General information


Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Juan Carlos Sánchez-Marín Sánchez
Daniel Rissech Roig 
Jorge Oter Gonzalez 
Juan Carlos Sanchez-marin Sanchez 

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


General description

Name of the subject: Film analysis  

ECTS credits: 6

Qualification: Degree in Audiovisual Media

Course: 2016-2017 / 1

Type of subject: Basic training

 

Teaching staff

Maddalena Fedele (mfedele@tecnocampus.cat); Juan Carlos Sánchez-Marín Sánchez (jsanchezs@tecnocampus.cat); Jorge Oter (joter@tecnocampus.cat); Daniel Rissech (drissech@tecnocampus.cat)

Learning outcomes


At the end of the course the student must be able to:
- Present and write ideas in a well-argued and formally correct way
- Deepen and reflect on cinema understood as discourse
- Observe the historical, ideological and linguistic circumstances that condition the audiovisual

Working methodology


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

The theoretical classes (LARGE GROUP) consist both of expository classes, with the explanation of the contents of the subject and applied activities, as well as discussion seminars, case studies and presentations of topics by the students. Some of these activities can be carried out without prior notice and may be necessary for the subsequent development of the evaluable works, the exams and the practices of the subject.

The practical classes (SMALL GROUP) consist of the practical realization of evaluable individual and / or group activities. Attendance at the practical classes is essential, compulsory and necessary for their approval. In addition, internships are used to foster transversal competence in working in an interdisciplinary team.

The hours of autonomous learning (AUTONOMOUS LEARNING) consist of the individual study work of each student, which can be completed both in the learning of content and in the production of both individual and group work, 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

  • What is film analysis?
  • Stages of the analysis

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 1: Deconstruction of linearity

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

2. Contextual analysis

  • Analysis of the historical and production context
  • Identification of the topics and the message
  • Gender identification

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 2: Contextual analysis

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

3. Analysis of the narrative

  • Narrative arguments
  • Semiotic analysis of the narrative

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 2: Contextual analysis

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

4. Analysis of the characters

  • The characters as people
  • Characters as roles
  • The characters as actors

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

5. Analysis of cinematic language

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

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 3: Analysis of cinematic language

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

6. Communication analysis: the narrator

  • The communicative framework
  • Focusing
  • Narrator and narrator: concrete figures

Practical Activities:

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

7. Space analysis

  • The general space and the sub-spaces
  • the space in / off
  • The static / dynamic space
  • The organic / inorganic space

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

8. Time analysis

  • Aspects of time: order, duration, frequency
  • Circular time
  • Cyclic time
  • Linear time
  • The anachronistic time

Related activities:

Practical Activities:

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language

Theoretical Activity:

Activity 5: Theoretical exam

Project Activities:

Activity 6: Project of a short film

Activity 7: pitching

 

Other resources:

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

Audiovisual resources:

During the course, the films that are part of the compulsory filmography of the subject will be indicated.

Learning activities


Practical activities (40% final grade)

Activity 1: Deconstruction of linearity (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 1

General description:

Internship activity. Individual evaluation.

From the viewing of audiovisual pieces, theoretical knowledge will be applied to deconstruct their linearity, identifying and analyzing their sequences, scenes, frames, images.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two practice sessions of the subject.

The deliverable end of the activity (day 2) is individual.

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Deconstruction sheet of the linearity of an audiovisual piece assigned to class on the same day (day 2). The form must be handed in at the end of the class.

The grade obtained corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student 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
  • Get the "script a posteriori " of an audiovisual piece

 

Activity 2: Contextual analysis (10% final mark)

Relationship with the syllabus: Contents 2 and 3

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

From the viewing of audiovisual pieces, the processes of searching for contextual information and determining the themes, message (or thematic idea), the genre and the universal argument of the pieces will be worked on.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two practice sessions of the subject.

At the end of the first practice session dedicated to the activity (day 3), each group will be assigned a film to look for information about its context, themes, message, genre and universal argument.

