Reading images: exploring film studies
Time: 18:00 - 19:30
Location: Keeley Street
Choose a start date
- Course Code: HF151
- Dates: 08/01/25 - 12/02/25
- Time: 18:00 - 19:30
- Taught: Wed, Evening
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Cristina Massaccesi
Course Code: HF151
Choose a start date
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
During the course we will cover basic ideas about film history (e.g. cinematic avant-gardes), film analysis (e.g. mise-en-scène, editing and sound) and film theory (e.g. genre theory).
BIOGRAHICAL DETAILS:
Dr Cristina Massaccesi is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of European Languages, Cultures and Society of University College London. Her fields of teaching and research are Film Studies and Sequential Art. She's just published a book on FW Murnau's Nosferatu (Auteur and Columbia University Press, 2015) and is currently working on a new book project on James Cameron's Aliens (1986) for Auteur's forthcoming Constellations series.
What will we cover?
- Identify key aspects in films.
- Appreciate the process behind filmmaking.
- Discuss films analytically and critically.
Proposed timetable
Week 1: The Birth of Cinema
Week 2: Cinematic Avant-gardes: German Expressionism and Soviet Montage
Week 3: Setting the scene: Mise-en-scène and Cinematography
Week 4: Creating a Story: Editing
Week 5: Hearing Films: Elements of Sound Design
Week 6: Introduction to Genre Theory.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Build on your ability to read texts and watch films, think about them in critical ways and enable you to discuss in an open and supportive manner with others.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Introductory or for anyone interested in film studies.
The ability and willingness to read texts and watch films, think about them in critical ways and discuss in an open and supportive manner with the other people in the class.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The classes will be structured around a combination of tutor presentation, viewing of film extracts and class discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
The tutor will supply all reading and viewing material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look at our range of film studies courses under History, Culture and Writing/Film Studies on our website at
www.citylit.ac.uk.
Dr Cristina Massaccesi is an Associate Professor (Teaching) in the School of European Languages, Culture and Society of UCL. She has published articles on cinema and contemporary culture and her main fields of teaching and research are animation cinema, horror cinema and sequential art. Her book on FW Murnau’s Nosferatu A Symphony of Horror (1922) for the Devil’s Advocates series, was published by Liverpool University Press in October 2015. A new book, also for Liverpool University Press, focusing on James Cameron's Aliens (1986) will be published by the end of 2024.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.