2021/22 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FREN3751 French Cinema, Sex and Gender

20 Credits Class Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Claire Lozier
Email: C.A.Lozier@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

Completion of Level 2 French or equivalent

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module studies the relationship between gender roles/identities in France, and French cinema, from several perspectives: stardom, film and ideology, gender and genre, film and sexuality. - How have stars (eg Bardot) helped to shape the sense of what masculinity and femininity are? - How has cinema reflected and contributed to changes in definitions of gender? - How central is the love story as a film-narrative? - Can the love-story genre accommodate homo- as well as hetero-sexuality? - Does women's cinema differ from men's cinema? - Through the use of relevant film theory and the discussion of 'case-study' films, the module will explore these questions. There will be lectures where these serve a clear purpose, but the majority of teaching/learning will be through discussion based on student presentations and film extracts.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- demonstrate knowledge of a variety of French films within their historical and cultural context
- demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of theories of the relationship between film and gender
- critically analyse a film or film extract demonstrating awareness of the contribution of formal components to meaning
- construct and present a clear, sustained argument on the themes central to the module, individually or through teamwork, in written and oral form.

Skills outcomes

- Critical/analytical thinking particularly in relation to audiovisual media
- Presentational skills, oral and written
- Language fluency (French)
- Research and clear presentation of findings
- Independent thinking/working and group/collaborative working.

Syllabus

This module studies the relationship between gender roles/identities in France, and French cinema, from several perspectives: stardom, film and ideology, gender and genre, film and sexuality.

- It begins (weeks 1-2) by introducing basic concepts of film 'language' and film and gender theory, put into practice through the close study of a short film.
- Part 1 (weeks 3-5) then focus on the New Wave period, 1950s/early 1960s, exploring the representation of gender in one popular Bardot film and two key New Wave films.
- Part 2 (weeks 6-9) move on to the 1990s/2000s, to study three critically and commercially successful films by women directors, and question the concept of a 'cinéma au féminin'.

There will be lectures where these serve a clear purpose, but the majority of teaching/learning will be through discussion based on student presentations and film extracts.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Seminar 10 2 20
Tutorial 1 0.5 0.5
Private study hours 179.5
Total Contact hours 20.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Private study

- 50 hours seminar preparation including for presentation
- 10 hours working on film commentary
- 70 hours private reading round the subject/film watching
- 20 hours preparation for presentation
- 29.5 hours preparation for essay.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Assessed presentation in class - held during teaching weeks 3-9
- 1,000 word commentary on film extract done mid-semester (Reading week).

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Essay 3,000 words 70
Oral Presentation 10 mins 10
Practical commentary on extract 20
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 06/07/2021

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team