Film Studies / Appreciation Syllabus & Subjects 2023: Semester-wise List, Top Colleges Syllabus PDF
Pallavi Priyadarshini PandaContent Writer
The study of different forms of films, their impact on people and culture, and the medium make up the basis of Film Studies. Students who look forward to making their career in the Film or TV industry pursue an educational degree in Film Studies where they are taught to prepare and analyse scripts, scenes, effects, beauty and flaws in films. Film Studies introduce them to several theories and philosophies related to cinema and a detailed understanding of the relationship between cinema and society. The different courses for Film Studies are BA, MA, UG Diploma, and MFA in Film Studies.For students looking to join Film studies after Class 12 can join BA in Film studies, and for students looking to pursue further studies in Film studies can opt for MA and MFA in film studies. Some universities provide MA in Film studies, and some MFA in Film studies. To get into it, one needs to clear graduation with minimum marks from a recognised university.
- Syllabus - Important facts for Film Studies
- List of Subjects in Film Studies
- Detailed Syllabus for Film Studies
- Specialisations offered in Film Studies
- Books and Authors related to Film Studies
- Entrance exam for Film Studies
- Syllabus for Distance Programme for Film Studies
- Top Colleges for Film Studies
- FAQs on Film Studies Syllabus
Syllabus - Important facts for Film Studies
Different colleges and universities have different syllabi under UG, PG, Diploma, and certification courses for Film Students.
- BA in Film Studies - This is a 3-year undergraduate course provided by several reputed universities in India. They have six semesters. The course focuses on the development and fundamentals of narrative cinemas, early Indian cinemas, Indian popular cinemas, transitional cinemas, authorship, and the studio era.
- MA in Film Studies - This is a 2-year postgraduate course with four semesters. The course focuses on the evolution of cinemas, early film forms, non-fiction films, and Hollywood cinemas. It also goes into filmmaking, contemporary filmmaking, television, sound & music in cinemas, film theory, images & signs in cinema, contemporary Asian cinema, media theory, and understanding of the culture of global cinemas.
- MFA in Film Studies - This is a 2-year postgraduate course by some universities and is related to fine arts, taking on a practical approach. In four semesters, the course covers the history of Indian art, modern & contemporary Asian art, and the history of modern and contemporary western art.
- Eligibility criteria - The students can pursue the course as per their requirements. Any students who have cleared Class 12 in Science, Humanities, or Commerce from a recognised university are eligible to pursue BA in Film Studies. Students who have cleared UG courses with minimum qualifying marks from recognised universities are eligible to pursue MA and MFA in Film Studies.
- Examination pattern - The colleges and universities providing courses in Film Studies conduct theory as well as practical exams at the end of each semester. The students have to give a dissertation in the final semester. The course would include quizzes and several exercises to provide a holistic approach to Film studies.
List of Subjects in Film Studies
The subjects taught in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Film Studies are as follows:
| Subjects for BA in Film Studies | |
|---|---|
| Subject Title | Subject Details |
| Fundamentals of Film Narrative | This subject talks about the basics of narrative filmmaking. |
| Development of Film Narrative | The focus is on analysing and developing narrative filmmaking in detail. |
| Transitional Cinema | This subject discusses different kinds of cinemas, mainly parallel filmmaking. |
| Indian Popular cinema | Popular Indian movies are the topic of discussion. This subject lets students know the art of making a popular Indian cinema for the people. |
| The Studio Era | This subject discusses the movies made during the studio era when limited production houses controlled the entire film industry. |
| Authorship - Director and styles | Different kinds of directional styles are looked into. This subject gives insight into various directors and their working styles. |
| Early Indian Cinema | The focus is on the early days of Indian cinema and how it was developed. Technological and filmmaking differences between early filmmaking and the present are also a point of discussion. |
| Popular forms in the Colonial era | This looks into the cinemas made during the colonial era and how directors made the movies with the technologies present during that time. |
| Subjects for MA in Film Studies | |
| Subject Title | Subject Details |
| Film Language | This subject is about practical criticism, and it focuses on the analysis and interpretation of cinemas. |
| Evolution of Cinema as an art | The evolution of global and Indian cinemas from their early stage to date is observed. |
| Early Film forms | This discusses cinemas made in earlier times in detail. This talks about the techniques, style, and the methodologies applied to make films all over. |
| Sequence and script analysis | This subject talks about how to develop, analyse and understand scripts. |
| Non-Fiction films | This provides a detailed insight into non-fiction movies, mostly documentaries, that form a major part of filmmaking. |
| Basics of visual and sound images | This looks into the usage of visuals and sound in films. It discusses how filmmakers have used visuals and sounds to create masterpieces and how they help create the perfect film. |
| Hollywood cinemas | This discusses the history, the scenes behind and the art of making Hollywood movies in detail. |
| Film Theory 1 | The subject discusses different elements required to make a film, and discusses those elements in parts throughout the course. |
| Facets of Indian cinema | It gives a detailed scope to students on a variety of filmmaking practices. It provides insight into the historical and theoretical ways of cinema. |
| Cinematic Realism in the global context | This subject discusses realism in global cinemas, analysing narrative and visual realism, and how films are made with ground reality and stunning visuals. |
| Basics of filmmaking | This subject discusses filmmaking and how major filmmakers direct movies in detail. This talk about the nuances of filmmaking and what are the major stuffs required to make a good film. |
