There is perhaps no better medium than film for its ability to engage an audience in lives, worlds and realities that are far from their own. Great film is an escape, a pause from the everyday that enables us to connect with stories. With great films in mind, Film Studies was created as an elective class for grade 11 and 12 students with the aim of broadening participants’ cinematic vocabulary. This is done by engaging in a wide range of contemporary movies that will help the class understand and appreciate the art and science of film. Specifically, through the examination of around 30 films, students will be asked to identify cinematic elements and methods and evaluate their effectiveness through comparison with other films. In addition, using the illustrated text “Filmish” as a guide, students will be asked to view certain films through postmodern, feminist, First Peoples and post-colonial lenses to better appreciate the power cinema has to comment on society and better educate for change.
Ultimately, this class is built for movie lovers who are interested in being introduced to new genres and styles that are beyond what the Netflix algorithm shows them. Although priority is given to grade 12 students, Film Studies 12 is open to grade 11 students as well.