Film Studies

This program is offered through the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film

Chair

Scott Henderson

Academic Adviser

Penni Lafleur

General Information

Administrative Assistant

Bridget Cahill

905-688-5550, extension 4290

Scotiabank Hall 344

brocku.ca/cpcf

The Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film offers four separate programs of study: Business Communication, Media and Communication Studies, Film Studies and Popular Culture. A four-year program leading to the BA Honours degree and a three-year program leading to the BA Pass degree is offered in all four programs. In addition, the Department is involved in programs with community colleges which offer students the opportunity to earn a degree in Film Studies and a college diploma or certificate.

Film Studies is a sequence of critical and historical courses that examines a variety of approaches to film. The courses explore the nature of film language and develop an analytical perspective on film as both an art and a medium. Other courses explore issues and theories in popular culture. Students may have opportunities to engage in media production in selected upper year courses.

Advanced Film Making, Broadcast Journalism-Television News and Broadcast Television, Digital Post-Production-Fanshawe College

Communication, Popular Culture and Film provides three optional programs for Brock Film Majors. Students who successfully complete any of these four year programs will be granted both a Bachelor of Arts with Major Film Studies degree from Brock and an advanced post-graduate certificate from Fanshawe College. Graduates of these programs will have both a strong academic background from Brock along with applied knowledge and training from Fanshawe. Applicants must complete Year 1 at Brock with a minimum 70 per cent major average and minimum 70 per cent overall average to be considered for admission to the Brock Fanshawe programs and must have no more than 8.0 overall credits, at least 4.0 of which must be earned at Brock. Successful applicants must maintain a minimum 70 per cent major and overall average during all three years of the Brock program. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission is not guaranteed by attainment of the minimum requirements. Application forms and further details concerning the Advanced Film Making, Broadcast Journalism-Television News and Digital Post-Production program are available at brocku.ca/social-sciences/collaborative-programs

Program Notes

Honours Program

Year 1

	FILM 1F94
	COMM 1F90 or PCUL 1F92
	one Social Sciences context credit
	one Sciences context credit
	one elective credit

Year 2

	FILM 2F90, 2P20, 2P54, 2P56 and 2P91
	one credit from FILM 2P21, 2P93, 2P94, COMM 2F50, 2P22, PCUL 2P30
	one elective credit

Year 3

	FILM 3P20, 3P54, 3P56 and 3P91
	FILM 3P93 or 3P95
	one and one-half credits from FILM 3F28, 3P03, 3P18, 3P21, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 3Q94, COMM 2P98
	one elective credit

Year 4

	Two credits from FILM 4P30, 4P31, 4V50-4V59, 4V60-4V69, 4V70-4V79
	two credits from FILM 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 3Q94, 4P03, 4F80, 4F99, PCUL 4P23, 4P34
	one elective credit

Pass Program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Combined Major Program

Students may take a combined major in Film Studies and a second discipline. For requirements in the other discipline, the student should consult the relevant department/centre. It should be noted that not all departments/centres provide a combined major option.

Honours

	FILM 1F94, 2F90, 2P20, 2P91, and 3P91
	FILM 2P54 or 2P56
	three credits from FILM 2P21, 2P54, 2P56, 2P93, 2P94, 3F28, 3P20, 3P21, 3P54, 3P56, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P97, 3P98, 3Q94, 4F80, 4F99
	one credit from FILM 4P30, 4P31, 4V50-4V59, 4V60-4V69, 4V70-4V79

Pass

	FILM 1F94, 2F90, 2P20, 2P91 and 3P91
	FILM 2P54 or 2P56
	one credit from FILM 2P21, 2P93, 2P94, 3F28, 3P20, 3P21, 3P54, 3P56, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 3Q94

Certificate in Film Studies Program

The Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film also offers a Certificate in Film Studies designed for persons who already have a degree or do not wish to pursue a degree. The program consists of required courses with core concepts in Film Studies and electives, where students study topics in more detail. The admission requirements are the same as for the degree program. Prospective students should consult with the Academic Adviser before beginning the certificate program.

