The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical...
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This advanced film studies course explores the history of cinema, as well as what it means to study cinema history. In taking a self-reflexive approach to the object of the study, the course will open up the complexity of the discipline and demonstrate the multiple perspectives that might be taken. We will look at how certain earlier historical methods are now considered rather less reliable than previously thought and show how the narratives that have evolved to tell the ‘story’ of cinema need to be regularly put into question. We will explore a range of methodological approaches and use various examples to illustrate some of the histories of cinema that one might tell. In doing so we will think about questions of nation, culture, industry, and technology. We will analyse individual films and filmmakers, but we will also look at those associated with particular groups or specific moments in film and/or broader history. We will explore the national, cultural, political and social contexts that relate to particular areas of film history, whether we are thinking about film as an industrial product or a cultural artefact, in other words, a work of art.
In highlighting a range of methodologies and adopting some of these in your own analyses, this course will deepen your understanding of film history, but it will also expand your ideas about what it means to undertake historical research, in effect what doing film history might actually be.
What will we cover?
What it means to study film history
Key methodological approaches to the study of film history
The national, cultural, political and social context determining a given period in film history
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Demonstrate familiarity with a range of methodological approaches to the study of film history
Have an understanding of the complexity, mutability and diversity of historical approaches to the study of film
Critically evaluate the role of specific filmmakers and/or films in the development of film history
Evaluate the role and importance of the national, cultural, political and social context for film history
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is designed for those wishing to expand upon their existing knowledge of film studies. It does presuppose some previous familiarity with film studies and as such is not aimed at beginners. The course will be useful for those considering further study, possibly at university level.
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. Some directed reading and viewing outside of the class will also be required.
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?
This course is followed by HF332 Ways into Advanced Film Studies: Film Theory. You can also look for other FilmStudies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk
Dr. Paul Sutton is an independent film scholar who has taught Film Studies in UK higher education for over 25 years. His research covers psychoanalytic and film theory as well as Italian and French cinema and critical theory. He has published articles in journals such as Screen, French Studies and the Journal for Cultural Research. He is currently writing a psychoanalytic book on film spectatorship, Afterwardsness in Film, and has recently published work on television as a form of palliative care, and an assessment of the films of the Italian experimental filmmaker Ugo Nespolo.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/ways-into-advanced-film-studies-film-history2489725Ways into advanced film studies: film historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/https://www.citylit.ac.uk/static/version1762433779/frontend/WilliamsCommerce/citylit/en_GB/Magento_Catalog/images/product/placeholder/image.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Advanced film studies22851177158020821228511771580<p>The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.</p>002629398Ways into advanced film studies: film history149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/no_selectionInStockEveningTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-06T00:00:00+00:00AdvancedJan 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHF331149149Ways into advanced film studies: film history14997149Paul Suttonways-into-advanced-film-studies-film-history/hf331-2526<p>The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.</p>0000-Available|2026-01-06 00:00:00<p>This advanced film studies course explores the history of cinema, as well as what it means to study cinema history. In taking a self-reflexive approach to the object of the study, the course will open up the complexity of the discipline and demonstrate the multiple perspectives that might be taken. We will look at how certain earlier historical methods are now considered rather less reliable than previously thought and show how the narratives that have evolved to tell the ‘story’ of cinema need to be regularly put into question. We will explore a range of methodological approaches and use various examples to illustrate some of the histories of cinema that one might tell. In doing so we will think about questions of nation, culture, industry, and technology. We will analyse individual films and filmmakers, but we will also look at those associated with particular groups or specific moments in film and/or broader history. We will explore the national, cultural, political and social contexts that relate to particular areas of film history, whether we are thinking about film as an industrial product or a cultural artefact, in other words, a work of art.</p><p>In highlighting a range of methodologies and adopting some of these in your own analyses, this course will deepen your understanding of film history, but it will also expand your ideas about what it means to undertake historical research, in effect what doing film history might actually be.</p><p>The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.