Film Analysis and Theory: An Introduction



Overview

This beginners' course is for those with an interest in cinema but with little/no experience of film analysis or critical film theory. 

Classes will take the form of a mini-lecture and presentation leading on to group discussions in pairs and as a class, feeding back ideas and arguments and cementing knowledge laid out in the opening of the session.

Sessions will be focused around 3 case-study films, Memento (2000, Christopher Nolan), You Were Never Really Here (2017, Lynne Ramsay) and Mulholland Drive (2001, David Lynch), and relevant secondary examples will be drawn into the lessons according to the topic.

Each week will introduce a new concept, making use of set readings and pertinent scenes and sequences in order to mobilise the topic. You will be encouraged to conduct your own analyses and to practise getting your arguments and observations in writing in order to reinforce your understanding of the different topics.

Programme details

Courses starts Tuesday 21 April 2026

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 2-4pm.

Week 1: Introduction – ways of approaching film texts

Week 3: Sequence analysis: meaning and interpretation. 

Week 4: Genre and the protagonist

Week 5: Cognition and Emotion – how we understand visual storytelling.

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £180.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. See details of our concessionary fees for short courses.

Tutor

Dr Neil McCartney

Dr Neil McCartney is currently based in Oxford as an independent researcher and has taught courses at the Department on The Films of Orson Welles and Self-identity in Cinema. He obtained his PhD in Film Studies from the University of Kent. His doctoral thesis analysed unconventional character portrayals in film narratives within the wider context of psychological and philosophical theories of self-identity. His other areas of interest include film-as-philosophy, the portrayal of memory and subjectivity in fiction film, and avant-garde deviations from conventional narrative trajectories and continuity of characters. 

Course aims

Course aim

To introduce key concepts of critical film theory so that students can confidently analyse a film or sequence of a film within a properly understood theoretical context or school of thinking. 

Course objectives

  • To give students a basic understanding of certain key principles of film theory.
  • To encourage meaningful debate and original critical thinking about the moving image.
  • To enable students to deconstruct film texts and articulate their own insights and observations.

Teaching methods

Lecture presentation followed by seminar-style discussion and group analysis. Set texts will be viewed both during and in advance of each class, and key sequences relating to the weekly topic will be viewed during the class. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have been given the opportunity to:

  • have a good understanding of the necessary language and critical thinking and observational skills needed to carry out a detailed sequence analysis;
  • have gained an understanding of how critical film theory has evolved and be able to contextualise particular films when studying them; and
  • have participated in worthwhile discussion within the class so that ideas are shared and so that a piece of written criticism could be produced.

Assessment methods

This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

Level and demands

No previous knowledge required, just a keeness to learn.

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support