The Certificate in Film Studies is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum of 60 per cent overall average:

	FILM 1F94 and 2F90
	three credits from FILM 2P54 and 3P54, FILM 2P56 and 3P56, FILM 2P91 and 3P91, FILM 2P94 and 3P94

Minor Program

Students in disciplines other than Film Studies, Business Communication, Media and Communications Studies or Popular Culture can obtain a Minor in Film Studies within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:

	FILM 1F94 and 2F90
	FILM 2P54 or 2P56
	one and one-half credits from FILM 2P20, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91, 2P93, 2P94, 3P54, 3P56, 3P91, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98

Articulation Agreement

BA with Major

Advanced Film-Making-Fanshawe College

Year 1

	FILM 1F94
	COMM 1F90 or PCUL 1F92
	one Sciences context credit
	one Social Sciences context credit
	one elective credit

Year 2

	FILM 2F90, 2P20, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
	one credit from FILM 2P21, 2P93, COMM 2P22
	one-half elective credit

Year 3

	FILM 3F28 and 3P91
	one credit from FILM 3P20, 3P54, 3P56
	one FILM credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	one FILM credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

taken at Fanshawe College

Broadcast Journalism-Television News-Fanshawe College

Year 1

	FILM 1F94
	COMM 1F90 or PCUL 1F92
	one Sciences context credit
	one Social Sciences context credit
	one elective credit

Year 2

	FILM 2F90, 2P20, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
	one credit from FILM 2P21, 2P93, COMM 2P22
	one-half elective credit

Year 3

	FILM 3F28 and 3P91
	one credit from FILM 3P20, 3P54, 3P56
	one FILM credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	one FILM credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

taken at Fanshawe College

Broadcast Television, Digital Post-Production-Fanshawe College

Year 1

	FILM 1F94
	COMM 1F90 or PCUL 1F92
	one Sciences context credit
	one Social Sciences context credit
	one elective credit

Year 2

	FILM 2F90, 2P20, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
	one credit from FILM 2P21, 2P93, COMM 2P22
	one-half elective credit

Year 3

	FILM 3F28 and 3P91
	one credit from FILM 3P20, 3P54, 3P56
	one FILM credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	one FILM credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

taken at Fanshawe College

Description of Courses

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course

* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

FILM COURSES

FILM 1F94

Introduction to Film Studies

Critical and historical approaches to world cinema. Close analysis of selected films in relation to their cultural contexts.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

#FILM 2F00

New Media Literacy

(also offered as COMM 2F00 and PCUL 2F00)

Practical training in a repertoire of skills and tools essential to functioning in new media environments, and critical analytical training in key issues and theories related to the contemporary information age.

Restriction: students must have a minimum of 4.0 overall credits.

Note: this course is offered online.

FILM 2F90

Film History

History of cinema as a medium, industry and art form from its origins, including Hollywood cinema and major international movements.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 1F94.

#FILM 2P20

Popular Culture Theory and Research Methods

(also offered as COMM 2P20 and PCUL 2P20)

Theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of various forms of popular culture. Critical and research skills specific to studies in popular culture.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN, PCUL majors, DCUL, MEST and PCUL minors until date specified in Registration guide.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 1F94, CANA 1F91, COMM 1F90, PCUL 1F92 or permission of the instructor.

#FILM 2P21

Canadian Popular Culture

(also offered as COMM 2P21 and PCUL 2P21)

Survey of the media in Canada. Studies in the popular arts, referencing the ways that institutions (CBC, NFB) and selected artists identify and express a Canadian cultural imagination.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors until date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN, PCUL, GHUM, SOSC majors and PCUL minors until date specified in Registration guide.

*FILM 2P54

Documentary Film

(also offered as COMM 2P54 and SOCI 2P54)

History, theory, aesthetics and cultural implications of documentary film and other visual media.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 1F94, COMM 1F90, SOCI 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 2P56

Canadian Cinema

(also offered as COMM 2P56 and PCUL 2P56)

Critical and historical study of Canadian cinema.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 1F94, COMM 1F90, PCUL 1F92 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 2P91

Early Film Theory

Major early film theories including realism, formalism, and surrealism. Application of the theories to selected films.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 1F94 or permission of the Department.

#FILM 2P93

Popular Narrative

(also offered as COMM 2P93, ENGL 2P93 and PCUL 2P93)

Analysis of storytelling across different media such as novels, film, television, the Internet and video games.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 5 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, ENGL (single or combined), ENGL (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), MCMN and PCUL majors.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 1F94, COMM 1F90, ENGL 1(alpha)90 to 1(alpha)99, PCUL 1F92 or permission of the instructor.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in PCUL (COMM/ENGL) 2F92.

