FILM AND TELEVISION (ENGLISH, THESIS)
Master TR-NQF-HE: Level 7 QF-EHEA: Second Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 7

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
FTV5061 Special Topics in Film and TV I Fall 3 0 3 7
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level:
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ELENI VARMAZI
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ELENI VARMAZI
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives:
Course title: Three European movements in the mid 20th century
(Italian Neorealism, French Nouvelle Vague, British Free Cinema) and their influence on American Independent Cinema

The course examines the three most important European movements in the History of Cinema that took place immediately after the 2nd World War, as well as the way they influenced each other in their consecutive chronological order.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
• Learn the particular historical, aesthetic and technical characteristics of the 3 movements and American Independent Cinema.
• Get acquainted with the most known and representative films of the 3 movements and the “Indies” as well as their directors, actors etc. through the screenings.
• Develop skills to analyse films in terms of their narrative structure and their aesthetic form.

Course Content

These three movements changed the traditional ways of film production. They offered new theories and techniques in filmmaking and shifted the subject matters of the screenplays into new directions.
Neorealism took filmmaking out of the studios, employed amateur actors and dealt with common human stories in post 2nd WW Italy.
French New Wave in 1950’s created the notion of cinephil, the “auteur” theory and the “camera- stylo”. A circle of theorists and film directors used Les Cahiers du Cinema and the Cinematheque Francaise as a step to express their ideology and thinking about cinema.
British Free Cinema or “Kitchen sink” cinema was the result of a search of identity of British film production in the late 50’s and the beginning of 60’s. The issues that occupied the films of the movement were: angry youth, the working class and adaptations of contemporary novels.

Making a lapse of time the course will continue with the examination of American Independent Cinema and the influence that the three European movements had on it.
Although Independent filmmaking in USA existed before the 80’s with directors such as John Casavetes, the term “indie” film predominately appeared in the mid-eighties with films such as Stranger than Paradise, She’s gotta have it and Sex lies and videotape.

The course explores the definitions of ''independent'' film in terms of its means of production and in its dialectical relationship with the commercial mainstream film production. In particular the course seeks to examine how the “indie” film, influenced by European Cinema, is distinguished by its more complex or decentered narrative structure and how its ideology employs alternative issues such as racism, gender, violence etc.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to Italian Neorealism (Bycicle Thieves), the situation of Europe after the WW II
2) Italian Neorealism (Germany year zero), continuing the theory and characteristics of the movement. Readings from Italian Neorealism.
3) Italian Neorealism (Bitter Rice), the decline of the movement in Italy. Readings for the legacy of Italian Neorealism.
4) Italian Neorealism's influence on other National Cinemas. Group Project. Research and preparation for the group presentation.
5) Introduction to French New Wave (400 Blows), the auteur theory, camera stylo etc.
6) French New Wave (Breathless), continuing the theory of French New Wave. Readings for the French New Wave.
7) French New Wave (Cleo from 5 to 7), The Left Bank. Readings for the Left Bank.
8) Introduction to British Free Cinema (Saturday night Sunday morning)
9) British Free Cinema (The loneliness of a long distance runner), continuing the theory for British Free Cinema. Readings for British Free Cinema.
10) British Free Cinema (This sporting life). Begining of Personal Presentations. Readings, research and preparation for Personal Presentation.
11) Introduction to American Independent Cinema (Down by law) Readings, research and preparation for Personal Presentation.
12) American Independent Cinema (cont.) Personal Presentations. Preparation for the students' Personal presentations.
13) American Independent Cinema (Do the right thing), continuing the theory for American Independent Cinema. Readings for American Independent Cinema.
14) American Independent Cinema (Drugstore cowboy), continuing with the movement and looking at the influences of the european movements on American Independent Cinema. Readings for American Independent Cinema.

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Selected readings from:

• Closely Watched Films: An Introduction to the Art of Narrative Film Technique, Fabe Marilyn, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles 2004
• Italian Neorealism- Rebuilding the Cinematic City, Shiel Mark, Wallflower Press, 2005
• Making Waves- New Cinemas of the 1960’s, Geoffrey Nowell- Smith, Continuum, New York, 2008
• American Independent Cinema: A Sight and Sound Reader, Hillier Jim, British Film Institute, London 2008
• American Independent Cinema, King Geoff, Indiana University Press, I.B. Tauris, London and New York 2009
References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Homework Assignments 12 % 15
Presentation 1 % 15
Project 1 % 25
Final 1 % 35
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 40
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 60
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 3 42
Study Hours Out of Class 15 5 75
Presentations / Seminar 1 15 15
Project 1 15 15
Final 1 20 20
Total Workload 167

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Being familiar to the main concepts and methods of the social sciences and the fine arts devoted to understanding the world and the society 4
2) Having comprehensive knowledge regarding different media and branches of art 4
3) Knowing the historical background of audio-visual moving images in the world and in Turkey and keeping pace with the new developments in the area. 5
4) Having a good command of the language and the aesthetics of audio-visual moving images in the world and in Turkey 5
5) Being able to create a narrative to be used in a fiction or a non-fiction audio-visual moving image product 2
6) Being able to write a script ready to be shot 2
7) Having the skills to produce the photoboard of a script in hand and to shoot the film using the camera, the lights and other necessary equipment 2
8) Being able to transfer the footage of a film to the digital medium, edit and do other postproduction operations 2
9) Being able to create a documentary audio visual moving image from the preliminary sketch stage to shooting, editing and postproduction 2
10) Being culturally equipped to make sense of an audio-visual moving image and to approach it critically with regard to its language and narration and being able to express his/her approach in black and white 5
11) Having ethical values and a sense of social responsibility 4