Comparative Studies
Paper CS6
European Film
Introduction
The five principal language areas covered by the course are French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. In your work over the year, you are encouraged to follow as much of the course as possible and not to restrict yourself to narrow areas in theory or in language-area. There will be five modules in any given year. For each module, you may supplement the list of possible films for discussion with other appropriate examples, in consultation with your supervisor and the module coordinator.
N.B. The paper may not be taken in combination with either of the other MML Part II comparative papers (CS 4 and CS 5).
Examination
There will be a choice of three essay titles for each of the five module topics covered in a given year. You will be required to answer questions relating to three different modules. Each essay must be comparative over at least two language areas (which may include English or another language area in translation). The paper as a whole will be required to show substantial knowledge of two of the five principal language areas. All Optional Dissertations must therefore also be comparative over at least two language areas of the five offered.
Download past exam papers from CamTools (Click on MML Faculty, Comparative Studies).
Teaching and Written Work
The course is taught largely through lectures and seminars (see also online Lecture List entry for Part II Comparative Studies). In addition to the lectures and seminars on introduction to film language, you will be expected to attend the lectures for all five modules and the seminars for the three, or possibly four that you choose to prepare in full detail for examination. The first supervision assignment, accompanying the film language lectures and seminars, will be an exercise in reading film scenes. You will then produce a substantial supervision essay for each of the modules you prepare for examination, with follow-up supervisions for consolidation in the latter part of the year. A list of supervisors for the various topics will be maintained and guidance on supervision and other practical matters will be provided by the paper convenor.
Other Resources
The prescribed films will be screened, free of charge to those taking the paper, at the Arts Picturehouse on Thursdays at 5 pm. Copies of the films for study are held in the Faculty Library and can be borrowed on overnight loan. The University Language Centre also holds relevant films. Follow the link for further reading on cinema in general and on the five national cinemas.
If you have queries about the course, email the course coordinator: ie. for 2012-13, Dr Isabelle McNeill ( imm21@cam.ac.uk)
