will develop the coverage of issues and ideas raised in the first semester, exploring critical concepts about the cinema in order to develop a broader critical and theoretical knowledge.Through the use of particular case studies, the module will offer a chronological exploration of the key moments when critical and theoretical concerns have intersected with major movements and/or individual contributions to the development of the medium. Learners will be given an opportunity to develop an understanding of the ways in which the history of the medium and the history of film theory are intertwined.
Introduction to European Cinema

Introduction to European Cinema

This module will introduce learners to the range of films which exist outside of the realm of popular Hollywood cinema, particularly films produced in Europe before World War 2, including cinema from France, Germany and Britain. This module will also consider the idea of film as an art form and examine the relationship between this notion and the understanding of cinema as an industry. Learners will also be introduced to the concept of national cinema.
Using the Image

Using the Image

This moduel aims toprovide learners with an opportunity to further develop skills relevant to the principles and practices of digital photography with special regard to post-production.
Introduction to Production Skills II

Introduction to Production Skills II

Following on from the skills developed in the First Semester, the purpose of this module is to introduce the learner to the basic principles and practices of the post-production stage of the filmmaking process. Learners will be provided with an opportunity to examine the evolution and principles of film editing with a view to developing expertise in cutting room procedure, editing workflow and industry codes of conduct. Learners will also be provided with an introduction to the theory and practice of sound in post-production. Hands-on instruction will be offered in the use of Final Cut Pro. Students will become acquainted with the pivotal role editing plays in the filmmaking process and also begin to develop an awareness of how editing has evolved as an integral aspect of the medium.

Year 2

Semester 2

New Waves in World Cinema

New Waves in World Cinema

This module will further explore the diversity of film practices which have emerged outside Europe and America since World War II. Learners will be asked to critically engage with the formal and narrative strategies employed within the films screened, and to consider how these strategies function to create meaning. Learners will also be asked to consider issues of representation which arise in world cinema, particularly around issues of gender, national identity and race.
Sound and Cinema

Sound and Cinema

This module will consider the significant relationship between film sound and image from a variety of perspectives. Beginning with the historical and technological and then widening this investigation to consider the critical, cultural and theoretical, this module will examine the ways in which sound and music have combined and continue to combine to significant effect with the moving image. Through the use of case studies this module will also consider the contributions made by key personnel to this aspect of the medium.
Stardom and Performance

Stardom and Performance

This module will focus on the question of performance and the creation of meaning in cinema, including the functioning of the star system. Learners will be given a detailed understanding of the economics of the star system, as well as asking them to consider the ways in which stardom affects interpretations of a film text. The module will address themes such as the construction of the star persona, issues of ethnicity and the changing meaning of stardom in the digital age.
Experimental and Avant-Garde Film & Video

Experimental and Avant-Garde Film & Video

This module will explore the various movements and themes associated with experimental and avant-garde film and video. Taking a historical approach, this module will offer the learner the opportunity to consider the aesthetic dimensions of this form of filmmaking, the critical perspectives associated with it and the dialectical relationship with the conventions and institutions of mainstream forms of filmmaking. This module will also allow learners to position this history within a broader cultural context and examine the various practices in relation to their production and reception.
Production and Development

Production and Development

Following on from the short film scripts developed in the First Semester, the purpose of this module is to provide learners with a detailed overview of the production process from script to screen with a view to them producing a short film or related project in the first Semester of the Award stage. In order for this objective to be achieved learners will be required to engage in individual and group activity outside of the module’s timetabled hours. This is to ensure that the learner experience is is wholly reflective of the rhythms, requirements and nature of the contemporary industry. This module will also give learners an insight into professional standards and procedures and introduce them to the specific stages of film production, including principal photography, post-production, marketing, distribution and exhibition.

Year 3

Semester 2

Contemporary World Cinema

Contemporary World Cinema

This module will provide learners with the opportunity to examine ongoing developments and current film practices in world cinema. The module will address filmmaking practice, aesthetics and representational issues within a variety of different national cinemas, including Iran, Korea, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Learners will be asked to consider the extent to which the films studied differ significantly from the dominant cinematic forms of Hollywood. The module will also examine the concept of transnational cinema and question its usefulness as a means of understanding the global film landscape.
National Cinemas II

National Cinemas II

This module will further develop the understanding of national cinemas gained in Cinema and Nation I. Taking a different national cinema as case study or adopting a broader theoretical perspective, it will encourage learners to distinguish connections and divergences between films produced in different national contexts. Alternatively, by drawing upon relevant research interests learners will also have the opportunity to analyse the inequities that perpetuate networks of power by unlearning racial stereotypes and by acknowledging film and visual media as an important agency in socialisation against marginalised groups.
Film and Digital Culture

Film and Digital Culture

The aim of this module is to examine the rise of digital filmmaking tools and consider their impact on the development of the medium. This module will begin by charting the history of technological developments in this area before moving on to consider the ways in which these developments have led to the creation of new genres and effected other transformations at the levels of industrial evolution, exhibition and distribution, reception and film aesthetics.
Current Trends in Film Theory

Current Trends in Film Theory

This module will extend learners’ conceptual and discursive understanding of the key developments in film theory since the 1970s.The module will begin with a critique of the key modalities which underscore recent theorising about film culture and spectatorship. The module will address and critique recent trends in the study of film which has encouraged more historiographical approaches to assume a prominent position within the canon. The module will also effect a critical reflection on the role film theory can maintain in the critical analysis of cinema culture.
Production Project

Production Project

The aim of this module is to allow the learner to bring together all of the practical skills so far developed on the programme and complete a practical media production project either independently or as part of a group. This project may take the form of a film or video. Alternatively, and in agreement with the department, this project may take other related forms such as animation, moving image installations or a portfolio of creative production work. The final nature of the project will be determined by the learner’s experience of the programme to date, the critical and practical skills they have developed and the feasibility of the project. The key aim of this module will be to allow learners the opportunity to develop creative ideas through the application of practical skills. This module will be workshop-driven and will take the form of a programme of guided and individual or group-learning opportunities organised in consultation between the learner(s) and the department and continually monitored. Masterclasses and case studies from both internal and external expertise will also be arranged to ensure that the learner experience is as broad as possible and that the opportunities for creative expression are fully realised.
Dissertation

Dissertation

Learners are required to complete a 7,000 word dissertation on a subject of their own choosing and agreed by the department. This figure is a recommended maximum and does not include references, bibliographies and appendices. Though learners will work with individual supervisors in the more traditional sense of the process it will also be of great benefit to them to also be given additional generic support and guidance across the semester. In this way support workshops will be timetabled. These workshops will also aid learners in the development of their dissertation topic and will provide guidance in all relevant areas.

 

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