Each group will search for information outside of school hours and will carry out the contextual analysis of the assigned film during the second practice session dedicated to the activity (day 4), and will hand in the corresponding sheet.

 

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Contextual analysis sheet.

The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Search and present contextual information of an audiovisual piece
  • Identify the themes and message of an audiovisual piece
  • Recognize the genre of an audiovisual piece
  • Identify the universal argument of an audiovisual piece

 

Activity 3: Analysis of cinematic language (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Content 5

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

Based on the consolidation of theoretical knowledge and the critical viewing of audiovisual sequences/scenes, the analysis of the different visual, graphic, sound and syntactic codes will be applied to an audiovisual sequence/scene.

The activity lasts two weeks, corresponding to two practice sessions of the subject.

During the first practice session dedicated to the activity (day 5), sequences/scenes proposed by the teachers will be critically analysed. Then a sequence/scene will be assigned to each group, which will search for information outside of school hours and carry out the analysis of the cinematographic components during the last practice session dedicated to the activity (day 6). 

 

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Film components analysis sheet

The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

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

 

Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: Contents 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

General description:

Internship activity. Group work.

Based on the analysis carried out in Activity 3, the same analyzed sequence/scene will be scripted and performed, based on a new proposal that takes into account the visual, graphic, sound and syntactic codes.

The activity lasts three weeks, corresponding to three internship sessions of the subject.

During the first practice session dedicated to the activity (day 7), each group will present an alternative proposal for the realization of the sequence/scene assigned, writing the literary script (if applicable) and the technical script necessary for filming. Outside of class time, and also taking advantage of the second session dedicated to the activity (day 8), each group will shoot and assemble the proposed sequence/scene. In the last practice session dedicated to the activity (day 9), the sequences/scenes will be viewed in class and a comment will be presented on the comparison between the original and the own, with the relevant justification of the proposal.

 

Support Material:

  • Videos proposed in the laboratory
  • Computers available in laboratories
  • Material to record and assemble (SERMAT)

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Sequence/scene and presentation support.

The sequence/scene presented will be evaluated as well as the oral presentation itself, the materials needed for the performance (scripts) and the group's commentary (content in the presentation support).

The grade obtained by the group corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Analyze audiovisual sequences/scenes critically
  • Apply the cinematographic components in the creation of audiovisual sequences/scenes
  • Analyze the point of view
  • Analyze the treatment of space and time

 

Theoretical activity (40% final grade)

Activity 5: Theoretical exam (40% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: All contents

General description:

Theory activity. Individual work.

At the end of the course, there will be a theoretical exam where knowledge of all the content covered during the subject will be assessed.

Students will have 2 hours to complete the test.

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

 

Support Material:

  • Statement of the test

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Exam solved.

The grade corresponds to 40% of the final grade of the subject.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity, the student must be able to critically apply the knowledge acquired during the subject

 

Project Activities (20% final grade)

Activity 6: Project of a short film (10% final mark)

Relationship with the syllabus: All contents

General description:

Theory activity. Group work.

Throughout the course, each group will have to prepare a project for a short film, applying all the theoretical content of the subject, and in particular: analysis of the narration, analysis of the characters, analysis of the cinematographic components, analysis of communication , space analysis, time analysis.

At the end of the course, each group must submit a project proposal.

 

Support Material:

  • Computers with Internet access and text editor

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Writings (in paper format).

The grade obtained corresponds to 10% of the final grade.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge acquired through the theoretical sessions of the subject
  • Recognize and apply universal narrative arguments to different audiovisual pieces
  • Propose staging and shooting solutions suitable for the specific objectives of an audiovisual piece
  • Plan the temporal and spatial treatment appropriate to the specific objectives of an audiovisual piece
  • Choose the point of view appropriate to the specific objectives of an audiovisual piece

 

Activity 7: pitching (10% final grade)

Relationship with the syllabus: All contents

General description:

Theory activity. Group work.

