Film Studies
Overview
Film has always been a central part of our cultural landscape and, as the success of streaming platforms like Netflix prove, it is only growing in popularity. So often the topic of our conversation, a means of defining our identities, or even just the way we choose to escape reality, film is worth knowing more about.
The course will see you study film in terms of how construction affects meaning, as well as understanding ideology, narrative, spectatorship, and auteur theory. The creative element allows you to create your own short film or write your own screenplay.
Topics studied in the syllabus include:
- Hollywood 1930-1990: comparison of two Hollywood films, one from the Classical Hollywood period (1930-1960) and the other from the New Hollywood period (1961-1990)
- American film since 2005: study of two American films, one mainstream and one contemporary independent.
- British film since 1995
- Global film: Study of one European film and one produced outside Europe.
- Documentary film
- Silent cinema
- Film movements: Experimental film (1960-2000)
- Coursework: Either a short film (4-5 minutes) or a screenplay for a short film/extract from a feature film
Why choose this course?
If you’re fascinated by film and love diving into what makes a great movie, this course will take your passion to the next level. You’ll explore the psychology behind why films move us, and develop your skills in analysing visual storytelling, genre, and cinematic technique.
Film Studies pairs brilliantly with English thanks to its focus on theory, narrative, and analysis, and also complements creative subjects like design and media. If you already enjoy watching and discussing films, this course will challenge you to think more deeply, see more clearly, and appreciate cinema in entirely new ways.
Potential future pathways:
In 2020 the UK film industry contributed over 7 billion pounds to the UK GDP and it’s an industry that is constantly growing. Film makers from across the world choose the UK to make films because of our incredible track record and the creative talents found here. Think of the biggest films and they will either have been made here or will feature UK talent.
Film studies is an increasingly popular choice for study at university, including at Cambridge. There are also routes directly into the industry with a number of apprenticeships as well as organisations like the BFi film Academy.
Our film studies alumni have gone on to work on films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Marvel’s Black Widow, and had work selected for the London film festival.