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GERM3046 German Cinema

Later Year Course

Offered By School of Language Studies
Academic Career Undergraduate
Course Subject German
Offered in Second Semester, 2010
Unit Value 6 units
Course Description

Alongside a historical overview, beginning with the silent film era and extending up to the present, aspects considered include film as social document, film and literature, and the aesthetics of film. Featured film makers include Fritz Lang, Fassbinder, Wenders and Tykwer.

Learning Outcomes Students will have an overview of the main directions taken by one of the leading cinema movements worldwide.

For German Studies students, basic skills of film analysis will be acquired, and German cinema will be contextualized as both product and reflection of German culture and German society more generally. Linguistic skills, both active and passive, will be enhanced.

Film Studies students will be able to grasp better the longstanding rivalry and cross-fertilization between European cinema movements and Hollywood. They will also develop insights into a major non-English culture, not just as a visual culture.
Indicative Assessment

Tutorial participation (10%) throughout the semester, and two essays (90%). Essays will be ca. 1500-1800 words in length for German students, and 1800-2000 words for Film Studies. One essay will be due in the mid-semester teaching break, and the other (in lieu of an exam) during the exam period.

Workload

One-hour lecture, one-hour tutorial, on average a 2-hour film screening each week. Beyond classes, this will be a challenging course for German Studies students (e.g. in acquiring skills to talk and write about film language in German), but a rich one.

Film Studies students can expect to need to do some reading around German culture/20th century history more generally.

Areas of Interest European Languages
Requisite Statement

For German majors, GERM3007 (Advanced German 1) or equivalent. For Film Studies majors, FILM1002 plus one other course from the Film Studies major.

Incompatibility

GERM2046 German Cinema

Recommended Courses

For German Studies, any other German language course, plus other German options.

For Film Studies, any European Cinema course, and/or History on Film (HIST2130).

Prescribed Texts Likely to be a reading brick. Plus prescribed films for viewing (none of which needs to be purchased)
Preliminary Reading None required. But for German students, a basic introduction to film studies would help, and for Film students, a text giving an overview of Germany in the 20th century.
Indicative Reading List An up-to-date reading list will be made available via WebCT or equivalent ahead of the next course offering
Majors/Specialisations German, Film Studies, and Contemporary Europe
Academic Contact Dr Roger Hillman

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.

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