This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to
contemporary fema...
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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This online film studies course will offer an introduction to key contemporary debates on feminism, its impact on film reception and on women’s independent film production. It will focus on female subjectivities and on how women act and desire, and document (self) realities, as well as considering how they play with and deconstruct cinematic genres such as the horror film, the western, the road movie, and the teenpic, while renewing film aesthetics by deconstructing fixed norms. The course will re-evaluate female cinema between gender and genre, local and global representation, and First and Third World cinema productions.
What will we cover?
This course will explore the history of female representation. It will evaluate the importance of women filmmakers in Film history and how they have fought to be visible, from the pioneers of the past to the contemporary generation of filmmakers who focus on questions of female authorship and bodies as a site of desire. The course will further discuss women documentary filmmakers and consider what kind of aesthetic and narrative strategies they create to reflect this type of cinema (from improvised autobiographies to nuanced political and ethical viewpoints) in a postcolonial world. In addition, the course will debate some of the contemporary challenges facing women filmmakers including questions of post-feminism and ecofeminism.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Appreciate a range of films from key female filmmakers
Develop a nuanced understanding of aspects of gender representation
Enhance your knowledge of gender studies, postcolonial theories, and feminist debates including current debates around ecofeminism.
Explore and question the female gaze, female authorship, and contemporary subjectivities
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is an introductory course and as such does not presuppose any prior expertise in film history or film analysis. The skills required to explore the topics and the films will be discussed in class.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be delivered by the tutor with small and large group discussions. Short film extracts will be screened throughout. Reading relevant to the course will be made available in Google Classroom. Where possible links to films online will be provided.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Clips will be shown extensively throughout the course. Where possible links to online sources will be made available.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Dr Karine Chevalier is a lecturer in Film studies. She is also a filmmaker. Her main research interests lie in the field of Transnational Cinema, French and Francophone Cinema, Visual Arts and Aesthetics, Postcolonial Studies, Intermediality, as well as Screenwriting and Filmmaking, with a specific focus on Violence and Resilience, Creative Voices, Digital Storytelling and Multiscreens, Alterities and Minorities, Moving (auto)Portraits and Masks.
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/women-in-film-an-introduction919476Women in Film: An Introductionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/https://www.citylit.ac.uk/static/version1768481914/frontend/WilliamsCommerce/citylit/en_GB/Magento_Catalog/images/product/placeholder/image.jpg179179GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Introductory & general/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Courses/International Women's Day at City Lit228511771548158020031228511771580<p>This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to contemporary female filmmakers while paying attention to cultural creative diversity. </p>002925573Women in Film: An Introduction179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/no_selectionInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-05T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMay 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHF414179179Women in Film: An Introduction179116179Karine Chevalierwomen-in-film-an-introduction/hf414-2526<p>This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to contemporary female filmmakers while paying attention to cultural creative diversity. </p>0000-Available|2026-05-05 00:00:00<p>This online film studies course will offer an introduction to key contemporary debates on feminism, its impact on film reception and on women’s independent film production. It will focus on female subjectivities and on how women act and desire, and document (self) realities, as well as considering how they play with and deconstruct cinematic genres such as the horror film, the western, the road movie, and the teenpic, while renewing film aesthetics by deconstructing fixed norms. The course will re-evaluate female cinema between gender and genre, local and global representation, and First and Third World cinema productions.</p><p>This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to contemporary female filmmakers while paying attention to cultural creative diversity. </p><p>This course will explore the history of female representation. It will evaluate the importance of women filmmakers in Film history and how they have fought to be visible, from the pioneers of the past to the contemporary generation of filmmakers who focus on questions of female authorship and bodies as a site of desire. The course will further discuss women documentary filmmakers and consider what kind of aesthetic and narrative strategies they create to reflect this type of cinema (from improvised autobiographies to nuanced political and ethical viewpoints) in a postcolonial world. In addition, the course will debate some of the contemporary challenges facing women filmmakers including questions of post-feminism and ecofeminism.</p><ul><li>Appreciate a range of films from key female filmmakers</li><li>Develop a nuanced understanding of aspects of gender representation</li><li>Enhance your knowledge of gender studies, postcolonial theories, and feminist debates including current debates around ecofeminism.</li><li>Explore and question the female gaze, female authorship, and contemporary subjectivities</li></ul><p>This course is an introductory course and as such does not presuppose any prior expertise in film history or film analysis. The skills required to explore the topics and the films will be discussed in class.</p><p>The course will be delivered by the tutor with small and large group discussions. Short film extracts will be screened throughout. Reading relevant to the course will be made available in Google Classroom. Where possible links to films online will be provided.</p><p>Clips will be shown extensively throughout the course. Where possible links to online sources will be made available.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesIntroductory & generalvirtual179179116HF414NONETue05/05/26 - 09/06/2618:00 - 20:0018:0020:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineKarine ChevalierBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-05-05T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanities179179Women in Film: An Introductionwomen-in-film-an-introduction/hf414-2526<p>This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to contemporary female filmmakers while paying attention to cultural creative diversity. </p>0000-Available|2026-05-05 00:00:00<p>This online film studies course will offer an introduction to key contemporary debates on feminism, its impact on film reception and on women’s independent film production. It will focus on female subjectivities and on how women act and desire, and document (self) realities, as well as considering how they play with and deconstruct cinematic genres such as the horror film, the western, the road movie, and the teenpic, while renewing film aesthetics by deconstructing fixed norms. The course will re-evaluate female cinema between gender and genre, local and global representation, and First and Third World cinema productions.</p><p>This course will discuss the development of women’s cinematic modes of representation and expression, and the place of women in the film industry within the current social, political and cultural climate. It will begin by considering the question of gender representation and will develop towards an examination of the contemporary notion of the ‘female gaze’. The course will refer to key pioneers as well as to contemporary female filmmakers while paying attention to cultural creative diversity. </p><p>This course will explore the history of female representation. It will evaluate the importance of women filmmakers in Film history and how they have fought to be visible, from the pioneers of the past to the contemporary generation of filmmakers who focus on questions of female authorship and bodies as a site of desire. The course will further discuss women documentary filmmakers and consider what kind of aesthetic and narrative strategies they create to reflect this type of cinema (from improvised autobiographies to nuanced political and ethical viewpoints) in a postcolonial world. In addition, the course will debate some of the contemporary challenges facing women filmmakers including questions of post-feminism and ecofeminism.</p><ul><li>Appreciate a range of films from key female filmmakers</li><li>Develop a nuanced understanding of aspects of gender representation</li><li>Enhance your knowledge of gender studies, postcolonial theories, and feminist debates including current debates around ecofeminism.</li><li>Explore and question the female gaze, female authorship, and contemporary subjectivities</li></ul><p>This course is an introductory course and as such does not presuppose any prior expertise in film history or film analysis. The skills required to explore the topics and the films will be discussed in class.</p><p>The course will be delivered by the tutor with small and large group discussions. Short film extracts will be screened throughout. Reading relevant to the course will be made available in Google Classroom. Where possible links to films online will be provided.</p><p>Clips will be shown extensively throughout the course. Where possible links to online sources will be made available.</p><p>Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>Film studiesIntroductory & generalconfigurable
15481580Introductory & generalhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/film-studies/introductory-general1/2/285/1177/1580/15481/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Film studies/Introductory & general
