ELO-E1011 - Theory, Art and Artistic Practices 1, Lecture, 10.1.2022-14.1.2022

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Theory, Art & Artistic Practices course aims providing tools for critical perspectives to filmmaking and film watching through introducing basic understanding on the essential maker s theory, critical theory, and artistic research approaches to cinema language. This course will provide students with tools for conceptualising cinematic representation from the perspectives of various essential theoretical frameworks.

Credits: 2

Schedule: 10.01.2022 - 14.01.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Arturo Delgado Pereira, Susanna Helke

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

Theory, Art and Artistic Practices 1 (ELO-E1011)

RETHINKING CONVENTIONS and CINEMA MANIFESTOS

Department of Film, Television and Scenography

ELO, Aalto University

2021/2022

 Dates: 10-14.01.2022

Time: See individual schedule below.

Place: THE COURSE IS SCHEDULED FOR FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING. HOWEVER, WE ARE WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION OR UPDATES ABOUT AALTO HEALTH POLICIES FOR THIS COURSE. 

Responsible teachers: Prof. Susanna Helke/Prof. Arturo Delgado Pereira

Teaching Language: English

Credits: 2 cr.

Email: susanna.helke@aalto.fi / arturo.delgado@aalto.fi


CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Critical perspectives on filmmaking and film representation, makers theories, artistic research applied to cinema. The emphasis of the course is often in the perspective of the filmmakers, exploring how filmmakers create interpretation of the world we inhabit and how the responsibility and power of constructing the image of reality is at the heart of their work. 

    The course will be delivered through lecture by faculty and visitors, film screenings and discussions.

  • applies in this implementation

    DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

    Theory, Art and Artistic Practice 1  will focus on helping the students to gain an understanding of different approaches and methodologies for practice-led research, research through artistic practices and makers’ theories. 

    The course will also place an emphasis on cinematic conventions and cinema manifestos. What are they? How do they work? How different artists have positioned themselves towards conventions -and towards the world- for instance by writing cinema manifestos? 

    Through lectures, discussions and assignments, students will become familiarized with critical perspectives related to the film medium and some of its conventions. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon their own practice and the conventions they engage with and/or respond to. As an assignment for the course, students will be required to write a short cinema manifesto. 

    Contextualizing theory within art practice and identifying potential research questions that stem from the students’ film practice and artistic work are desired outcomes for this course. This course is reading intensive. Students will have to attend the lectures and complete the assignments in order to gain credits for this course. 

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    - Students will become familiar with makers´ theories, practice-led research methods and artistic research relevant to their field of study. 

    - Students will develop critical reading capacities of film representation and practice. 

    - Students will start identifying potential research questions that stem from their film practice and artistic work. 


Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures, film screenings and discussions. Completion of the course requires active participation in class activities and completion of an essay assignment. 

  • applies in this implementation

    ASSIGNMENTS

    1. Pre-assignment. 

    Prior to the first session. Please read Georges Perec’s “Approaches to What?” You can find the pdf in the material section of the course. 

     

    2. Assignment: due Friday 14th January (in-class presentation)

    The assignment for the course consists on writing a small film manifesto (maximum 1-A4 page). The students will have the opportunity to present their manifesto to the class on Friday 14 January. More details about the assignment on Monday 10 January. 


Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures: 16-27h
    Independent study: 27-38h

  • applies in this implementation


     


DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The final credits are determined by the students´ active participation in the course and successful completion of the course assignment.

    Students must attend the first session of the course to secure their place of study.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Spring III

    2021-2022 Spring III

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=ELO-E1011

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    Kursseille ottamisen prioriteettijärjestys ARTSissa 1.1.2018 

Details on the schedule

  • applies in this implementation

    SCHEDULE

    Reading Materials will be available in MyCourses (Materials Section)


    Monday 10 January. Q202, Väre. Artistic Research. 

    10-11:30. Prof. Susanna Helke: Artistic Research as Critical Praxis.

    11:45-12:30. Discussions of pre-assigned texts. Georges Perec’s “Approaches to What?”

    13:30-16:00. Independent Study: Scott Mackenzie’s Film Manifestos and Global Cinema Cultures.

    All students read: Intro + 2 manifestos of your choice.


    Tuesday 11 January. Q201, Väre.  Makers’ Theories and Cinema Manifestos. 

    10-12. Cinema Manifestos + Manifesto case study (teachers presentation)

    13-15:30.  Discussion about Manifesto reading. (teachers will provide guidelines for discussion)

                      Discussion on course assignment: My Film Manifesto. 

     

    Wednesday 12 January. Q201, Väre. Discussing Conventions. 

    9-12 Independent study: Reading of texts for “Discussing Conventions”

    14-16 Discussion session group 1: Montage as Convention 

    (Half of the students; group formed on Monday 10 Jan.)

    14-16.  Discussion session group 2: What is a Story?

    (Half of the students; group formed on Monday 10 Jan.)


    Group 1 read:  

    Sergei Eisenstein: Film Form. 

    “A Dialectical Approach to Film Form.” (starting from page 45)

    “Methods of Montage” (starting from page 72)

     

    Group 2 read:

    Raul Ruiz: Central Conflict Theory. 

    Lebow and Juhasz: Beyond Story. 

     

     

     

    Thursday 13 January. F102, Väre. Independent Study. 

    Students work on Film Manifesto assignment. 

     

    Friday 14 January.  Q201, Väre. Presentation of Film Manifestos.  

    10-16: Presentation of assignment: MY FILM MANIFESTO (for all students) 

     


Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof