What is Film Studies?
Film Studies is a relatively new subject area (by comparison with, say, English), which has emerged in Ireland over the past 15 years or so. It is concerned with the study of film primarily from critical and historical perspectives.
Upon its invention over 100 years ago, film quickly emerged as a powerful and popular entertainment form, indeed the first worldwide popular cultural form, a position it maintains to this day.
Film Studies examines the history of this form; from silent cinema through a wide range of national cinemas and influential individuals to the blockbuster and independent films of today. It also asks questions about the who, what and why of representation in film, taking advantage of a range of critical insights which have emerged alongside the development of the medium.
Note: The BA Connect with Film Studies is a theoretically- orientated course.
It does not teach film production.
What is distinctive about the BA with Film Studies at NUI Galway?
Films are not produced in a vacuum. Film analysis requires knowledge and understanding of the complex historical and cultural forces that shape cinema. The BA with Film Studies is unique in that it allows you to study film in an in-depth and comprehensive fashion, while at the same time following a traditional Arts Degree.
Why study Film Studies at NUIG?
Galway is the most arts-driven city in Ireland. It is the home of the Irish Film Board, Galway Film Fleadh and many production companies. NUIG is a vibrant part of the citys cultural community. As an NUIG student you will be well placed to study cinema and media. The BA Connect with Film Studies programme is delivered by a respected teaching staff and utilises excellent facilities for screen education. During the programme you will visit film festivals, coordinate productions with other BA Connect classes, and enjoy other events, such as quizzes, film clubs and public interviews. Also, with an average class size of 15 students, the BA Connect with Film Studies is a wonderful opportunity to make friends who share your enthusiasm for cinema.
The BA Connect with Film Studies is run under the auspices of the Huston School of Film & Digital Media. The Huston School is the designated centre for the study of moving images at NUI Galway. Named in honour of the Hollywood director John Huston and his illustrious family, who spent nearly 20 years living near Galway, it is one of the most respected centres of its kind in Ireland. Alongside its BA CONNECT programme it offers six Masters programs in film and related areas, making it an ideal place to begin your study of film as an undergraduate.
What will I study on the course?
Expect to watch a lot of films! The course will examine a wide range of issues relating to the history and theory of cinema from its beginnings in the late 19th century to its current status in the digital age. We examine issues such as Hollywood cinema, various national cinemas including Irish and European, issues relating to gender, violence, genre and technology, to name but a few.
Why is Film Studies a four-year degree?
The BA with Film Studies is a four year degree to allow for the study of the chosen specialisation alongside the standard BA course structure. In Years 1 and 2 you will take a number of Film Studies classes alongside your other subjects. In the Third Year you will spend the first semester on campus concentrating solely on your film specialisation. You will spend the second semester on an Erasmus placement at a foreign university studying film. In Fourth Year you will concentrate on your other two subjects and take no Film Studies classes.
What career options will a BA with Film Studies give me?
The short answer is that the degree is very much what you make of it. For a start, you will be ideally positioned for further studies in the Humanities. Film Studies graduates will find their training useful for careers in teaching, the media, journalism, arts criticism, work in the film and television sector and publishing, among many others. Not only will you acquire first-class knowledge of the subject, you will also develop crucial transferable skills. You will develop critical and historical thinking, how to write and synthesise information, as well as gaining an insight into the structures and economics of the entertainment industries among others.
What Arts subjects should I take with Film Studies?
The Film Studies specialism can be studied in combination with most available Arts subjects, timetable permitting. The subject matter of Film Studies is particularly compatible with subjects such as English, Modern Languages, History and Classics.
Note: In entering the BA Connect with Film Studies programme Film is your specialisation. This means it takes precedence in Year 3 over any language option.
What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?
Entry points for this course in 2010 were 460. Minimum Grade HC3 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at H or O level in the Leaving Certificate including: Irish, English, another language and three other subjects is recognised for entry purposes.
For more information, please contact Course Director: Tony Tracy, Huston School of Film & Digital Media, NUI Galway tony.tracy@nuigalway.ie
