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
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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.
More easily
identifiable
Iconography (symbolic meaning we attach to images)
Tone (lighting, music, cinematography)
Deeper level
of analysis
needed. Read
layers of
production
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
Rick Altman (1984)
• Genre = inclusive – easy to construct
long list of films that fall into specific
genre
Semantics & Syntax
• Genre theory – too preoccupied with
semiotics (signs, iconography &
meaning)
Greater understanding is achieved
through combination of both
• Need to consider historical
emergence of genre movies
• Need to account for how genres
develop, mutate, rise and fall in
popularity
2 approaches for analysing genre
• 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
The politique
des auteurs
Focus on miseen-scène
Auteur theory
Identifying
auteur signature
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.