Module Information

Module Identifier
FM21020
Module Title
Hollywood Cinema (1967-now)
Academic Year
2019/2020
Co-ordinator
Dr Kate Woodward
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Successful completion of Part 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay (2000 words)  40%
Semester Assessment Essay (3000 words)  60%
Supplementary Assessment Essay (2000 words) - to a new title  40%
Supplementary Assessment Essay (3000 words) - to a new title  60%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  • Examine and critically evaluate a range of Hollywood film from the 1970s onwards, addressing the relations between their textual form and the ways in which they were produced, distributed and exhibited.
  • Have an understanding of the historical, industrial, political and artistic contexts which have shaped the modern Hollywood film.
  • Draw critically upon a range of research debates concerning the Hollywood system since the 1970s and its role in contemporary culture.

Brief description

This module explores Hollywood cinema from the 1970s to the present era. It will investigate how modern Hollywood cinema has been constructed, consumed and critically analysed since the end of the Classical era. It will consider the Hollywood renaissance of the 1970s, the predominance of the Hollywood blockbuster, the rise of the independents within the Hollywood system, and recent filmmaking in the digital and post-9/11 age. The modules will examine thematic, structural and aesthetic features of contemporary Hollywood filmmaking, paying particular attention to the role of the director, political/cultural influences and franchise filmmaking.

Content

Course delivery:

Lecture: 10 x 1 hour Lectures
Other: 10 x 3 hour Viewings
Seminars / Tutorials: 10 x 1 hour Seminars


Blockbusters
1. The Godfather and the arrival of the 'blockbuster' film in the 1970s & 1980s
2. Selling the modern blockbuster: merchandising the Lord of the Rings trilogy

New Hollywood
3. The 'New Hollywood' Renaissance of the 1960s & 1970s
4. Quentin Tarantino and the 'mainstream independent' films of the 1990s

Intertextuality
5. Back to the Future Part III: intertextuality and genre hybridity
6. Narrative and authorship: David Fincher's serial killer films

Teen Films
7. Genre trends: the rise and rise of the Teen Film
8. 'Post-pop cinema': history, pastiche and teen queens

Hollywood Post - 9/11
9. The Iraq War movie cycle
10. High and low cultures: Hollywood, politics and Team America: World Police

Aims

The module aims to provide students with an opportunity to examine Hollywood films and film culture since the 1970s, as the dominant mode of film production and cinematic textual formation. To introduce students to current bodies of theoretical and empirical investigation of the contribution of film to contemporary culture, in particular as they have been applied to 'contemporary' Hollywood.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number * Students will be given the opportunity to reflect upon basic statistical data (primarily presented in percentages), through encountering key research studies in the field.
Communication * Although not directly assessed, students' written communication skills will be developed (e.g. appropriate language and style, accuracy, precision and ability to be concise). * Although not directly assessed, opportunities will be given, through interactive lecture-workshop sessions, for students to develop confidence in using their speaking and listening skills when communicating their ideas. * Students will develop oral presentation skills by articulating their ideas to the group and putting together a systematic presentation.
Improving own Learning and Performance * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop their critical thinking skills. * Through group and whole class discussion students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary.
Information Technology * Students will be given the opportunity to develop their authorial and note-taking skills when planning and preparing for the written assignments, and will be encoraged to develop their note-taking skills in lectures. * Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills using electronic search and retrieval of sources both on the web and on the AU LIS. * Students will develop their skills when referencing from the web and related sources, and will focus on the selection of materials appropriate to task. * Students will be required to present the essay in word processed form.
Personal Development and Career planning * Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate current knowledge and skills and set targets for self-improvement. * Students will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning. * Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module). * Students will develop self-confidence in public speaking, particularly valuable for those wishing to work in the advertising industry.
Problem solving * Students should be able to identify tensions and debates in the field, and will be encouraged to critically reflect. * Students should gain experience in applying different approaches and materials to understand data and other patterns in research.
Research skills * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be encouraged to evaluate, interpret and reflect upon a variety of sources, and to make links to accomodate new ideas.
Subject Specific Skills
Team work * Most sessions will involve group work where students will be able to collaborate through discussion.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5