FILM 302: Cinema and Representation
Students conducted independent research on topics related to women's, queer, and/or related cinemas. Watch the video essays.
About the course: This course examines how cinema represents issues such gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and/or class in a critical manner. Topics will vary. In 2021 the course will focus on feminist, queer and transgender film criticism and cinemas. The course will introduce theories of representation and spectatorship central to feminist, queer and transgender film studies, survey their applications to a diverse set of films, and examine provocative depictions of sexuality, identity and society onscreen.
Course coordinator: Dr Missy Molloy
Assessment details: Students will conduct independent research on topics related to women's, queer and/or related cinemas. The presentation of research results will involve multiple steps and can take a variety of forms, including a video essay option.
Student work
Stephanie
For this video essay we were able to devise our own research topic. Mine revolved around the representation of females in action films. I used three films to demonstrate how the role women play in action films has evolved into a newer era that, whilst not perfect, combines elements of the femme fatal and the butch female lead to create a more dynamic role for the action female.
Vega
Why did you choose this approach/take/aspect/theory?
I wanted to think about the female gaze as more than an alternative to the male gaze, and instead, a way of seeing that is already imminent, just not endorsed in mainstream cinema and society.
What was an interesting discovery you made during the creation of this assessment (personal or academic)?
That sapphism/lesbianism can function as a worldview as opposed to a minority sexuality.
How did the assessment challenge your thinking or approach to the learning of the course?
The assessment challenged me to work with a new form (video) and use visual cues to support my perspective.
How did the assessment aid your understanding of the theory/course content?
It helped me to understand the deliberate nature of the male gaze through working digitally myself, and finding that there are no accidents in film.
Why did you want to showcase your work?
Because I hope people can think of the female gaze as a way of seeing that challenges the male gaze and compulsory heterosexuality. I also hope people can see the pain of loss that queer people face due to compulsory heterosexuality.
Would you recommend the course, and why?
I thought it was a well-curated, challenging course that provided a wide range of intellectual films