Practical Approaches to Teaching Film


Book Description

Rachel Ritterbusch’s Practical Approaches to Teaching Film is a collection of essays focusing on the use of film in settings ranging from an introductory film class to an upper-division Women’s Studies course. Drawing on their experience in the classroom, contributors to this anthology show how movies can be used to promote critical thinking, create an awareness of the male gaze, challenge dominant ideology, and unmask the constructedness of film. This volume treats a wide variety of film texts, from box-office hits like The Da Vinci Code to underappreciated art films such as Susan Streitfeld’s Female Perversions; from Pépé le Moko and other French classics to more contemporary francophone works like Chaos and Rosetta; from self-reflexive films that interrogate the act of filmmaking itself to those that draw attention to the phallocentric nature of cinematic apparatus. Common to all these essays is the belief that, if used judiciously, film can be a valuable pedagogical tool. Aimed both at those currently teaching film and those wishing to do so, this volume provides practical support in the form of sample syllabi, assignments, and a glossary of film terms.







Teaching Difficult History through Film


Book Description

Teaching Difficult History through Film explores the potential of film to engage young people in controversial or contested histories and how they are represented, ranging from gender and sexuality, to colonialism and slavery. Adding to the education literature of how to teach and learn difficult histories, contributors apply their theoretical and pedagogical expertise and experiences to a variety of historical topics to show the ways that film can create opportunities for challenging conversations in the classroom and attempts to recognize the perspectives of historically marginalized groups. Chapters focus on translating research into practice by applying theoretical frameworks such as critical race theory, auto-ethnography or cultural studies, as well as more practical pedagogical models with film. Each chapter also includes applicable pedagogical considerations, such as how to help students approach difficult topics, model questions or strategies for engaging students, and examples from the authors’ own experiences in teaching with film or in leading students to develop counter-narratives through filmmaking. These discussions of the real considerations facing classroom teachers and professors are sure to appeal to experienced secondary teachers, pre-service teacher education programs, graduate students, and academic audiences within education, history, and film studies. Part and chapter discussion guides, full references of the films included in the book, and resources for teachers are available on the book’s companion website www.teachingdifficulthistory.com.







Writing in Film Studies, from Professional Practice to Practical Pedagogy


Book Description

A common refrain heard from instructors in offices across the world is that students have a hard time producing quality written discourse. This is no different in the world of film studies, where many undergraduate students struggle to cogently discuss the films they watch in class. How can film instructors help students become better writers? This book answers this question by, first, uncovering the disciplinary expectations we have for students, and then offering strategies to explicitly teach those expectations in the classroom. This book examines and identifies the disciplinary conventions of professional film studies discourse along with the expectations we have for student writing in undergraduate film courses. What becomes clear from this analysis is that the pedagogical expectations we have for students are aligned with, and shaped by, professional writing in the discipline. It helps to uncover the argument types instructors take for granted and helps those teaching undergraduate students not only to know what those expectations are, but also how to use that knowledge to foster better student writing.




'Blade Runner' and Film Education: Didactic Possibilities of Teaching Film Literacy in the TEFL Classroom


Book Description

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English - Pedagogy, Didactics, Literature Studies, grade: 1,0, University of Hannover (Englisches Seminar / Lehrgebiet Didaktik des Englischen), course: Hauptseminar Teaching Film (englische Fachdidaktik), 75 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: (...) Film education is already practiced in some European countries, for instance in Eng-land, France and in Scandinavia. (cf. Wharton & Grant 2005: 7; Kr ger 2005: 7; Willig 2006: 132ff) German curricula also allow for films, but mostly as part of media education, which is embedded in several subjects and aims at providing students with media competence. This competence should enable them to orient themselves in a world dominated by audio-visual media. It wants to support a conscious and critical handling of media, as well as a creative and self-determined one. By understanding and questioning media contents and aesthetics stu-dents should be protected from being controlled by the media. (cf. Surkamp 2004: 2; Willig 2006: 131f, 137; Roller 2006: 73; Holighaus 2005a: 9) Film education in a narrower sense, aiming at film competence or film literacy, still has to be promoted in schools, though. (cf. Kr ger 2005: 7) The intention of the paper at hand is to show possible applications of Ridley Scott's science-fiction thriller Blade Runner, which foster film literacy within the context of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). First, it will explain the didactic value of films as TEFL devices, define film literacy as a learning target, and present an overview on ap-proaches and methods of teaching film. In doing so, a special focus will be set on film adapta-tions of literary texts. Then, the paper will turn to Scott's science-fiction masterpiece and pro-vide a summary of its plot as well as a survey on prominent topics and interpretations. After-wards it will likewise deal with its literary basis, Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electr










Analyzing Literature-to-Film Adaptations


Book Description

The majority of scholarly treatments for film adaptation are put forth by experts on film and film analysis, thus with the focus being on film. Analyzing Literature-to-Film Adaptations looks at film adaptation from a fresh perspective, that of writer or creator of literary fiction. In her book, Snyder explores both literature and film as separate entities, detailing the analytical process of interpreting novels and short stories, as well as films. She then introduces a means to analyzing literature-to-film adaptations, drawing from the concept of intertextual comparison. Snyder writes not only from the perspective of a fiction writer but also as an instructor of writing, literature, and film adaptation. She employs the use of specific film adaptations (Frankenstein, Children of Men, Away from Her) to show the analytical process put into practice. Her approach to film adaptation is designed for students just beginning their academic journey but also for those students well on their way. The book also is written for high school and college instructors who teach film adaptations in the classroom.




Theatrical Translation and Film Adaptation


Book Description

Translation and film adaptation of theatre have received little study. In filling that gap, this book draws on the experiences of theatrical translators and on movie versions of plays from various countries. It also offers insights into such concerns as the translation of bilingual plays and the choice between subtitling and dubbing of film.