| Indian Cinema | This subject discusses famous Indian cinemas and the details that went into making them. It provides several facts and the work that went into making these films. The classic movies are a part of this subject. |
| Contemporary Critical theory | This discusses how critical theories in films can affect culture and society. Every critical theory is explained through films to reveal the hidden meaning of the critical theory. |
| New waves across the world | This discusses the history of filmmaking and the waves of change that films were subject to. |
| Film Theory 2 | This talks about some more elements required to make a good film. Over the entire duration of graduation, film theory would be divided into parts and would be explained as per the syllabus. |
| Sound and Music in Cinemas | This subject discusses the role of sound in filmmaking, the early days of silent movies and how movies are now made with the latest technologies. |
| Indian cinemas - Alternative practices | Parallel cinema is the point of focus, as well as how filmmakers have invested in making cult movies. |
| Television and popular culture in India | This subject discusses details on making TV serials for students to understand the popularity of serials and provide the audience with the perfect serials and programmes on TV. |
| Psyche and Screen | This subject focuses on the theoretical way of making cinemas. This talks about several topics that would widen your horizon and help you in diverse thinking that would help you in making better films. It discusses the different aesthetic values of filmmaking. |
| Globalisation, culture and new media | This discusses how different cultures, media, and global outreach affects cinemas all over. |
| Stardom and commerce | This subject showcases cinematic stardom and explores elements of gender, caste, and local nuances. It also teaches the relationship between fame with regional, national and international cinemas. |
| Film Theory 3 | Again here some more elements of filmmaking would be discussed. |
| Images and signs in cinema | The focus is on the use of images and signals in cinemas, how these have been used since the era of silent movies and how a filmmaker can use them to describe the scenes in the film. |
| Contemporary Asian cinema | This discusses the history, style, and famous movies of Asian cinemas by looking at renowned Asian filmmakers and their style of making movies. |
| Media Theory | The several theories involved in filmmaking are discussed. The student should understand and analyse their scripts to mould a better movie. |
| Subjects for MA in Film Studies (II) | |
| Subject and Sensorium | Practical filmmaking |
Detailed Syllabus for Film Studies
The syllabus for Film Studies is nearly the same in all colleges and universities, but some courses may differ. Let us look at the subjects taught in all the semesters of BA, MA, and MFA in film studies.
| MA in Film Studies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | Core/Elective | Subject Title | Subjects Details |
| 1 | Early Film Forms | The Early Cinema Paradigm, Transitional forms, Indian Silent forms | This talks about cinemas made during earlier days and the style of filmmaking. |
| 2 | Cinematic realism in Global Context | Italian Neorealism, Post-colonial realism, Realist resurgence | This is about cinemas made during different times globally and how filmmaking style changes according to time. |
| 3 | Indian Cinema - Alternative practices | Realism and its critical extensions - Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak, The Indian New wave - Mrinal Sen and Shyam Benegal, Avant Grade to contemporary alternative practices, and the idea of alternatives | This subject is about alternative cinemas. Critical thinking helps make good cinemas, and it has helped legendary filmmakers make classics. |
| 4 | Contemporary Asian cinema | The Idea of Asian cinema, New East Asian cinema since the 1980s, Genre Cinema (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong), and Independent movements (Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia) | This discusses the wide range, style, and aesthetics of Asian cinemas. It talks about how the directors use different techniques to produce memorable films. The subject talks about famous Asian movies and discusses all the elements used in it. |
Specialisations offered in Film Studies
The syllabus of Film Studies includes several specialisations. The students pursuing BA or MA in Film Studies can dive into different segments of filmmaking. Let us look at some of them.
| Specialisation | Specialisation subject | Subject Details |
|---|---|---|
| Direction and Screenplay writing | Film language and syntax, Film history, Film theory, Screenplay writing, and Production design | This subject provides exposure to different forms of cinema. The students undergo several workshops to learn the nuances of direction and screenplay writing. |
| Cinematographer | Camera handling & lighting, Cinematography | Students learn about camera work and understand how to get the best shot in cinemas. |
| Editing | Graphics & composting, basic sound design, Digital intermediates, Digital post-window workflow | This discusses editing movies, graphics composition, and working on digital workflow in filmmaking. |
| Sound recording & Design | Location recording, film dubbing, studio recording, sound mixing with the latest infrastructure | This specialisation helps students design sound as per the image and make the film or serial more attractive for the viewers. The students undergo several workshops to understand different sounds, devices and infrastructure. |
| Producing for films & television | Script analysis, Casting, budgeting, financing, pitching, production phases, media law, and marketing | This specialisation provides students with a framework to build their production houses and sharpen their creative skills to become successful producers. |
| Animation Cinema | Game design, sequential art, visual effects, computer-aided animation, and hand-drawn classical drawings | This specialisation focuses on various animation techniques and provides students with the latest infrastructure to learn and apply. |
Books and Authors related to Film Studies
The Film Studies syllabus is vast and thus, many books are recommended to students for their learning. Apart from the prescribed books, the students need to read other books about filmmaking and filmmakers to know about films. Let us look at some of the prescribed books.
