University of Oulu | Film Studies

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sanna.karkulehto(at)oulu.fi
Department of Art Studies and Anthropology
P.O. Box 1000
FIN-90014 University of Oulu Finland
tel. +358-8-553 3347 (office)
fax +358-8-553 3341

FILM STUDIES

Faculty of Humanities >Major and Minor Subjects > Film Studies

Film Studies

The primary focus of film studies is on cinema. Cinema, however, is part of a larger field of audiovisual media culture, including television and radio, as well as the range of what is called new media. Thus, film is studied as a historical, cultural and aesthetic phenomenon, always in relation to other media.

Being an integral part of modern culture and society cinema is connected with a variety of areas of aesthetic and cultural studies. Therefore, as a minor subject, film studies serves as a necessary support and supplement to other culturally or socially oriented fields of research. For those studying to be teachers, film studies offers a useful introduction to media education. Further, students of information technology, for example, will find films studies useful as a way to complement their views of media contents, film analysis and film history.

Examination

Some of the courses can be taken by participating in a lecture. Taking an exam at the end of a course is how these courses are assessed, and no registration is needed.

Most of the courses may also be taken as book exams. Students sign up for the exams by filling in an exam registration envelope (available next to the office, room HU340). Envelopes should be returned to the exam registration box no later than 10 days prior to the date of exam. A course may be passed also by writing a home essay, in which case the student has to consult the teacher of the course separately.

COURSES IN FILM STUDIES

BASIC STUDIES 25 ECTS Credits

Compulsory lecture and/or book exam courses

687500P Introduction to Film Studies 3 ECTS Credits
687501P Film History 6 ECTS Credits
687502P Basics of Film Theory 4 ECTS Credits

Optional lecture and/or book exam courses
One of the following courses should be taken:

687503P Basics of Media Education 4 ECTS Credits
687504P Film and History 4 ECTS Credits
687505P Film Genres 4 ECTS Credits

Compulsory exercise courses

687506P Film Analysis 4 ECTS Credits

Optional exercise courses
One of the following courses should be taken:

687507P Television and Video Technique 4 ECTS Credits
687508P Practical Media Education 4 ECTS Credits

INTERMEDIATE STUDIES 35–45 ECTS Credits

687509A Theories and Methods 5 ECTS Credits
687510A Audiovisual Narration 5 ECTS Credits
687511A Classics of Film Theory 5 ECTS Credits
687512A Special Aspects of Film History 10–15 ECTS Credits
687513A Special Aspects of Film Studies 10–15 ECTS Credits

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BASIC STUDIES 25 ECTS Credits

