Program Overview

Course Overview

The Critical Approaches to Film Studies course, denoted as FILM 201, is a comprehensive survey of significant theoretical approaches that inform Film Studies. Topics covered may vary from year to year but typically include realism, formalism, semiotics, narratology, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, and postmodernism.

Course Details

• Dates: 23 February 2026 to 21 June 2026
• Starts: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,156.00
  • International students: NZ$5,893.60
• Lecture Start Times:
  • Tuesday: 2.10pm
  • Wednesday: 4.10pm
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 200 hours or 11.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 20 points

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: FILM 101 or 102 (or 231)
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: FILM 331

Course Structure

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Arts and Media, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be communicated once the course has begun.

About This Course

In 2026, the course will focus on the dynamic between cinema and activism.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Demonstrate specific knowledge of cinematic activism and its engagement with local, national, and global concerns.
2. Analyse institutional, industrial, historical, and cultural factors relevant to cinematic activism.
3. Effectively research issues pertaining to cinema and activism.
4. Present persuasive arguments about cinema and activism in a variety of forms.

How This Course Is Taught

• Lectures are designed as in-person learning environments and include class discussion, collaborative activities, and opportunities to ask questions. Lecture recordings are provided as an additional study aid.
• Tutorials are in-person, with no Zoom option.
• There are collaborative activities that require attendance.
• Some assessments can be submitted online.

Assessment

• Short Essay Exam: 40%
• What is Activist Cinema?: 20%
• Research Essay (with video essay option): 40%

Assessment Dates and Extensions

Once enrolled, students can use the University's online learning environment to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

1. Attend 7 out of 10 tutorials.
2. Submit assignments by the due date, with extensions allowed as approved. A minimum of 35% is required on each assignment to meet the course learning objectives.

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 23 February 2026 to 5 April 2026
• 20 April 2026 to 31 May 2026

What You'll Need to Get

Required and supplementary readings will be accessible via the University's online learning environment.

Past Versions of This Course

Older versions of this course may be accessible through the course archive.