Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Spanning the entire academic year, with twenty three-hour sessions (including screenings), the course surveys the major developments in the history of Western cinema, from the invention of the Lumière brothers to the contemporary period. Equal emphasis is placed on aesthetic dimensions-such as the history of movements and schools, genres, styles, authors, and cinematic language-and on economic dimensions, including the history of the film industries, from the Hollywood studio system to European production models.
Each session is extensively illustrated with film stills, audiovisual excerpts, and a variety of related documents. The course, organized into chapters, is supplemented by a reading portfolio whose texts extend and deepen the themes addressed in the sessions.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
This general introduction to the history of cinema is structured around three main objectives :
1. Discovery
Students will be introduced to audiovisual works that are generally not part of their usual cultural horizon. They will learn to approach these works with a critical eye, to identify the marks of craftsmanship that shape each film, and to recognize the traces of human history, societies, and the arts that these works embody and transmit. To facilitate this process, the course is extensively illustrated and accompanied by a compulsory program of film screenings.
2. Knowledge
Students will acquire a body of foundational knowledge, including historical benchmarks and key reference points, necessary for developing a comprehensive understanding of the history of cinema, from its origins to the present day. In this respect, the course necessarily assumes an encyclopedic scope.
3. Critical Reflection
Over the course of its long history, cinema has conveyed multiple-at times conflicting-worldviews whose representations can today be analyzed and whose effects may be assessed. Because the history of cinema intersects with both the history of images and the history of thought, it invites broader reflection on the many ways in which, for more than a century and still today, cinema has functioned as a powerful instrument in the production of meaning.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
A good knowledge of 20th century history.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Students are expected to attend all lectures, review their personal notes, and study the materials provided by the instructor (including outlines and visual documents related to the various chapters of the course). They are also required to independently view twenty films designated by the instructor at the beginning of the semester. These films constitute an integral part of the course content and will serve as the basis for preparatory work leading up to the examination, the details of which will be specified during the course as well as in the explanatory guide distributed at the first session. In addition, students must complete the assigned readings collected in a course reader, distributed during the initial class. These texts likewise form part of the examinable material and must be mastered for successful completion of the course.
Four review sessions (two per semester) will be scheduled throughout the academic year (see the calendar provided in the course packet). These sessions will revisit complex aspects of the lectures, clarify the methodological expectations for assignments, and provide examination simulations. Preparatory work for the examination will be supervised by a student teaching assistant as well as by the course's academic assistant.
Finally, supplementary support sessions in history and in French language proficiency will be organized to assist students in engaging with the historical dimensions of the course and in working with the course reader effectively.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Duration and period:
The course consists of twenty three-hour sessions, combining theoretical and practical approaches, distributed across the full academic year (first and second semester).
Location and timetable:
Salle Gothot-Mersch (bât. A1), Thursdays from 9am to 12pm (Q1) and Tuesdays (Q2) from 2pm to 5pm. See detailed timetable in the folder provided with the first course.
A detailed calendar is provided in the course packet distributed at the first session.
An informational meeting outlining the structure, requirements, and expectations of the course will be held prior to its commencement.
All course-related materials are made available online via MyUliege.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
The course is not available in the form of a syllabus, and students are responsible for ensuring the completeness and accuracy of their lecture notes.
In addition, the instructor provides detailed outlines for each class session, along with a set of illustrations.
The reading of a collection of texts, assembled in a course reader distributed via the ULiège platform, is mandatory.
Finally, a comprehensive bibliography-general in scope and then specialized for each section of the course-is included in the general course presentation packet.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Written work / report
Further information:
Each student is required to complete an individual assignment (viewing reports) as preparation for the examination (see detailed instructions in the course packet, available via the MyULiège platform). Completion of this assignment is a prerequisite for admission to the examination.
Assessment takes the form of a written examination structured as a multiple-choice questionnaire.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Notice to potential repeat students: the course content is updated annually.
Contacts
Titular teacher :
Dick Tomasovic, professeur
Département Médias, culture et communication
Place du 20-Août, 7 - Bât. A1 - 2e étage
Dick.Tomasovic@uliege.be
Research Assistant: Tatiana Horbaczewski
Place du 20-Août, 7 - Bât. A1 - 2e étage
Tatiana.Horbaczewski@uliege.be
Secretariat : Mme Leila Lang
Tél. 04 366 32 86