Introductory description

A survey of canonical or otherwise influential films produced between the world wars in France, studied in relation to their social context in such a way as to introduce students to both a period of French history, cinematic and beyond, and the rudiments of film analysis.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Introduction: Studying history through film; looking at film historically; France between
   the wars
2. French Cinema and the First World War: J’accuse (1919)
3. A French social cinema: Boudu sauvé des eaux (1932)
4. The Popular Front: La Belle Équipe (1936)
5. ‘Poetic realism’: Le Jour se lève (1939)
6. Reading week
7. Renoir the Master: La Règle du jeu (1939)
8. Filming under the Occupation: Le Corbeau (1943)
9. The Summit of Classical French cinema: Les Enfants du Paradis (1945)
10. Looking back: Panique (1946)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To understand and explain how cinematic forms and representations are historically determined by diverse economic, technological, social and cultural factors.
• To demonstrate how diverse social, economic, ideological and cultural factors brought about and shaped key events and episodes in modern French history.
• To understand and critically analyse the relationship between social, cultural and political history, on the one hand, and cinematic forms and representations on the other.
• To show how medium-specific techniques are used to convey narrative, ideas and opinions in the cinema. To communicate ideas and historical analyses in writing.
• To research, prepare and present an audio-visual presentation using film stills and clips as required to demonstrate analytical points.
• To identify and evaluate a range of primary and secondary sources on French social, political, cultural and cinematic history.
• To conduct independent research into French film history and its relation to wider social and cultural history.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will develop students’ linguistic skills through engaging with primary materials in the target language. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of French culture through analysis of this primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of French cinema and society from the two world wars will be enhanced through lectures and seminars which engage in scholarship in the field.

Transferable skills

All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and their target language(s), intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the target language(s), personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.