TLÜ ÕIS

Film History I

Course code

BFM6048.FK

old course code

BFM6048

Course title in Estonian

Filmikunsti ajalugu I

Course title in English

Film History I

ECTS credits

4.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester

Dirk Hoyer (language of instruction:English)

lecturer of 2026/2027 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

Brief description of the course

The first part of the course traces the principal developments and tendencies in cinema from technological, aesthetic, cultural, and political perspectives, beginning with the first film projections in 1895 and continuing through the 1960s. The course provides foundational knowledge of film history that enables students to analyse contemporary cinema and identify future directions in filmmaking. Within the course, the distinctive characteristics of European and American cinematic traditions are compared and analysed.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- analyses the first seventy years of cinema (1895–1960) within broader social, technological, aesthetic, and political contexts;
- identifies and relates major films, directors, and film movements to their respective historical periods and artistic trends;
- explains the impact of technical aspects and technological developments on the formation of film language and the artistic integrity of cinematic works;
- applies a systematic method of film analysis to evaluate the role of historical tendencies in contemporary cinema and to anticipate possible future trends;
- critically compares and contrasts the similarities and differences between European and American cinematic traditions and developments.

Teacher

Dirk Hoyer

The course is a prerequisite

Film History II (BFM6049)
Film History II (BFM6223.FK)
Film History II (BFM6065.FK)

Study programmes containing that course