*FILM 2P94

Popular Cinema

(also offered as COMM 2P94 and PCUL 2P94)

Popular cinema as art and institution emphasizing film genres and cultural contexts.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 1F94 or PCUL 1F92.

*FILM 3F28

Basic Production: Video

(also offered as COMM 3F28)

Introduction to the theory and practice of video techniques: critique of videos and production work.

Workshops, seminar, 3 hours per week; additional production time as required.

Restriction: permission of the Department.

Prerequisite(s): two FILM credits.

Note: enrolment limited to 15 students. Materials fee required.

#FILM 3P03

Advanced Studies in Popular Narrative

(also offered as COMM 3P03, ENGL 3P03 and PCUL 3P03)

Case studies in the adaptation of popular texts across media.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 5 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, ENGL (single or combined), ENGL (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), MCMN and PCUL majors.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2P93.

#FILM 3P18

Audience Studies

(also offered as COMM 3P18 and PCUL 3P18)

Theoretical and methodological approaches to the understanding of audiences for media and cultural products, including print, sound, film, broadcasting and digital media.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 2P10, 2P20, COMM 2P17.

*FILM 3P20

Television Studies

(also offered as COMM 3P20 and PCUL 3P20)

Historical, theoretical and critical approaches to television.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN, PCUL, STAC majors and PCUL minors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 9.0 overall credits.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90, 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 3P21

Canadian Television

(also offered as COMM 3P21 and PCUL 3P21)

Historical, theoretical and critical approaches to Canadian television.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN, PCUL, STAC majors and PCUL minors until date specified in Registration guide.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 3P20 or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 3P54

Issues in Documentary Film

(also offered as COMM 3P54 and SOCI 3P54)

Advanced studies in selected aspects of documentary film and other visual media.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2P54.

*FILM 3P56

Issues in Canadian Cinema

(also offered as COMM 3P56)

Advanced studies in selected aspects of Canadian cinema.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2P56.

FILM 3P91

Contemporary Film Theory

Current film theories including semiotics, psychoanalysis and postmodernism. Application of the theories to selected films.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2P91.

FILM 3P93

Authorship in the Cinema

Issues of personal and collaborative creativity in film through the study of the style, themes and development of selected film makers.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90 or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 3P94

Film Genre

(also offered as COMM 3P94 and PCUL 3P94)

Genre theory and its application to popular film.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90, 2P20 and 2P21 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 3P95

National Cinema

Study of selected national cinemas emphasizing their relationship to national cultural traditions.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90 or permission of the instructor.

#FILM 3P96

Issues in Popular Culture

(also offered as COMM 3P96 and PCUL 3P96)

Specialized studies in popular culture and its role in specific social, historical or theoretical contexts.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90 or FILM 2P20 and 2P21.

*FILM 3P97

Gender and Cinema to the 1960s

(also offered as COMM 3P97, PCUL 3P97 and WGST 3P97)

Representation of gender, sexuality, race and class, and implications of spectatorship and ideology.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 2F90, FILM 2P20 and 2P21, WGST (WISE) 2P91 or permission of the instructor.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in WISE 3P97.

*FILM 3P98

Gender and Contemporary Cinema

(also offered as COMM 3P98, PCUL 3P98 and WGST 3P98)

Representation of gender, sexuality, race and class via ideology, feminism, queer theory, and spectatorship in film and video texts since the 1960s.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): one of FILM 2F90, FILM 2P20 and 2P21, WGST (WISE) 2P91 or permission of the instructor.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in WISE 3P98.

*FILM 3Q94

Television Genres

(also offered as COMM 3Q94 and PCUL 3Q94)

Genre theory and its application to popular television.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90, FILM 2P20 and 2P21 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 3V50-3V59

Special Topics in Film Studies

Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 2F90 and 2P91 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 4F80

Directed Reading

Directed individual or group reading in an area of Film Studies.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with a minimum of 14.0 overall credits, a minimum 80 percent major average, approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.

Note: students are responsible for arranging their course with a faculty member, in consultation with the Academic Adviser and must submit a written proposal before registration. The reading may not be on the topic of the student's FILM 4F99 thesis.

