Course

Course Outline

Unit 1

Introduction to Film Studies-What is Cinema? – Film language, grammar, composition and narrative logic in Cinema-Evolution of Cinema as an art form-literature and cinema: interdisciplinary dimensions-Classics of World Films and Indian films-Techniques and Movements-representative films.

Unit 2

Theory-Structuralism-Formalism-Autuer Theory-Soviet Film Theory-Eisenstein and the Theory of montage-Andre Bazin and realism in cinema.

Unit 3

Movements-Italian New Realism-German Expressionism and Film Noir-Film genres-French, Italian, Latin American, Japanese, Iranian, Korean, Indian New Waves.

Unit 4

Approaches-Apparatus Theory-Semiotic -Psychoanalytic – Ideology-Representation-Feminism in Film Theory-Post Theory in Film Studies.

Unit 5

SELECTFILMS FOR SCREENING AND DISCUSSION:

1. Sergei Eisenstein: Battleship Potemkin
2. Vittorio De Sica: Bicycle Thieves
3. Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times
4. Jean Renoir: The Rules of the Game
5. Akira Kurosowa: Rashomon
6. Satyajith Ray: PatherPanchali
7. Robert Wiene: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
8. Alfred Hitchcock: Rear Window
9. Jean-Luc Godard: Breathless
10. Ingmar Bergman: Wild Strawberries
11. RitwikGhatak: Meghe Dhaka Tara
12. K. G. George: Yavanika

To expose students to film studies; to create awareness about the major theories, techniques and narrative strategies of film and its appreciationacross time; to introduce students to films produced in various cultures.

1. Andre Bazin: “The Evolution of the Language of Cinema”.
2. Satyajith Ray: “What is Wrong with Indian Films?”.
3. Buddhadeb Das Gupta: “Literature, Cinema and the Language of Scenario”.
4. Dix, Andrew: Beginning Film Studies. New Delhi: Viva Books Private Ltd, 2010.
5. Stam, Robert. Film Theory: An Introduction. UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2000.
6. Babu, N M et al. Introducing Film Studies. Chennai: Mainspring Publishers, 2015.

1. Hollywood Cinema: An Introduction by R. Maltby and I Craven.
2. Film and Theory: An Anthology by Robert Stam and Toby Miller (eds.)
3. Film Studies: Critical Approaches by John Hill and Pamela Church Gibson (eds).
4. Key Concepts in Cinema studies by Susan Hayward.
5. Movies and Methods by Bill Nicholas.
6. Narrative in Fiction and Film: An Introduction by JakoleLothe.
7. Ray, Satyajit. Our Films, Their Films.
8. Miller, Toby, Robert Stam. Eds. A Companion to Film Theory. UK: Blackwell, 1999.
9. Hayward, Susan. Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts. London: Routledge, 2000.
10. Villarejo, Amy. Film Studies: The Basics. Madison: Routledge, 2007.