</p><ul><li>What it means to study film history</li><li>Key methodological approaches to the study of film history</li><li>The national, cultural, political and social context determining a given period in film history</li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate familiarity with a range of methodological approaches to the study of film history</li><li>Have an understanding of the complexity, mutability and diversity of historical approaches to the study of film</li><li>Critically evaluate the role of specific filmmakers and/or films in the development of film history</li><li>Evaluate the role and importance of the national, cultural, political and social context for film history</li></ul><p>The course is designed for those wishing to expand upon their existing knowledge of film studies. It does presuppose some previous familiarity with film studies and as such is not aimed at beginners. The course will be useful for those considering further study, possibly at university level.</p><p>Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. Some directed reading and viewing outside of the class will also be required.</p><p>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.</p><p>This course is followed by HF332 Ways into Advanced Film Studies: Film Theory. You can also look for other FilmStudies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk</p>Film studiesAdvanced film studiesvirtual14914997HF331NONETue06/01/26 - 10/02/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetPaul SuttonAdvancedAvailable courses2026-01-06T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Culture, history & humanities149149Ways into advanced film studies: film historyways-into-advanced-film-studies-film-history/hf331-2526<p>The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.</p>0000-Available|2026-01-06 00:00:00<p>This advanced film studies course explores the history of cinema, as well as what it means to study cinema history. In taking a self-reflexive approach to the object of the study, the course will open up the complexity of the discipline and demonstrate the multiple perspectives that might be taken. We will look at how certain earlier historical methods are now considered rather less reliable than previously thought and show how the narratives that have evolved to tell the ‘story’ of cinema need to be regularly put into question. We will explore a range of methodological approaches and use various examples to illustrate some of the histories of cinema that one might tell. In doing so we will think about questions of nation, culture, industry, and technology. We will analyse individual films and filmmakers, but we will also look at those associated with particular groups or specific moments in film and/or broader history. We will explore the national, cultural, political and social contexts that relate to particular areas of film history, whether we are thinking about film as an industrial product or a cultural artefact, in other words, a work of art.</p><p>In highlighting a range of methodologies and adopting some of these in your own analyses, this course will deepen your understanding of film history, but it will also expand your ideas about what it means to undertake historical research, in effect what doing film history might actually be.</p><p>The history of the cinema is a rich, rewarding and dynamic area of study. Cinema, because it is both an art form and an industrial product, can be studied from several different historical perspectives. These have included investigations into the history of technological development associated with cinema’s origins and its subsequent development, but historians have also explored its evolution into an art form. They have written about important individual figures or influential groups and have examined specific films in great detail. Historians have also examined the national, cultural, political and social contexts that might offer insight into the cinema at a given historical moment. They have examined the changing demographic and viewing habits of spectators and explored the mutability of cinemas themselves. With so much to consider and so many different approaches to take, the history of cinema continues to evolve. As such this advanced level film studies course will explore what it means to study film history, examine the various methodologies that one might take, while at the same time looking at relevant filmic and cinematic examples.</p><ul><li>What it means to study film history</li><li>Key methodological approaches to the study of film history</li><li>The national, cultural, political and social context determining a given period in film history</li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate familiarity with a range of methodological approaches to the study of film history</li><li>Have an understanding of the complexity, mutability and diversity of historical approaches to the study of film</li><li>Critically evaluate the role of specific filmmakers and/or films in the development of film history</li><li>Evaluate the role and importance of the national, cultural, political and social context for film history</li></ul><p>The course is designed for those wishing to expand upon their existing knowledge of film studies. It does presuppose some previous familiarity with film studies and as such is not aimed at beginners. The course will be useful for those considering further study, possibly at university level.</p><p>Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. Some directed reading and viewing outside of the class will also be required.</p><p>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.</p><p>This course is followed by HF332 Ways into Advanced Film Studies: Film Theory. You can also look for other FilmStudies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk</p>Film studiesAdvanced film studiesconfigurable
20821580Advanced film studieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/advanced-film-studies1/2/285/1177/1580/20821/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Advanced film studies