Students must present, in groups, the short film project developed during the course (Activity 6).

 

Support Material:

  • Computer available in the classroom
  • Presentation support (power point or similar)

 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation:

Presentation support (power point or similar) and oral presentation.

The grade related to the activity corresponds to 10% of the final grade of the subject.

 

Specific objectives:

At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

  • Present a project to both a specialist and non-specialist audience,
  • Apply practically the knowledge acquired in the course of the subject.
  • Critically apply the knowledge acquired in the course of the subject.

 

 

Rules for carrying out the activities

For each activity, teachers will report on the particular rules and conditions that govern it, including 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 must have been carried out by means of autonomous work of the students outside the class hours.

The activities related to the practical sessions of the subject will be carried out in the laboratories, although they also include autonomous work of the students outside the class hours.

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 (in alphabetical order). 

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. Jobs that do not meet minimum requirements at the formal level will not be evaluated, so they will be scored with zero points.  

Any undelivered activity will be scored with zero points.

Any activity where copying and / or plagiarism is detected will be scored with zero points.

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 Activities, Theoretical Exam i Project Activities

For continuous assessment it is necessary to carry out all the activities detailed in this teaching guide during the course.

The continuous evaluation of the Practical Activities (40% of the final mark of the subject) will be carried out through four activities:

  • Activity 1: Deconstruction of linearity (10% of the final grade)
  • Activity 2: Contextual analysis (10% of the final grade)
  • Activity 3: Analysis of cinematic language (10% of the final grade)
  • Activity 4: Applied analysis of cinematic language (10% of the final grade)

You must pass the internship to enjoy the continuous assessment and pass the subject. It is necessary to attend at least 80% of the practical sessions in order to enjoy the continuous assessment. A maximum of two excused absences will be accepted.

El theoretical content will be assessed through the following activity:

  • Activity 5: Theoretical exam (40% of the final grade)

You must pass the exam to enjoy the continuous assessment and pass the course.

In addition, the knowledge acquired during the course will be assessed through the following Project Activities:

  • Activity 6: Project of a short film (10% of the final mark)
  • Activity 7: pitching (10% of the final grade)

In the make-up exam they can be made up Practical Activities and theTheoretical Exam, but not the Project Activities.

During the course there will be the possibility of proposing Complementary Activities the result of which will be taken into account for the final grade, as long as the subject has been passed.

REFERENCES


Basic

Marzal-Felici, J. (2007). Film analysis in the age of multiscreens. Communicate, 29 (XV), 63-68.

Balló, J .; Pérez, X. (1995). The immortal seed: the universal arguments in cinema. Barcelona: Empúries. 

Casetti, F.; di Chio, F. (1991). How to analyze a film. Barcelona: Paidós.

Cuevas, E. (2001). Focus on audiovisual stories. Tripods, 11, 123-136.

Piñero, MRN (1998). The space in the cinematographic story. Analysis of space in a film. Archivum: magazine of the faculty of philology, 48-49, 373-397.

Eco, U. (1993). Reader in fabula (3rd ed.). Barcelona: Lumen.

Complementary

Cuevas-Álvarez, E. (1994). Notes on the "author theory" in audiovisual fiction. Communication & Society, 7 (1).

Cross. C. (2013). narrated images How to make the invisible visible in a film script. Editorial Círculo Rojo.

Balló, J.; Pérez, X. (2005). I've already been here. Fictions of repetition. Barcelona: Empúries. 

Balló, J.; Bergala, A. (ed.) (2016). Visual motifs of cinema. Gutenberg Galaxy. 

Gaudreault, A.; Jost, F. (1995). The cinematographic story. Cinema and narratology. Barcelona: Paidós.

Genette, G. (1989). palimpsests Literature in second grade. Madrid: Taurus.

Zumalde, I. (2011). The film experience. Cinema, thought and emotion. Madrid: Chair.