1. A2 FILM STUDIES
Introduction to Course

2. Coursework ‘Practice’
 Before you begin our actual coursework projects, you
must learn how to research articles, review them and
use them to analyse a film
 Read the extract from Laura Mulvey’s
‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’
 Highlight the key points and identify
key quotes that you could apply to a
film extract

3. Coursework ‘Practice’ – ‘Male Gaze’
 In her theory, Laura Mulvey states:
“In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has
been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining
male gaze projects its phantasy on to the female form which is styled
accordingly.
In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked
at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and
erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-
ness.”She goes on to say:
Women serve TWO functions within the narrative:
1. As an erotic object for the characters within the story
2. As an erotic object for the spectators within the auditorium

4. Coursework ‘Practice’ – ‘Male Gaze’
Watch the following scene from Transformers and make
notes on:
1. How are the micro elements used to ‘project
the male phantasy on to the female form?
2. What are the major differences between the
way the male and female characters are
represented?
3. How does the female character connote ‘To-
be-looked-at-ness’?
4. Consider ALL MICRO ELEMENTS, not just
camera
5. How is the female character an erotic object
for both the characters and the spectator?
Transformers
Dir: Michael Bay
2007

5. Coursework ‘Practice’ – ‘Male Gaze’
 You must now write TWO paragraphs
analysing the scene from Transformers
 You must include
 Analysis of the micro elements
 Quotes from Laura Mulvey to support the
points you are making
Laura Mulvey states that ‘Woman are traditionally looked at and displayed’ in
film. This is particular true in the extract from Transformers as the camera pans
up and down the body of Mikaela, lingering on her exposed mid section. Almost
all of the shots of Fox are from the POV of male Protagonist Max. As a result
the woman in the scene is looked at by both Max and the spectator as we look
through Max’s eyes. She is also displayed as an erotic object for the audiences
pleasure as we are able to gaze at her exposed body and take pleasure from it.

6. Coursework ‘Practice’
 Before you begin our actual coursework projects, you
must learn how to research articles, review them and
use them to analyse a film
 We will spend the next four lessons
researching a small topic, carrying out
analysis and writing a one page
‘research project’
 The two projects to consider are:
 Ethnicity in film
 Mental Health in film

7. Coursework ‘Practice’
 Part 1
 Pick a project title
 Define the area of Ethnicity or Mental
Health you will be looking at
 Part 2
 Log on to the internet and begin
researching articles that you can
use in your research project
 Read the articles you find save
the links in your ‘favorites’
You cannot use:
• Wikipedia
• Slideshare
• Personal Blogs
• ‘Opinion’
Pieces

8. Coursework ‘Practice’
 DO NOT just look at the first thing that appears
 DO NOT assume that you will find what you need on the
first page of your search engine
 Take time to read article titles
and find the information that is
most relevant to your chosen
topic

9. Coursework ‘Practice’
 Part 3
 Pick the THREE articles you feel are
most important and most relevant to your
chosen topic area
 Part 4
 Read the articles and create blog
posts that contain all of the key
points / quotes and arguments
that are put forward
You cannot use:
• Wikipedia
• Slideshare
• Personal Blogs
• ‘Opinion’
Pieces

10. Coursework ‘Practice’
 Part 5
 Identify TWO films that contain scenes
you can use for analysis. (you will
probably find recommendations in the
articles you read)
 Part 6
 Write one page of analysis
 Include:
• Introduction
• Quotes from the articles
you have read
• Analysis of key scenes
• Evaluation of your
findings