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Undergraduate | GRF-CMM28-2023

Hollywood Cinema

Go back to the birth of American cinema. Chart the technical and industrial development of the Hollywood studio system. Flash-forward to the dominance of the contemporary blockbuster. Gain a global view of the history of Hollywood filmmaking.

Study method

100% online

Assessments

100% online

Entry requirements

Prior study needed

Duration

13 weeks


HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available

About this subject

What you'll learn

Key learning criteria:

  1. Improve generic skills in critical analysis that are fundamental to continued work in film and media studies
  2. improve discipline-specific knowledge of Hollywood, which is likewise fundamental to continued work in film and media studies
  3. through completion of your assessment items, improve your written communication skills
  4. through analysis of films in their historical, industrial, and cultural contexts, improve discipline-specific skills that will help you succeed in future film and media degrees.
  5. by reading key works of scholarship, improve your knowledge of Hollywood history and your understanding of the discipline of film and media studies.
    • Studio-era Hollywood and classic Hollywood film;
    • Post-studio era Hollywood, post-classical, and contemporary Hollywood film
  • This subject was previously known as Classic Hollywood Cinema.

    Explore the history of Hollywood film-making from its earliest productions to the contemporary blockbuster. Beginning with a brief look at early cinema (the 1890s to the 1910s), we focus in the first half of the subject on the industrial and technological development of the Hollywood studio system and its production of the classic Hollywood film. During this period (1920s to the 1950s) we see Hollywood develop as a national cinema and the beginnings of its role in global film cultures.

    In the second half of the subject, we investigate the industrial, technological and aesthetic transformations of what is sometimes described as 'post-classical' Hollywood (1960s to the present), concluding with a look at the globally-owned and distributed, multimedia industry that is contemporary Hollywood. The subject aims to develop skills in historical research and textual analysis, as well as a better and more critical understanding of Hollywood film, industries, and cultures.

    • Essay 1 (40%)
    • Essay 2 (60%)
  • For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).

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    Times Higher Education Ranking 2023: 16

Entry requirements

Prior study

You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:

  • GRF-CMM10-Cinema History (no longer available)

  • GRF-CMM17-Introduction to Screen Analysis (no longer available)

Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).

Others

You must complete Level 1 Communication studies before starting this subject.

Additional requirements

  • Other requirements -

    Access to videos or DVDs or movie downloads

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