The New Wave, realism and genre: British Cinema in the 1960s

What is the course about?

This online film studies course looks at the major developments and issues in British cinema of the 1960s. We will be thinking about the period as one in which renewal and innovation came to characterise British cinema, and to mark it as a point of departure from that of the 1950s, with the new wave group of films and filmmakers, along with popular films cycles, such as the James Bond films, reasserting British cinema in the international film culture of the 1960s. As such the course will consider both the realist and art film tendencies of the new wave, and the various forms of popular genre cinema as contributing factors in the creation of a new British national cinema.

Films featured on the course will be from the following:
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960), The Innocents (1961), Victim (1961), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Billy Liar (1963), The Servant (1963), This Sporting Life (1963), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Cathy Come Home (1964), Goldfinger (1964), Darling (1965), The Ipcress File (1965), Repulsion (1965), Alfie (1966), Blow-Up (1966), Carry On Screaming (1966),If.... (1968), Far From the Madding Crowd (1967), Accident (1967), Oliver! (1968), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)

Prior viewing and reading is not required. The tutor will provide notes for each session and suggest further reading and viewing.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• British new wave cinema
• Realism
• Genre
• Popular cinema
• Art cinema
• National cinema
• Key films and filmmakers, including émigré directors (e.g., Joseph Losey)
• Critical accounts of British cinema.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Describe and evaluate British new wave cinema
• Describe and evaluate a range of concepts (realism, genre, popular cinema, art cinema, national cinema) as they apply to British cinema of the 1960s
• Identify and evaluate key films and filmmakers
• Evaluate British cinema of the 1960s within a critical context.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. It might also be a good idea to see what you can find out about the subject in advance of the class, but this is not essential.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please look for other Film Studies courses at www.citylit.ac.uk/culture, history & writing/film studies.