FILM 4F99

Honours Thesis

Thesis on a topic of mutual interest to the student and the instructor, with a critical, historical or contemporary focus.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with a minimum of 14.0 overall credits, a minimum 80 percent major average, approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 4P30 and 4P31(may be taken concurrently).

Note: to register in the Honours thesis, the student must consult the Undergraduate Program Adviser about topics, department regulations and the selection of an adviser.

#FILM 4P03

Applied Studies in Popular Narrative

(also offered as COMM 4P03 and PCUL 4P03)

Practical and theoretical approaches to the adaptation of popular narratives.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors with approval to year 4 (honours).

Prerequisite(s): FILM 3P03.

#FILM 4P30

Theories of Mass Culture

(also offered as COMM 4P30 and PCUL 4P30)

Studies in cultural theory and its application to mass media texts, referencing the work of the Frankfurt School, French Structuralism and British Cultural Studies.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) and PCUL majors until date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN, PCUL majors, DCUL, MEST and PCUL minors. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 4P31

Theories of the Visible

(also offered as COMM 4P31 and PCUL 4P31)

Central 20th-century developments in the theories of visibility and their relevance to the field of media studies.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) and PCUL majors until date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

#FILM 4P34

Taste and Cultural Politics

(also offered as COMM 4P34 and PCUL 4P34)

Application of cultural theories to the analysis of taste, distinction, class, cultural standards and moral panics, transgression and trash culture.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to PCUL majors until date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 4P61

Conventions of Screen Realism

(also offered as COMM 4P61 and PCUL 4P61)

How representation and perception of reality have evolved with technology and aesthetics, from the Lumières to reality television.

Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors with approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in FILM 4V61.

FILM 4V50-4V59

Special Topics in Film Studies

Seminar, 3 hours per week.

*FILM 4V50

2013-2014: Cult Cinema and Fan Cultures

(also offered as COMM 4V50 and PCUL 4V50)

Formal and generic conventions of cult films, the political economy of their circulation, their cultural status, and the mobilization of fans and fan culture.

Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors with approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

*FILM 4V59

2013-2014: Writing Film Criticism for the Media

(also offered as COMM 4V59 and PCUL 4V59)

Skills and techniques of reviewing and discussing film and other forms and aspects of popular culture for the mass media.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), BCMN, COMM, MCMN and PCUL majors with approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

Note: weekly writing assignments discussed in a workshop context.

FILM 4V60-4V69

Issues in Film History

Specialized studies in Film History addressing issues such as aesthetics, ideological and theoretical concerns across a range of periods and cultures.

FILM 4V70-4V79

Issues in International Cinema

Specialized studies of the historical and social contexts influencing trends and developments in international cinema.

INTERNSHIP COURSES

FILM 4F00

Internship in Communication, Popular Culture or Film

Part-time placement related to communication, popular culture or film in a company, agency or not-for-profit organization. Students are responsible for arranging their own placements in consultation with the department Academic Adviser, Internships Officer and faculty supervisor.

Tutorial, regularly scheduled meetings, 160 hour placement.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.

Note: enrolment is limited. Students will be required to complete a major paper setting the placement experience within a theoretical context.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in FILM 4P00, 4P01, COMM 4F00, 4P00, 4P01, PCUL 4F00, 4P00 and 4P01.

FILM 4P00

Placement in Communication, Popular Culture or Film

Part-time placement related to communication, popular culture or film in a company, agency or not-for-profit organization. Students are responsible for arranging their own placements in consultation with the department Academic Adviser, Internships Officer and faculty supervisor.

Tutorial, regularly scheduled meetings, 80 hour placement.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.

Note: enrolment is limited. Students will be required to complete a major paper setting the placement within a theoretical context.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in FILM 4F00, COMM 4F00, 4P00, 4P01, PCUL 4F00, 4P00, 4P01.

FILM 4P01

Placement in Communication, Popular Culture or Film

Part-time placement related to communication, popular culture or film in a company, agency or not-for-profit organization. Students are responsible for arranging their own placements in consultation with the department Academic Adviser, Internships Officer and faculty supervisor.

Tutorial, regularly scheduled meetings, 80 hour placement.

Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.

Note: enrolment is limited. Students will be required to complete a major paper setting the placement within a theoretical context.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in FILM 4F00, COMM 4F00, 4P00, 4P01, PCUL 4F00, 4P00 and 4P01.