Class Visual Culture

The aim of this course module is to analyse films in terms of their formal structure (narrative, visual and audio elements) and their significance within the context of the film itself, as well as within visual culture.

Not applicable

1. Film Language. 1.1 D.W. Griffith and the birth of a cinematic language. 1.2 The language of cinema and the representation of reality. 1.3 The language of cinema and its narrative potential. 1.4 Time, space and continuity. 2. Cinematic editing and its dialectical potential. 2.1 The Soviet School. 2.2 Lev Kuleshov. 2.3 Vsevolod Pudovkin. 2.4 Sergei Eisenstein. 2.5 Aleksandr Dovzhenko. 3. Break with tradition, style and appropriation. The language of cinema in the contemporary era. 4. Analysis of feature-length animated films applying points 1 to 3: language, artistic influences, the relationship between form and content, etc.

During the classes, films or film clips are shown and discussed in order to analyse cinematic language, artistic influences, forms of visual and audio expression, and animation techniques, with a view to providing a broad overview of the global animated film scene. The course employs a lecture-based methodology, supplemented by the viewing and critical analysis of examples. Assessment consists of two written tests: the first covers the first three points of the syllabus, whilst the second focuses on film analysis. Each of these tests accounts for 50 per cent of the final mark. The pass mark is 10. For students who fail, the resit examination will consist of a written test covering the entire syllabus. Attendance is recorded at the start of each class: students are required to attend 75 per cent of classes in order to receive a final attendance mark.

AUMONT, Jacques (2014). A Imagem. Olhar. Matéria. Presença. Lisboa: Texto&Grafia. AUMONT, Jacques (2004). A Análise do Filme. Lisboa: Texto&Grafia. DENIS, Sébastien (2010). O Cinema de Animação. Lisboa: Texto&Grafia. EISENSTEIN, Sergei (1949). Film Form. London: Dennis Dobson Ltd. GARDIES, René (2008). Compreender o Cinema e as Imagens. Lisboa: Texto&Grafia. FURNISS, Maureen (ed.) (2007), Art in Motion Aesthetics. London, John LibbeyPublishing MOSCARIELLO, Angelo (1985). Como ver um Filme. Porto: Editorial Presença. MONACO, James (1981). How To Read a Film. Oxford: Oxford University Press PILLING, Jayne (ed.) (1997), A Reader in Animation Studies, London, John Libbey Publishing