General information


Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Jorge Oter Gonzalez
Santos Martínez Labor 

Teaching languages


The exercises can be done in both Spanish and Catalan (or in English, Erasmus).

Skills


Specific skills
  • E14_Acquire knowledge of the history, aesthetics, evolution and dynamics of cinema, television, radio, press, Internet and video games, how to recognize aesthetics through viewing and analysis

Transversal competences
  • T2_That students have the ability to work as members of an interdisciplinary team either as one more member, or performing management tasks in order to contribute to developing projects with pragmatism and a sense of responsibility, making commitments taking into account the available resources

Description


The subject of Film Analysis is within the subject "History" and consists of thinking and applying textual analysis to audiovisual works (films, short films, series, etc.). The subject assumes acquired knowledge related to previous subjects in the subjects History, Communication, Artistic Expression, Image and Business, with which it is related: History of audiovisuals and video games, Language and audiovisual expression, Lighting, Graphic design, Screenplay audiovisual and audiovisual Production.  

The fundamental objective of the subject is to foster the critical capacity and analytical spirit of the students, so that they are able to recognize the various audiovisual and cultural codes present in both classical and contemporary works, and appreciate their functioning. Later, they will be able to apply their learning to their creations and other studies.

Learning outcomes


At the end of the subject, students must be able to:

LO1: Get to know, value and contextualise the main audiovisual works and their authors

LO2: Present and write ideas in an argumentative and formally correct way

LO3: Deepen and reflect on cinema understood as discourse

LO4: Observe the historical, ideological and semantic circumstances that condition the audiovisual

In addition, students must be able to:

RAC1: Identify the meaning and ideological implications of works (includes gender representation)

RAC2: Organize as a group to carry out shared work

Working methodology


The subject is structured in 4h / week of theory sessions and 2h / week of practical laboratory sessions.

The subject combines theoretical classes (LARGE GROUP), practical classes (SMALL GROUP) and hours of autonomous learning (AUTONOMOUS LEARNING).

The theoretical classes (LARGE GROUP) can consist both of expository classes, with the explanation of the contents of the subject and applied activities, and of discussion seminars, case studies and tutorials with the students. Some of these activities can be carried out without prior notice and may be necessary for the further development of the assessable work, exams and practices of the subject.

The practical classes (SMALL GROUP) consist of the practical realization of learning and assessable activities, and may include the explanation of subject contents and activities, discussion seminars, case studies and tutorials with the students. Each assessable activity is preceded by preparatory activities that allow students to practice the skills required in the assessable activities. Through the internships, the transversal competence of working in an interdisciplinary team is encouraged.

The hours of autonomous learning (AUTONOMOUS LEARNING) consist of the individual study work of each student, which can be intended for both content learning and the production of works, both theoretical and practical. These hours include case studies, research and critical reading of articles and materials proposed by the teaching staff.

Contents


Contents

1. Introduction: Analysis processes

  • On film analysis
  • Stages of the analysis

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 1: Segmentation

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

2. Contextual analysis

  • Historical and production context
  • The film genre
  • Transtextuality
  • Topics and message

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 3: File and context

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

3. Analysis of the narrative

  • Semiotic analysis of the narrative
  • Character analysis

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 2: Analysis of the narration

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

4. Analysis of cinematic language

  • Technological codes
  • Visual codes
  • Graphic codes
  • Sound codes
  • Syntactic or assembly codes

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 4: Language analysis 

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

5. Communication analysis: the narrator

  • The communicative framework
  • Narrator and focus

Practical Activities:

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

6. Analysis of time and space

  • What space? what weather
  • Aspects of time: order, duration, frequency
  • Types of construction of time
  • The general space and the sub-spaces
  • Classifications of the space

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

7. Recomposition and conclusions

  • recomposition
  • Validation of the analysis

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 5: Analysis of a film

Theory activities:

Examen

 

Additional resources:

During the course other resources may be provided to deepen topics and contents.

At the beginning of the course, the films that make up the compulsory filmography of the subject will be indicated.

Learning activities


Both in the theoretical sessions and in the practical sessions of the subject, before carrying out an evaluation activity, students carry out preparatory learning activities (exercises, tutorials, case analysis, discussions, etc.) with the teaching staff support. In this way, they can acquire the skills needed to carry out assessment activities.

The preparatory learning activities and the assessment activities themselves are organized in Practical activities i Theory activities

 

Practical activities (50% final grade)

Activity 1: Segmentation (5% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 1

Related skills: G3, E14, T2

Related learning outcomes: RA2, RA3

General description: 

Internship activity. Group work.

From the viewing of audiovisual pieces, the theoretical knowledge for the deconstruction of the linearity of a work is applied.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two practice sessions of the subject. In the first session (day 1) preparatory exercises are carried out in groups and in the second session (day 2) the evaluation activity is developed. 

