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History, Theory, Methods: Perspectives on Audiences and Spaces of Film Exhibition

Overview

Module description

This module begins with theories of spectatorship and histories of the audience. Next, structured by a case study of London, the module explores the social, spatial and temporal sites of exhibition.

Indicative module syllabus

  • Early attempts to identify the film spectator 
  • The era of the mass audience and classical Hollywood 
  • The rise of the European 'New Waves' 
  • Studies in the sociology of the film audience: from the 1930s to now 
  • Identifying audiences in the multi-platform era 
  • Spatially mapping film culture and sites of exhibition 
  • London's picture palaces 
  • Researching a lost cinema

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  • have a strong understanding of relevant areas of cultural theory and media history of audiences and film exhibition
  • have a strong understanding of how film audiences are constituted, in theory, but also in exhibition spaces 
  • be able to apply theoretical concepts to particular issues related to audiences and film exhibition.