Critical studies integral part of film program
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 21, 2004 9:00 p.m.
The dB Magazine cover story “The value of theory”
(April 15-24) gives a misleading picture of the undergraduate film
and television major at UCLA. This could be because Daily Bruin
writers did not consult the faculty head or the staff counselor for
this program, nor did they interview undergraduate film students
for this article ““ as none are mentioned or quoted.
The main headline asks, “Does an undergraduate education
in film minus critical studies make sense?” This gives a
completely misleading impression of UCLA’s undergraduate film
program. There are 90 units of required course work in the film and
television major. A full third of these units are required courses
in film and television critical studies.
In the article, the vice chair of critical studies committee in
the film department says the idea that critical studies in film is
not related to actual film production, which is a gross
misunderstanding.
The purpose of our undergraduate program, as stated in our
department’s philosophy statement, is to provide “a
broad background in the field and in the diversity of film and
television practice, including courses in history and theory,
critical thinking, animation, screenwriting and the fundamentals of
film, video and television production.” Our faculty has
always considered critical studies to be an integral part of the
program and an essential foundation for any work in production.
A graduate student in film critical studies is quoted as saying,
“The undergraduate program is organized around film
production, not critical studies.” This is not an accurate
description of the program. Aside from 30 required units in
critical studies, undergraduates must take 22 units in craft
courses where they learn the basics of cinematography, editing,
directing the camera, digital media and TV production. Students do
short exercises in these courses but do not complete any major
production projects. This is all the production course work film
majors are required to take.
In their senior year, film majors do a “senior
concentration” consisting of 20 units in an area of their
choice. Of this year’s seniors, 10 chose narrative
filmmaking, three chose video documentary, and 16 chose feature
screenwriting. So, less than half of the seniors are doing
production for their senior concentration, and they will write and
direct only one short project during their entire senior year.
Other concentrations available to students are narrative
television, animation, digital media and critical studies.
The Bruin’s article also states, “The majority of
film criticism and critical studies courses are mainly for graduate
students.” This sentence makes it appear that undergraduate
critical studies is a neglected area in the department, which is
not the case. For example, in fall 2003 the department offered five
undergraduate courses and seven graduate courses in critical
studies. Total enrollment in these courses was 424 undergraduates
and 93 graduate students.
The goal of the undergraduate film and television major is to
provide students with a solid foundation in all the major areas of
film and television study, including history and theory. Critical
studies has been and will continue to be a significant part of the
undergraduate curriculum.
Moore is the student affairs officer for film and television
studies. Smith is the head of bachelor of arts program and a
professor in the film and television department.
