Last updated: June 28, 2005 @ 02:57PM

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

Chair
Marian Bredin

Undergraduate Program Adviser
Jeanette Sloniowski

Director, Co-operative Programs
Cindy Dunne

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Bridget Cahill

905-688-5550, extension 4290
Scotia Bank Hall 308
http://www.brocku.ca/cpcf/

The Department of Communications, Popular Culture and Film offers three separate programs of study. 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 three programs. In addition, four-year Co-op programs leading to a BA Honours degree in Communications Studies or Popular Culture and a four and one-half year program leading to a BA Honours degree in Film Studies are available.

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 have opportunities to engage in film and video production in upper year courses, in class assignments and as part of the student Spring Festival.

The Film Studies Co-op program combines academic and work terms over a four and one-half year period. Students spend two years in an academic setting, where they acquire the necessary background prior to taking the first work placement. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Film Studies Co-op students are assessed an annual administrative fee (see the Schedule of Fees).

Eligibility to continue is based on the student's major average and non-major average. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average will be permitted to continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Film Studies Co-op program. If a student subsequently raises his/her major average to 70 percent, the student may be readmitted only if approved by the Co-op Admissions Committee.

The Film Studies Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have honours standing and who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.

Program Notes
  1. Some FILM courses are cycled every two years. Students should consult with the Undergraduate Program Adviser in planning course patterns and for recommended electives.
  2. Year 3 courses are normally restricted to students with at least three 2(alpha)00 credits or special permission of the instructor.
  3. FREN 1F90 is strongly recommended for Honours students intending to continue their studies at the graduate level.
  4. In all 20 credit degree programs, at least 12 credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, six of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above and of these, three must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above. In all 15 credit degree programs, at least seven credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, three of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.

Honours Program

Year 1
·   FILM 1F94
·   COMM 1F90
·   one Social Science context credit
·   one Science context credit
·   one elective credit
Year 2
·   FILM 2F90, 2P20, 2P21, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
·   one elective credit
Year 3
·   FILM 3P20, 3P21 and 3P91
·   FILM 3P54 or 3P56
·   FILM 3P93 or 3P95
·   one credit from FILM 3P94, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98
·   one and one-half elective credits
Year 4
·   FILM 4P30 and 4P31
·   FILM 3P54 or 3P56 (not taken in year 3)
·   FILM 3P93 or 3P95 (not taken in year 3)
·   two credits from FILM 2P80, 2P81, 2P82, 3F27, 3F28, 3P94, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 4F80, 4F99, 4P04, COMM 2F50, 2F92, 2F95, 2P15, 3P14, 3P93, 4P23, POLI 2V71
·   one elective credit

Film Studies Co-op (Honours only)

Students admitted to the Co-op program must follow an approved program pattern. The most common pattern is listed below. For other approved patterns, consult the Co-op Office.

Year 1
·   FILM 1F94
·   COMM 1F90
·   one Social Science context credit
·   one Science context credit
·   one elective credit (MGMT 1P51 and 1P52 strongly recommended)
Year 2
·   FILM 0N90, 2F90, 2P20, 2P21, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
·   one elective credit (MKTG 2P51 and 2P52 strongly recommended)
Year 3
Fall Term:
·   FILM 0N01
Winter Term:
·   FILM 3P54 or 3P56
·   FILM 3P93 or 3P95
·   one and one-half elective credits
Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   FILM 0N02
Year 4
·   FILM 3P20, 3P21, 3P91 and 4P31
·   FILM 3P54 or 3P56 (not taken in year 3)
·   FILM 3P93 or 3P95 (not taken in year 3)
·   one credit from FILM 3P94, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98
·   one credit from FILM 2P80, 2P81, 2P82, 3F27, 3F28, 3P94, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 4F80, 4F99, 4P04, COMM 2F50, 2F95, 2P15, 3P14, 3P93, 4P23, POLI 2V71
Spring/Summer Sessions:
·   FILM 0N03
Year 5
Fall Term:
·   FILM 4P30
·   one credit from FILM 2P80, 2P81, 2P82, 3F27, 3F28, 3P94, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 4F80, 4F99, 4P04, COMM 2F50, 2F95, 2P15, 3P14, 3P93, 4P23, POLI 2V71
·   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, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91, 2P94, 3P20, 3P21, 4P30 and 4P31
·   two credits from FILM 2P20, 2P21, 3F27, 3F28, 3P54, 3P56, 3P91, 3P93, 3P94, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98, 4F80, 4F99, 4P04
Pass
·   FILM 1F94, 2F90, 2P54, 2P56, 2P91 and 2P94
·   one credit from FILM 2P20, 2P21, 3F27, 3F28, 3P20, 3P21, 3P54, 3P56, 3P91, 3P93, 3P95, 3P96, 3P97, 3P98

Minor in Professional Writing

With the exception of students in the Co-op stream, it is possible for Film Studies majors to earn a Minor in Professional Writing. For details see the calendar entry for the Department of English Language and Literature.

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 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 2F90
Film History and Research Methods
Approaches to film history emphasizing classical Hollywood cinema, European art cinema and the avant-garde.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.
Prerequisite: FILM 1F94.

