Critical Approaches to Film

Essay Preparation

& Critical Approaches recap

Develop analytical writing skills and engagement

with critical concepts and scholarly literature.

Question:

Auteur theory and genre theory are often

considered to be in opposition to one another.

Which is a more useful critical approach to

The Searchers OR Unforgiven OR The Big

Sleep?

Your response should seek to combine a demonstration of understanding of

theories of authorship and genre with original analysis of the film; that is, you

should aim to apply and assess the theories rather than simply describe it.

Please note that you are expected to be creative and original in your response to

this question, and to bear in mind that depth of analysis of the film is what is

sought.

Remember that your response must be expressed in continuous prose, and that

you must avoid personalisation and uncritical vocabulary.

You must also make sure you refer to the relevant guidelines for proper

referencing. Plagiarism will result in a fail. See Guidelines for Film Studies

Submission.

What you will be marked on:

As a guide, the Essay will be assessed according

to the following criteria:

Depth, originality and persuasiveness of

analysis of the films.

Understanding, application and assessment of

the theories.

Level of independent research employed, in

addition to lecture material.

Construction of a convincing, well-structured

intellectual argument.

Appropriateness of presentational style,

including accuracy of referencing.

1. Read up on auteur & genre theory

2. Read up on the director

3. Ideally, watch other films by the same

director(s)

4. Watch the film several times and analyse it

in detail

Genre Theory

• Way to study film

• Not just about films belonging to a group

• Genres based on different things e.g.

• story content (the war film)

• artistic status (the art film)

• racial identity (black cinema)

• location (The Western)

• sexual orientation (Queer cinema)

• As far back as 1950s Bazin discussing genre

• 60s & 70s: genre criticism saw move away from auteur concept

• Genre study = more inclusive discipline?

Chicken or the egg?

A problem with using genre theory?

Andrew Tutor (Genre 1974) finds the term

genre problematic.

Iconography (symbolic meaning we attach to images)More easily

identifiable

Deeper level

of analysis

needed. Read

layers of

production

Tone (lighting, music, cinematography)

Can be used

for all

genres

How do the formal

elements create a

tone to a film?

Noir lighting

POV shots for thriller/

horror

Use of music

associated with

genres

• Genres typically adhere to

formulaic way of telling

story

• Blueprints

• Frequently repeated across

number of films

• E.G. Jim Kitses on The

Western & Binary

Oppositions

• Genre = inclusive – easy to construct

long list of films that fall into specific

genre

• Genre theory – too preoccupied with

semiotics (signs, iconography &

meaning)

• Need to consider historical

emergence of genre movies

• Need to account for how genres

develop, mutate, rise and fall in

popularity

Semantics & Syntax

2 approaches for analysing genre

Greater understanding is achieved

through combination of both

Rick Altman (1984)

• Should consider

audiences

• They get targeted by the

industry

• Certain films associated

with men/ women

• Genre dependent on

audience expectation

Steve Neale (‘Questions of Genre’

1990)

Two things central to understanding of genre

3 things to consider:

1. Pre-history (Development from other forms of

media)

2. All films regardless of quality

3. Factors other than content (advertising,

studio policy, stars)

Auteur theory: recap

Defending film as

an art form

Director as main

creative force

Focus on mise-

en-scène

The politique

des auteurs

Identifying

auteur signatureAuteur theory

Identifying an auteur director

• Biographical details

• Themes present in work (usually recurring

themes)

• Aesthetics (mise-en-scene, cinematography…)

• Production (What budgets can they secure?

Use same cast and crew? Style dependent on

others?)

Auteur Theory as a critical approach

• Director as auteur allows cinema to claim artistic & academic legitimacy. Film seen as important as other art forms

• Academics & critics – champion director. Easier to attribute responsibility to sole individual. Using dir. As shorthand is norm and promotes Auteur Theory

• Is key to cultural capital of fan communities, film buffs, journalists & academics who publish on this topic.

• Promotion of director to audiences

• Marketing tool – extras with dir. Commentaries etc…

Problematizing the auteur

• Film is collaborative process?

• Crew’s input ignored when applying theory

• Emphasis on personal & unique vision

• Should others be given auteur title? Actor? Cinematographer? Writer? Composer?

• Roland Barthes ‘Death of the Author’ (1968): Gave preference to reader. Reader who gave text meaning.