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FLM201 Film Genre: Understanding Types of Film (Study Guide)

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FLM201 Film Genre: Understanding Types of Film (Study Guide) Course Development Team Head of Programme : Khoo Sim Eng Course Developer(s) : Khoo Sim Eng Technical Writer : Maybel Heng, ETP © 2021 Singapore University of Social Sciences. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Educational Technology & Production, Singapore University of Social Sciences. ISBN 978-981-47-6093-5 Educational Technology & Production Singapore University of Social Sciences 463 Clementi Road Singapore 599494 How to cite this Study Guide (MLA): Khoo, Sim Eng. FLM201 Film Genre: Understanding Types of Film (Study Guide). Singapore University of Social Sciences, 2021. Release V1.8 Build S1.0.5, T1.5.21 Table of Contents Table of Contents Course Guide 1. Welcome.................................................................................................................. CG-2 2. Course Description and Aims............................................................................ CG-3 3. Learning Outcomes.............................................................................................. CG-6 4. Learning Material................................................................................................. CG-7 5. Assessment Overview.......................................................................................... CG-8 6. Course Schedule.................................................................................................. CG-10 7. Learning Mode.................................................................................................... CG-11 Study Unit 1: Introduction to Film Genre Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU1-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU1-3 Chapter 1: Defining Genre..................................................................................... SU1-4 Summary................................................................................................................. SU1-17 Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU1-18 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU1-27 Study Unit 2: The Western, Action Film, and Comedy Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU2-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU2-3 Chapter 2: The Western, Action Film, and Comedy.......................................... SU2-4 i Table of Contents Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU2-17 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU2-25 Study Unit 3: Drama, Crime Film, and Film Noir Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU3-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU3-3 Chapter 3: Drama, Crime Film, and Film Noir.................................................... SU3-4 Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU3-19 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU3-26 Study Unit 4: Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU4-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU4-3 Chapter 4: Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy................................................. SU4-4 Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU4-15 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU4-24 Study Unit 5: Musical, War Film, Epic, and Documentary Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU5-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU5-3 Chapter 5: The Musical, The War Film, Epic Film, and Documentary............ SU5-4 Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU5-19 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU5-28 ii Table of Contents Study Unit 6: Film Genre: Conclusion Learning Outcomes................................................................................................. SU6-2 Overview................................................................................................................... SU6-3 Chapter 6: Film Genre: Conclusion....................................................................... SU6-4 Summary................................................................................................................. SU6-14 Formative Assessment.......................................................................................... SU6-16 Further Reading..................................................................................................... SU6-24 Works Cited............................................................................................................ SU6-25 iii Table of Contents iv List of Figures List of Figures Figure 1.1 Roger Ebert’s 4-star rating is unusual, as ratings usually have an odd number of stars. In his system, a film gets four stars if he felt it was excellent, while a film of very low quality would get only half a star or even no star if it was morally reprehensible.......................................................................................... SU1-6 Figure 1.2 Two movie posters for Citizen Kane illustrate the different ways in which the film is marketed and perceived............................................................. SU1-10 Figure 2.1 This image of cowboys in Monument Valley in Arizona/Utah captures the vast space of the frontier and the isolation of the men who traverse it, dependent on each other and their trusty horses............................................... SU2-6 Figure 2.2 The film Brokeback Mountain is set in the twentieth century and uses the convention of the rugged Western landscape to represent freedom; it is only in the remote mountain spaces that the two men are free to truly be themselves and express their love for each other........................................................................ SU2-6 Figure 2.3 Theatrical poster for Star Wars (dir. George Lucas, 1977). Illustration by Tom Jung. Theatrical poster for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (dir. Peter Jackson, 2001). Design by BLT Communications, LLC. Theatrical poster for Tropic Thunder (dir. Ben Stiller, 2008). Design by BLT Communications, LLC.................................................................................................................................. SU2-7 Figure 2.4 Slap sticks or batocci............................................................................... SU2-11 Figure 2.5 Romantic comedies are very predictable: boy meets girl; many things occur to separate them, and eventually boy and girl are reunited. There is often a group of quirky supporting characters who provide humour and commentary.................................................................................................................. SU2-14 v List of Figures Figure 2.6 Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in action-comedy-buddy cop film Rush Hour encapsulate a form of physical comedy that shows off martial arts while also eliciting laughs. British actor Rowan Atkinson is another physical comedian...................................................................................................................... SU2-15 Figure 2.7 A team of horses pull the DeLorean in an iconic setting used in many Westerns. This intertextual scene expects audiences to recognise elements of the Western, which makes the futuristic DeLorean more comic because it is so out of place.............................................................................................................................. SU2-16 Figure 3.1 Spielberg shot Schindler’s List in black and white to get a documentary feel. In this scene, the rare use of colour for the little girl’s coat draws attention to her plight as the Jews are being rounded up...................................................... SU3-5 Figure 3.2 Pather Panchali featured amateur actors and was shot on location. The film follows the life of the protagonist, Apu, who lives in poverty in a village in Bengal in the early 20th century................................................................................. SU3-6 Figure 3.3 Spotlight is about an investigative journalist unit that looks into cases of child abuse in Boston that have been systematically covered up by the Roman Catholic Church. Based on true accounts, this film
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