FILM AND MEDIA
Classic European Cinema
TERM 3: FOCUS ON FN313
Thursday
Eric Egan
What is European cinema? Indeed, given the diversity of countries and cultures that appear under the moniker ‘Europe’, can we realistically speak of a European cinema? What are the great films to emerge from the countries of Europe and why? What makes them different or is there a commonality binding such diverse film movements as French Poetic Realism and Polish political cinema? This short course will attempt to answer these questions and look anew at those films generally seen to be the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, both in Europe and beyond. Focusing on a wide array of styles, from the realist to the surrealist, and examining different eras, from the silent cinema to 1970s New German Cinema, the course will combine an artistic analysis with attention to industrial and historical contexts in providing an overview of diverse cinematic movements and forms. Each week a particular decade and different country will be examined in order to provide a rich overview of the differing styles, culturally specific concerns and influence of some the continent’s key films and filmmakers.
| BELFIELD | ||
| 6 Thursdays | April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23 | 6.30pm - 9.30pm |
| FEE: €170 | Print Open Learning Application Form 2012.13 or ring (01) 716-7123 for Laser/credit card payment |
Tutor Bio
Dr Eric Egan has taught a variety of film courses both in England and Ireland and has written extensively on the subject of cinema. In addition to numerous articles in journals and magazines he is the author of The Films Of Makhmalbaf Cinema, Politics and Culture in Iran and a contributor to the well received collection Film in the Middle East and North Africa.
Provisional list of key topics to be covered
- The Silent Era: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
- French Cinema of the 1930s: La Grande Illusion (1937)
- Postwar Italian Cinema: Bicycle Thieves (1948)
- Cinema Behind The Iron Curtain: Ashes and Diamonds (1958)
- The Discreet Charm Of The Surreal: Belle du Jour (1967)
- The German New Wave: Fear Eats The Soul (1974)
Who is the course for?
The course is designed for anyone (novice and film buff alike) with an interest in cinema and popular culture and a curiosity about the history of European film.
Reading List:
The following is a selection of recommended texts for those interested in reading further around the course content. We advise that you do not buy books in advance of the course as your tutor will discuss the list and suggest the most relevant reading for particular interests.
Forbes, Jill & Street Sarah. European Cinema: An Introduction (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2000).
Ezra, Elizabeth. European Cinema (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
Nowell-Smith, Geoffrey. The Oxford History Of World Cinema (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997).
Drum, Jean & Drum Dale D. My Only Great Passion The Life And Films Of Carl Th. Dreyer (London: The Scarecrow Press, 2000).
Hayward, Susan. French National Cinema (London: Routledge, 2005).
O’Shaughnessey, Martin. Jean Renoir (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000).
Haltof, Marek. Polish National Cinema (London: Berghahn, 2002).
