A Level Film Studies

Course summary

Film studies takes an analytic approach to the studying of the film medium; each filmtext is analysed much in the same way plays, poetry or novels are in English Literature – understanding of the director’s messages, the cultural contexts, critical theories and ideas of representation of race, gender and sexuality are explored. In comparing different eras, different theoretical approaches and different political contexts, students are given the chance to read films as cultural products, rather than simply mass media entertainment. This challenging course covers two different moments in Hollywood, silent cinema, the documentary genre, the ideas of the auteur and creativity, European film, world cinema and even short films. Studying Film enables you to see the world in a different light and develop a wide range of transferable skills for further education, work and life: Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Emotional Intelligence Film Analysis Textual Analysis Communication Research skills Literacy Technical competencies (i.e. film editing) Students of Film Studies are the students of the future, gaining the skills needed to develop successful careers and great academic minds. Film Studies, as a highly academic subject, instils the critical capacity and analysis skills to support any application to Russel Group universities, especially in the humanities, Law and English. Film also opens the door to careers in one of the largest industries in the country and the world – entertainment; on-set work from carpentry to editing or even directing can begin with the firm base of knowledge from the Film Studies A-Level course. Students must have a keen interest in film as an academic text. Students are expected to have completed one set of tasks from the Film Studies KS4/5 Booklet.