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • Cutting an audiovisual piece assigned to class.
  • The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade. 

At the end of the activity, students must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Identify the linear parts that make up an audiovisual piece: sequences, scenes, frames, images
  • Analyze the characteristics of each of the identified parts
  • Recognize and evaluate the punctuation marks that link the various parts

 

Activity 2: Analysis of the narration (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 3

Related skills: G3, E14, T2

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC2

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

Based on the proposals of various audiovisual titles, both by the teaching staff and the students, the processes of searching for information and identifying narrative elements of the pieces and characters are worked on.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two internship sessions of the subject. During the first internship session dedicated to the activity (day 3) the narrative analysis of a film is worked on in groups with the support of the teaching staff. At the end of the first session, each group works on finding information outside of class hours. 

During the second internship session dedicated to the activity (day 4), the narrative and character analysis of the assigned film is carried out.

Support Material:

  • Materials proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • Analysis of the narration of the assigned film.
  • The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

At the end of the activity, students should be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Search for and present contextual information from an audiovisual work
  • Identify narrative and character elements of an audiovisual work

 

Activity 3: Sheet and context (no specific value on the note)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 2

Related skills: G3, E14, T2

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC1, RAC2

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

Based on the proposals of various audiovisual titles, both by the teaching staff and the students, the processes of searching for contextual information and identifying the topics, message (or thematic idea) and the genre of the proposed pieces.

The activity takes place outside the practice sessions of the subject. Each group must collect the relevant information outside of school hours, and has the conventional follow-up options in the subject.

Support Material:

  • Materials proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • File and contextual analysis.
  • The grade obtained by the group is indicative.

At the end of the activity, students should be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Search for and present contextual information from an audiovisual work
  • Identify the themes and message of an audiovisual work
  • Recognize the genre of an audiovisual work

 

Activity 4: Language analysis (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 4

Related skills: G3, E14, T2

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC1, RAC2

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

Based on the consolidation of theoretical knowledge and the critical viewing of audiovisual sections, the analysis of the different codes is applied to an audiovisual work.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two practical sessions of the subject. During the first practice session dedicated to the activity (day 5), scenes/sequences proposed by the teaching team are critically analysed. Each group searches for information outside of school hours and carries out the analysis of the cinematographic codes of the assigned film until the last practice session dedicated to the activity (day 7). 

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • Analysis of the language of the assigned film.
  • The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

Upon completion, students must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Recognize visual, graphic, sound and syntactic codes
  • Analyze audiovisual works critically


Activity 5: Analysis of a film (25% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: All contents

Related skills: G3, E14, T2

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC1, RAC2

General description:

Theory activity. Group work.

At the beginning of the course, each group must choose a film to carry out a full analysis: contextual analysis, narrative analysis, film language analysis, communication analysis, time and space analysis.

At the end of the course, each group must submit the written analysis work of the film, following the instructions given by the teaching staff.

Support Material:

  • Computers with Internet access and text editor

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • Analysis of a film.
  • The grade obtained corresponds to 25% of the final grade.

At the end of the activity, students must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Contextualize an audiovisual work correctly, looking for information in an appropriate way
  • Recognize the narrative components of an audiovisual work
  • Identify staging, filming and editing solutions appropriate to the genre and the specific themes of an audiovisual work
  • Analyze the temporal and spatial treatment in relation to the specific objectives of an audiovisual work
  • Identify and describe the point of view present in an audiovisual work, based on the analysis of the other elements
  • Relate the different facets of the analysis with the meaning and ideological component of a work

 

Theory activities (50% final grade)

Activity: Exam (50% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: All contents

Related skills: G3, E14

Related learning outcomes: RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4, RAC1

General description:

Theory activity. Individual work.

At the end of the course, there is a theoretical and applied exam in which the knowledge of all the content covered during the subject is assessed.

Students have 2 hours to complete the test.

An additional 8 hours of independent learning is considered necessary to prepare for the theory exam.

Support Material:

  • Statement of the test

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

  • Exam solved.
  • The grade is individual and corresponds to 50% of the final grade of the subject.

Specific objectives:

  • Critically apply the knowledge acquired in the course of the subject

 

Rules for carrying out the activities

For each activity, the teaching staff will report on the particular rules and conditions that govern it, including the deadlines and means of delivery.

Deliveries will not be accepted outside the deadlines indicated and by means not specified in the rules.

The individual activities presuppose the commitment of the students to carry them out individually. All activities in which the student does not fulfill this commitment will be considered suspended.

Likewise, the activities that must be carried out in groups presuppose the commitment on the part of the students that make it up to carry them out within the group. All activities in which the group has not respected this commitment will be considered suspended. The responsibility for the results of the work lies with the group, and not with the individuals who make it up.

The activities related to the theoretical sessions of the subject will be presented in theory class, although they will have to be prepared by means of autonomous work of the students out of the class schedule.

