Film & Media: How to Read Film

In this three hour-session, you will get an introduction to

the main elements of film-making and main concepts of film analysis like editing and mise-en-scene.

We’ll start with the classic Hollywood narrative, not only as the blueprint for most feature films (and TV) today, but to learn about key basics of film language as a springboard for understanding how films are constructed and how they create meaning.

We’ll use several film clips from Hollywood and beyond to see these concepts and elements in action and to practice analysing them.

You’ll also get a first insight into the role external factors like financing and cultural context play.

This course is open to those new to film studies as well as those who already have some experience. Part of an occasional series of ‘film studies day schools’ it is intended to give participants a first introduction to film as a basis for further study.

During our session, we will look at selected clips from a range of film. It isn’t a prerequisite to know or watch these films in their entirety for this course.

You’ll need to be ready to make some notes and to take part in small group exercises.