| Subject | Book Title | Authors | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film Theory | Film Theory: An Introduction | Robert Stan | The book talks about several theories used by filmmakers like phenomenology, montage theory, auteur theory, feminism, queer theory and others. |
| Evolution of Cinema as an art | Film History: An Introduction | Bordwell/ Thompson/Smith | This book provides a detailed history of global cinemas. The book has chapters from the silent era to the development of sound, to the post-war era and contemporary cinemas. |
| Sound and Music in Cinemas | Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen | Michel Chion | The French film critic writes about the role of sound in cinemas and the impact of audiovisual analysis. |
| Contemporary Critical theory | Film Theory and Criticism - Introductory readings | Leo Braudy | The book talks about the critical writings of a film. The book has articles written by Vsevolod Pudovkin, Sergei Eisenstein, and others discussing the film's psychological, sociological, and philosophical dimensions. |
Entrance exam for Film Studies
Several colleges and universities have different entrance examinations to select candidates for UG and PG courses in Film Studies. Some colleges admit students based on their marks. The colleges that provide admission based on marks prepare a list based on Class 12 marks for UG courses and UG marks for PG courses. The colleges admitting students through entrance examination conduct a written examination followed by group discussion and interviews. Some prominent entrance examinations are:
- JMI Entrance examination
- FTII JET Entrance examination
- DCJ Mumbai Entrance examination
- DUET Entrance Examination
- ACJ Entrance Examination
- NSD screening test
The syllabus for the examination is similar. Section A of the entrance examination consists of General Knowledge, National & International politics, film, TV, & other media, art, culture, and literature. Section B consists of descriptive questions that would showcase the candidate's thought process on contemporary issues and media. The paper also tests the candidates imagination, visualisation, and storytelling skills. The details of the syllabus would be mentioned on the official website of the colleges.
The entrance examination would be divided into different parts. Some colleges have the written examination followed by a general discussion and interview round. The selection pattern depends upon the colleges, and the students should check the details on the official website of the college they are applying to.
The entrance examinations are important, as it would help in selecting the eligible candidates to the esteemed colleges. It would provide a platform where the students can sense the level of difficulty of the course and prepare themselves accordingly. Every college has their criteria and only a selected few would get through it.
Syllabus for Distance Programme for Film Studies
Some candidates can’t avail of the full-time Film Studies programme. Therefore, some universities offer distance programmes in Film Studies, where the candidates get to study all the regular courses but from their homes. The syllabus and the evaluation process are the same, giving equal opportunity to the candidates pursuing film studies in the distance programme.
Some reputed international and national colleges like Warsaw Film school, International Film Institute, Ambedkar University, Jadavpur University, IGNOU, and the University of Hyderabad Centre for Distance education provide distance programmes in Film Studies.
The syllabus for the distance programme is similar to a full-time course. The students pursuing the distance programme have to undergo the same examination standards, training, and workshops to fulfil the credits for the programme. The universities do not hold any entrance examinations for the distance course. The students should check the official website before applying for the distance course in any college. There is a fee difference between distance and full-time learning and it depends upon the college and the pursued course.
Top Colleges for Film Studies
While there are many colleges and universities that provide Film Studies as a course, a candidate needs to target the top colleges for better exposure and career opportunities. Let us look at the top 10 colleges providing Film studies.
| Sl.No. | College/University/Institution | Syllabus (URL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | FTII, Pune | To be uploaded soon |
| 2. | JMI, Delhi | To be uploaded soon |
| 3. | MU, Mumbai | To be uploaded soon |
| 4. | JU, Kolkata | To be uploaded soon |
| 5. | SRFTI, Kolkata | To be uploaded soon |
| 6. | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | To be uploaded soon |
| 7. | LV Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai | To be uploaded soon |
| 8. | CRAFT, Delhi | To be uploaded soon |
| 9. | Chandigarh University, Chandigarh | Download Here |
| 10. | Amity University, Mumbai | To be uploaded soon |
FAQs on Film Studies Syllabus
Q. What is a Film Studies course?
Q. What are the different degrees provided in Film Studies?
Q. What are some prominent colleges providing Film Studies?
Q. What are some of the courses in Film Studies?
Q. Name some specialisations in Film Studies?
Q. What is the top entrance examination for Film Studies?
Q. Name some subjects in BA for Film studies?
Q. Name some subjects in MA for Film studies?
Q. What are the eligibility criteria to pursue Film Studies?
Q. Is there any distance course for Film studies?
Q. Which is better- Full-time or distance course for Film Studies?
Q. Would only the prescribed books be sufficient to learn filmmaking?
Q. What is the admission process for colleges selecting students for Film studies?
Q. Can I pursue Film studies after Class 10th?
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