The activities linked to the practical sessions of the subject will be worked on in the laboratories, although they will also include independent work by the students outside of class time.

In all the works will have to identify clearly the relative data to the asignatura as well as to the specific activity and the / s author / s, according to indications of the educational team. 

Both the wording and the presentation will take into account both the content and the form, including the spelling. Spelling, syntactic and lexical errors will be penalized according to the criteria indicated in each activity. Papers that do not meet minimum requirements at the formal level will not be evaluated and will therefore be scored with zero points.

Any undelivered activity will be scored with zero points.

Any activity where plagiarism is detected will be scored with zero points, apart from other disciplinary actions that may be initiated.

Any activity that does not meet the requirements specified in the rules will be scored with zero points.

Evaluation system


The evaluation of the subject is divided into Practical ActivitiesTheory activities

Continuous assessment involves carrying out the activities detailed in this teaching guide during the course.

The continuous evaluation of the Practical Activities (50% of the final mark of the subject) is carried out through the following activities:

  • Activity 1: Segmentation (5% of the final grade)
  • Activity 2: Analysis of the narration (10% of the final grade)
  • Activity 3: File and context (no specific weight)
  • Activity 4: Language analysis (10% of the final grade)
  • Activity 5: Analysis of a film (25% of the final grade)

It is mandatory to pass the practicals in order to enjoy the continuous assessment and to pass the subject. 

El Theoretical Content (50% of the final mark of the subject) is evaluated through the following activities:

  • Exam (50% of the final grade)

It is mandatory to pass the Exam to enjoy the continuous assessment and pass the subject.

On recovery the Practical Activities and theExamen. The Practical Activities and the Exam can be recovered separately and according to the instructions of the teaching team at the beginning of the course. Recovery is individual.

Attendance is recommended, but not mandatory. It has no weight in the evaluation.

 

The students repeaters / res of the subject can take refuge in the following system of evaluation:

Practical Activities:

  • Activity 5: Analysis of a film (50% of the final grade)

Theoretical Content:

  • Exam (50% of the final grade)

This option implies the following conditions:

  1. It will be restricted to repeat students or to cases highly justified and validated by teachers.
  2. The practical activities will be carried out in groups of exactly 3 or 4 people.
  3. The delivery(s) will be made on the dates marked for the group as a whole and the exam will be made as normal at the end of the year.

It is necessary to pass both the average of the practical activities and the exam to pass the subject.

REFERENCES


Basic

Casetti, Francesco, and di Chio, Federico (1991). How to analyze a film. paid

Gaudreault, André, and Jost, François (1995). The cinematographic story. Cinema and narratology. paid

Aumont, Jacques, and Marie, Michel (1990). Analysis of the film. paid

Complementary

Stam, Robert (2001). Film theories. An introduction. paid

Urrutia, Jorge (Ed. ) (1976). Contributions to the semiological analysis of the film. Fernando Torres. 

Cuevas, Efrén (1994). Notes on the "author theory" in audiovisual fiction. Communication & Society, 7(1). https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/35584/31211

Balló, Jordi, and Pérez, Xavier (1995). The Immortal Seed: Universal Arguments in Cinema. Empuriabrava 

Neira Piñeiro, Mª del Rosario (2003). Introduction to filmic narrative discourse. Arco Books

Genette, Gérard (1989). palimpsests Literature in second grade. taurus

Zumalde, Imanol (2011). The film experience. Cinema, thought and emotion. chair

Zunzunegui, Santos (2007). About film analysis: the state of things. Communicate, 29(XV), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.3916/C29-2007-07 

Bazin, André (2004). What is cinema? Rialp

Sánchez Noriega, José Luis (2006). History of cinema: cinematographic theory and genres, photography and television. alliance

VV. AA. (1995). General history of cinema. Chair.

Bordwell, David, and Thompson, Kristin (1995). Cinematographic art: an introduction. paid

Gubern, Roman (2000). History of cinema. Lumen.

Aumont, Jacques, Bergala, Alain, Marie, Michel and Vernet, Marc (2005). Cinema aesthetics. Film space, montage, narration, language. paid

Xavier, Ismail (2008). The cinematographic discourse: opacity and transparency. spring

Bribitzer-Stull, Matthew (2015). Understanding the Leitmotif. From Wagner to Hollywood Film Music. Cambridge University Press.

Kalinak, Kathryn (1992). Settling the score: music and the classical Hollywood film. The University of Wisconsin Press. 

Neumeyer, David (2015). Meaning and Interpretation of Music in Cinema. Indiana University Press. 

Verstraten, Peter (2009). Film Narratology. University of Toronto Press

Lluís and Falcó, Josep (1995). Parameters for an analysis of the film music soundtrack. Of art, 21, 169–186. https://raco.cat/index.php/Dart/article/view/100453