电影赏析课

英语电影赏析（选修）(1-18周) 教学日历

Appreciating Cinema

Aims of this Course

Stated simply, the aim of the course is to introduce students to the discipline of “film studies”as it applies to films from English-speaking countries, and to demonstrate how methods derived from that discipline can be used to explain and interpret eight popular and well-known films. At the same time, through thinking in English and using the English language to discuss issues related to the subject, students should be able to develop their English-language competence, better their knowledge of the Western way of life, and improve their understanding of English-speaking cultures. The “Critical Perspectives”sections and the “Additional Material”provided by the course tutor both promote a broader understanding of the social, cultural, and historical issues that the films address.

Course Components

Taught Components: General methodology and theory

Interpretation of eight selected films

Additional background material

Assessed Work: In-class discussion and exercise; Presentations and written work

Choice of Films

The films included in this course have been selected according to a number of basic principles. The most basic intention has been to ensure that each film is of a different genre, and the eight films provided examples of each of the eight main film genres. In addition, each of the films is well known, relatively modern, and considered a classic in its own right. They all have a significance and a depth that merits analysis and discussion. All are available in Beijing.

Methodology

The approach is interpretation-based rather than fact-based. This means that students

will be learning how to interpret films, rather than facts about films. The value of this approach is that it provides students with analytical tools and methods that can be applied to films other than those included in this course.

The course attempts to integrate theory and practice. The first five sessions outline some of the methods and theories associated with the discipline, and the final eight demonstrate how they can be applied to better understand specific films. Some of the theoretical ideas introduced in the first session are elaborated in more detail in later sessions.

One of the inevitable consequences of an interpretation-based method is that there is rarely any clear-cut “right or wrong”. This does not mean, however, that all interpretations are equally valid, nor does it imply that interpretation is necessarily “subjective”or “just one’s own opinion”. Convincing interpretation finds a middle ground between “uncontested fact” and “mere opinion”; it relies upon notions such as that of the “educated opinion”or “well-founded argument”. Educated opinions and well-grounded arguments consist, in essence, of opinions and arguments that are logically coherent and backed up by evidence. Put in very simple terms, they are ideas for which good reasons are given.

Students should not feel intimidated. The exercises and discussion questions are designed to guide students in this way of thinking.

Session Arrangement

One weekly session (altogether 140 minutes including two 10-minute breaks) will be re-arranged into two time slots, 60 minutes each with a 20-minute break in between. Content and Planning