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687500P
name	Introduction to Film Studies
extent	3 cr
timing	It is recommended that “Introduction to Film and Television Studies” be the first course students will complete.
objective	To provide students with basic knowledge of the methods and objects of film studies.
content	Introduction to Film Studies
working methods	Compulsory lectures and literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Herkman: Audiovisuaalinen mediakulttuuri
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687501P
name	Film History
extent	6 cr
timing	Optional
objective	To give students knowledge on general film history and either Finnish film history or television history.
content	Film History
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Nummelin: Valkoinen hehku – johdatus elokuvan historiaan, von Bagh: Elokuvan historia (selected parts), and either Honka-Hallila, Laine, Pantti: Markan tähden - sata vuotta suomalaista elokuvahistoriaa (Finnish film history) or Smith (ed.): Television. An International History, 2. p. 1998, s. 1-143 (television history).
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687502P
name	Basics of Film Theory
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Students are given an introduction to the basic trends in film theory and film aesthetics.
content	Basics of film theory
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Hietala: Tunteesta teesiin and either Aumont: Elokuvan estetiikka or Stam: Film Theory. An Introduction.
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687503P
name	Basics of Media Education
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Introduction to the methods and problems of media education
content	Basics of media education
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Herkman: Kriittinen mediakasvatus and Werner: Lapset ja televisio
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687504P
name	Film and History
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	The goal is to identify the relation of cinema to history by examining film as an object of historical research, as a source of history, and as a historical narrative.
content	Film and History
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Salmi: Elokuva ja historia and either Rosenstone: Visions of the Past or Sorlin: The Film in History.
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687505P
name	Film Genres
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	To provide students with basic knowledge of film genres and the methods of studying them.
content	Film genres
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Altman: Elokuva ja genre and a collection of articles on film genres (available at the department office).
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	Lecturer of Film Studies
name	Film Analysis
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Getting acquainted with the narrative and stylistic features of film by writing an essay on film analysis and discussing essays written by other students.
content	Film analysis
working methods	Compulsory exercise course and literature.
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Bordwell & Thompson: Film Art. An Introduction (3rd or a later edition) (supplementary reading).
assessment methods	Writing an essay
grading	Pass/fail
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687507P
name	Television and Video Technique
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Familiarizing oneself with the practice of film making by participating in a short film project.
content	Television and video technique.
working methods	Compulsory exercise course.
target group	-
prerequisities	None
study materials	Korvenoja: Tv-kameratyön perusteet; Juntunen: Elävän kuvan sanasto (supplementary reading).
assessment methods	Participating in a short film project
grading	Pass/fail
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	This course can be substituted by completing the course 687508P Practical Media Education. If it is impossible for the student to attend either 687507P Television and Video Technique or 687508P Practical Media Education they can be substituted by completing an extra course out of the following optional courses: 687503P Basics of Media Education, 687504P Film and History, 687505P Film Genres.
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687508P
name	Practical Media Education
extent	4 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Getting acquainted with the practical methods of media education by attending an exercise course.
content	Practical media education
working methods	Compulsory exercise course
target group	-
prerequisities	687503P Basics of Media Education required
study materials	Kotilainen, Hankala, Kivikuru (eds.): Mediakasvatus.
assessment methods	Exam.
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	This course can be substituted by completing the course 687507P Television and Video Technique. If it is impossible for the student to attend either 687507P Television and Video Technique or 687508P Practical Media Education they can be substituted by completing an extra course out of the following optional courses: 687503P Basics of Media Education, 687504P Film and History, 687505P Film Genres.
language of instruction	Finnish

INTERMEDIATE STUDIES

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687509A
name	Theories and Methods
extent	5 cr
timing	It is recommended that Theories and Methods be the first course of the intermediate studies students will complete.
objective	To provide students with further knowledge of film theories and methods.
content	Theories and methods of Film Studies.
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	687502P Basics of Film Theory
study materials	List of literature can be acquired from a separate handout.
assessment methods	Exam or an essay
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687510A
name	Audiovisual Narration
extent	5 cr
timing	Optional
objective	To provide students with special knowledge of the problematics and methods of the study of audiovisual narration.
content	Audiovisual narration.
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	687502P Basics of Film Theory, 687506P Film Analysis, 687509A Theories and Methods
study materials	Bacon: Audiovisuaalinen kerronta and Smith: Engaging Characters.
assessment methods	Exam or an essay
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687511A
name	Classics of Film Theory
extent	5 cr
timing	Optional
objective	Getting acquainted with the writings of two or more classical film theorists.
content	Classics of film theory
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	687502P Basics of Film Theory, 687501P Film History, 687509A Theories and Methods
study materials	List of literature can be acquired from a separate handout.
assessment methods	Exam or an essay
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687512A
name	Special Aspects of Film History
extent	10–15 cr
timing	Optional
objective	The goal is to get further knowledge of historical perspectives of cinema by acquainting oneself with two or more areas of film history.
content	Special Aspects of Film History
working methods	Lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	687501P Film History, 687509A Theories and Methods
study materials	List of literature can be acquired from a separate handout.
assessment methods	Exam or an essay
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information	-
language of instruction	Finnish

subject	elokuvatutkimus
code	687513A
name	Special Aspects of Film Studies
extent	10–15 cr
timing	Optional
objective	To deepen one’s knowledge of film studies by acquainting oneself with two or more trends in the discipline.
content	Special aspects of film studies
working methods	Seminar, lectures and/or literature
target group	-
prerequisities	Basic studies, 687509A Theories and Methods
study materials	List of literature can be acquired from a separate handout.
assessment methods	Exam or an essay
grading	0-5
responsible person	Lecturer of Film Studies
other information
language of instruction	Finnish