FAVz069 New Film History - Resarch Seminar

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 5 credit(s) (plus 3 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Peter Krämer (seminar tutor), doc. Mgr. Pavel Skopal, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Veronika Jančová (assistant)
Mgr. Martin Kos (assistant)
Mgr. Kateřina Šardická (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Skopal, Ph.D.
Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Pavel Skopal, Ph.D.
Timetable
Thu 19. 4. 10:50–14:05 U34, Thu 26. 4. 10:50–14:05 U34, Thu 3. 5. 10:50–14:05 U34, Thu 10. 5. 10:50–14:05 U34, Thu 17. 5. 10:50–14:05 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 14 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Thursday, 19 April, 10.50-14.05 10.50 Welcome 11.00 Students briefly introduce themselves and the projects they are working on or preparing for 11.15 Questions about this course outline and about the introductory text that was circulated 11.30 Discussion of responses to, and questions about, 2001: A Space Odyssey 12.15 Coffee break 12.30 Discussion continued 13.15 Analysis of the film’s form, style and themes 14.05 The End For the second seminar on 26 April, students should read the following two pieces: - Peter Krämer, “’Dear Mr. Kubrick’: Audience Responses to 2001: A Space Odyssey in the Late 1960s”, Participations: Journal of Audience and Reception Studies, vol. 6, no. 2 (November 2009), http://www.participations.org/Volume%206/Issue%202/kramernew.pdf (freely accessible online) - Peter Krämer, 2001: A Space Odyssey (BFI Film Classics), London: British Film Institute, 2010, pp. 18-31, 41-55 (since this is a very short book, you may want to read all of it; the text will be made available) Thursday, 26 April, 10.50-14.05 10.50 Comparison of audience responses to 2001 in the late 1960s (as analysed in the Participations essay) with the responses discussed on 19 April 11.30 Discussion of methodological issues raised in the Participations essay 12.15 Coffee break 12.30 Talk by tutor about Film Studies, the concept of “authorship” and the study of production histories of films 13.30 Discussion of the production history of 2001: A Space Odyssey (as analysed in the BFI Film Classic) 14.05 The End For the third seminar on 3 May, students will have to watch the original theatrical release version of Avatar and carry out some online research on the film’s marketing (e.g. posters, trailers, publicity, merchandise), and formulate possible research questions, which could form the basis for their research exercise. They should also study the extensive bibliography on Avatar which will be circulated and read the following essay: - Peter Krämer, “From 2001: Space Odyssey to Avatar: Reflections on Cultural Impact and Academic Research”, Screening the Past, no. 42 (October 2017), http://www.screeningthepast.com/2017/09/from-2001-space-odyssey-to-avatar-reflections-on-cultural-impact-and-academic-research/ (freely accessible online) Thursday, 3 May, 10.50-14.05 10.50 Discussion of methodological issues raised in the Screening the Past essay 11.30 Discussion of the marketing of Avatar 12.15 Coffee break 12.30 Discussion of research questions about Avatar 13.30 Planning the presentations for the next two sessions MA and PhD students will do 15 min formal presentations about their own projects (not about Avatar) which will then be discussed by all students for about 10 min. If there is enough time, undergraduates can talk more informally about their own research projects. If there are too many formal presentations for the available time slots, these will have to be shortened. 14.05 The End Thursday, 10 May, 10.50-14.05 10.50 Four formal presentations with discussion 12.30 Coffee break 12.45 Three formal presentations with discussion 14.05 The End Thursday, 17 May, 10.50-14.05 10.50 Four formal presentations with discussion 12.30 Coffee break 12.45 Three formal presentations with discussion 14.05 The End
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to prepare and defend their research project and to design a research based on the approaches of the new film history paradigm.
Syllabus
  • This is a discussion-based seminar, not a lecture. Drawing on some of the tutor’s own work on 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Avatar (2009), the seminar will reflect on the nature and practicalities of film historical research (whereby history is here meant to include the very recent past). In addition to formal, stylistic and thematic film analysis, discussions will deal with the process of film production as well as with film marketing and reception. The seminar is suitable for all students who are currently involved in, or are preparing for, a substantial film-related research project (ranging from undergraduate essays to PhD dissertations). All participants have to be willing to discuss their projects in class; MA and PhD students will be required to give formal presentations. Participants are required to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey before the first seminar on 19 April 2018. They will also have to carry out and write up a research exercise on Avatar. For the first seminar on 19 April, the tutor will circulate an extensive introductory text outlining key developments in the history of Film Studies and the genesis of one of the tutor’s current research projects (on Avatar). Students should read this text by 19 April and also take notes on any questions they might have about it. After watching 2001: A Space Odyssey, students should also take notes on their responses to the film; rather than analysing the film, the task is to analyse one’s own reaction to it (also taking into account previous occasions of watching the film, what one knew about it before seeing it for the first time, one’s expectations etc.). The final task is to formulate questions about the film that one could imagine doing research on (questions about form, style and themes, about production, marketing and reception etc.).
Teaching methods
The seminar is suitable for all students who are currently involved in, or are preparing for, a substantial film-related research project (ranging from undergraduate essays to PhD dissertations). All participants have to be willing to discuss their projects in class; MA and PhD students will be required to give formal presentations.
Assessment methods
Students who are not required to give formal presentations should use their free time during the last two weeks to work on the research exercise about Avatar. Students who do give formal presentations can do so after 17 May. Details about the exercise (including the submission deadline) to be given out later.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Full time students: 100% presence at the lectures is required. Distance students: two absences are tolerated.
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
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