(Group A) Stars
Delivery: Distance Learning (Online)
This module will investigate how Stars become iconic, that is, how they are signs of the indigenous cultural codes, as well as embodiments either as reflections of or as resistance to ideological institutions - including the institutional framework of the film industry. We shall examine how spectators impose their own expectations on Stars who act as mediators between the real and the imaginary. So, on the one hand, we shall be discussing in what way do Stars reflect national preoccupations and, on the other, in what way do we derive pleasure from their performance.
The module is delivered in two parts. Part One consists of five units of study material, which familiarise students with ‘Star Theory’; how we talk about stars, how we analyse performance, and how we come to understand what they represent within national cultures. In Part Two each student will choose a European film star, or émigré star to Hollywood (e.g. Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta Jones, Juliette Binoche, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, Gerard Depardieu), and prepare a case-study about them, while discussing their findings with each other online. Each student will submit their case-study (preferably illustrated) to their tutor. This work will then act as the basis for the student’s assessed essay.
Deadlines
Applications to the Film MA Programme from new students: Thursday 31st July 2008
Module registration for all new students: Friday 5th September 2008
Module registration for existing students (Group A): Monday 1st September 2008
Module registration for existing students (Group B): Friday 5th September 2008
Module overview
Film and reading list
Tutor details
How to apply
Course preparation
Syllabus Plan
Week 1: Star theory
What a star persona is, and how it is developed; how stars become iconic; why we watch stars, how they are signs of the indigenous cultural codes and reflect national preoccupations.
Week 2: Star Bodies: Performance and Consumption
How does an industry sell its star commodity and what is it that it is selling? Who gazes at the star? What and how do stars perform? Is there any room for subversion, if so how?
Week 3: Case study of Audrey Hepburn as ‘European’ star
This will provide students with an idea of to how to prepare their own mini-profile and subsequent essay. Here, we will analyse how European identity is constructed in Hollywood.
Week 4: Case study of Catherine Deneuve as ‘European’ star
A look at the French star Catherine Deneuve and the construction of her star persona; here, we are considering how European identity is constructed within the national cinemas of Europe.
Week 5: Modern day stardom
An exploration of Christine Geraghty’s theories of stardom and how we might think about film stars in relation to other celebrities within modern day culture and how contemporary European stars fare in Hollywood.
Weeks 6-8: Students work on individual case studies.
Weeks 9 and 10: Students begin work on assessed essay.
Learning / Teaching Methods
This course is delivered via the internet using an online educational environment called WebCT. Students will be given a username and password to log in, and a 'unit' of course material will be released every week for the first five weeks, for students to work through. Class discussions on the material will then take place in the online forum.
As part of their assessment, students are required to participate with the tutor and each other in the discussion forum, and readings and viewings may be set which form the basis of these discussions. During weeks six to eight, each student will work on an individual case study of a star, which they must present via a PowerPoint slideshow or similar, in the online discussion forum. This case study will then form the basis of their assessed essay, which they will begin working on in the final two study weeks.
Forum discussions are asynchronous - i.e. students do not need to be online at a 'set' time - they can leave and collect messages (and upload their case study of a star) at a time suitable for them. Essay consultation takes place by telephone, internet phone (e.g. Skype), e-mail or via the forum.
A chat room facility is also available. This is entirely optional, but students can arrange a mutually convenient time to communicate with each other 'instantly', by means of this facility, if they would like more immediate contact with others studying this subject.
Assessment
To gain credits for this module, students will be marked on the following assessments:
- One essay of 5000 words (90% of module mark).
- Participation in the discussion forum (10% of module mark). Students will be asked to prepare a case-study of a star during weeks six, seven and eight which should be presented in Discussions online. Feedback on it will be given during week ten, and will inform the student's assessed essay, which will be due in after Christmas.
Intended Outcomes
This module will equip students with the skills to:
Module specific skills:
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of current research and advanced scholarship in star theory.
- Analyse ‘star performance' within a certain set of theoretical and sociological frameworks.
- Evaluate these methodologies, develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses in relation to both the theoretical texts and films studied on this module.
Discipline specific skills:
- Analyse films from an historical and theoretical perspective and in ways that take aesthetic, institutional and cultural factors and methodological issues into account.
- Access and use in a critical manner visual, printed and electronic learning resources identified as useful by the module tutor and find other useful materials independently.
- Engage critically with a complex body of relevant film theory.
- Argue at length and in detail about aspects of the theories studied, supporting the argument with textual evidence or with opinions from other relevant theorists.
- Mount a detailed argument in the appropriate register of English, using a range of textual and contextual evidence in its support.
Personal and key skills:
- Undertake research activities with a measure of autonomy.
- Present information and arguments on a particular topic in an online environment.
- Contribute to group discussion in an online forum.
- Research, plan and write an essay to a specified length and deadline.
- Demonstrate independent and critical thinking.
- Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