FILM 2P20
Theories of Popular Culture
(also offered as COMM 2P20 and PCUL 2P20)
Historical, theoretical and critical approaches to various forms of popular culture (film, music, television, literature, periodicals and advertising).
Lectures, seminar, lab, 4 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), COMM (single or combined) and PCUL (single or combined) majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 1F94, CANA 1F91, COMM 1F90 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, with special reference to 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), COMM (single or combined) and PCUL (single or combined) majors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite: FILM 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 2P54
Documentary Film
(also offered as COMM 2P54 and SOCI 2P54)
History, theory, aesthetics and cultural implications of documentary film and other media.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 1F94, COMM 1F90, SOCI 1F90 or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM (COMM/SOCI) 2F54.

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 film lab.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 1F94, COMM 1F90, or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM (COMM) 2F97.

FILM 2P80
Italian Cinema
(also offered as ITAL 2P80)
Major film directors and cultural trends in Italian cinema. Films studied include those by De Sica, Rossellini, Fellini, Antonioni, Bertolucci, Wertmüller, Amelio and Moretti.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; plus film lab.
Note: given in English. Knowledge of Italian not necessary.

FILM 2P81
Ethics in Film
(also offered as PHIL 2P81)
Critical examination of the development and resolution of moral problems and ethical dilemmas arising in selected (mostly recent) films.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly lab.
Prerequisite: FILM 1F94, one credit in PHIL or permission of the instructor.

FILM 2P82
Latin American and Iberian Film
(also offered as PORT 2P82 and SPAN 2P82)
Spanish and Latin American representations of identity crises involving issues of nationality, ethnicity, gender and politics. Pastiche, parody and camp aesthetics, and the envisioning of new possibilities of solidarity leading to social transformations.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.
Note: Spanish and Portuguese language films with English subtitles. Given in English. Knowledge of Spanish not necessary. Spanish majors complete written assignments and exams in Spanish.

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: FILM 1F94 or permission of the Department.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM 2P95.

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: FILM 1F94.

FILM 3F27
Basic Production: Film
Introduction to the theory and practice of film techniques: critique of films and production work.
Workshops, seminar, 3 hours per week; additional production time as required.
Restriction: permission of the Department.
Prerequisite: two FILM credits.
Note: enrolment is limited to 15 students. Materials fee required.

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: two FILM credits.
Note: enrolment limited to 15 students. Materials fee required.

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: FILM 2F90 or COMM 2P15 and FILM 2P20.

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), COMM (single or combined), PCUL (single or combined) and STAC majors with a minimum of 9.0 overall credits.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 2P20 and 2P21, 2F90 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), COMM (single or combined), PCUL (single or combined) and STAC majors with a minimum of 9.0 overall credits.
Prerequisite: FILM 3P20 or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM 3F50.

FILM 3P54
Issues in Documentary Film
(also offered as COMM 3P54 and SOCI 3P54)
Advanced studies in selected aspects of documentary film and other media.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.
Prerequisite: FILM 2P54
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM (COMM/SOCI) 2F54.

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 film lab.
Prerequisite: FILM 2P56
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM (COMM) 2F97.

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: FILM 2P91
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM 2P95.

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: FILM 2F90 or permission of the instructor.

FILM 3P94
Film and Television Genres
(also offered as COMM 3P94 and PCUL 3P94)
Genre theory and its application to popular film and television. Topics may include the western, situation comedy, docudrama, film noir, or melodrama.
Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite: FILM 2P20 and 2P21.

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: 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: FILM 2F90 or FILM 2P20 and 2P21.

FILM 3P97
Gender, Race and Class in Cinema to the 1960s
(also offered as COMM 3P97 and WISE 3P97)
Construction of gender, sexuality, race and class, and implications of spectatorship and ideology.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 2F90, FILM 2P20 and 2P21, WISE 2P91, or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM 3F97.

FILM 3P98
Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Cinema
(also offered as COMM 3P98 and WISE 3P98)
Representation of gender and sexuality via ideology, feminism, queer theory, and spectatorship in a range of contemporary film and video texts.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week; plus weekly film lab.
Prerequisite: one of FILM 2F90, FILM 2P20 and 2P21, WISE 2P91 or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade in FILM 3F97.

FILM 3V50-3V59
Special Topics in Film Studies
Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisites: FILM 2F90, 2P20 and 2P21 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 Undergraduate Program Adviser.
Note: students are responsible for arranging their course with a faculty member, in consultation with the Undergraduate Program 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 Undergraduate Program Adviser.
Prerequisites: 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 4P04
Advanced Studies in Film and Television Genres
(also offered as PCUL 4P04)
Advanced theoretical and methodological approaches to popular film and television genres.
Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) and PCUL (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of the Department.
Prerequisite: FILM 3P94.

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, with special reference to the work of the Frankfurt School, French Structuralism and British Cultural Studies.
Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), COMM (single or combined) and PCUL (single or combined) majors with 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, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined), COMM (single or combined) and PCUL (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.

FILM 4V50-4V59
Research in Film
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM (single or combined) majors with approval to year 4 (honours) or permission of the instructor.


CO-OP COURSES
FILM 0N01
Co-op Work Placement I
First co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.

FILM 0N02
Co-op Work Placement II
Second co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.

FILM 0N03
Co-op Work Placement III
Third co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.

FILM 0N04
Co-op Work Placement IV
Optional co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.

FILM 0N05
Co-op Work Placement V
Optional co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.

FILM 0N90
Co-op Training and Development
Provides a framework for the development of learning objectives by students for individual work terms. Includes orientation to the co-op experience, goal setting, career planning, résumé preparation and interview skills preparation.
Lectures, presentations, site visits, 2 hours per week.
Restriction: open to FILM Co-op students.