Teaching film in modern languages

1. Teaching film in modern languages University of Bristol 19th June 2009 Dr. Miriam Haddu Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico

2. Mexican Filmmaking • Research: • Books, articles and papers • Teaching: • Hispanic Studies • Modern Languages (co-taught courses running within the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures) • New teaching subject – documentary filmmaking: coincides with new research project.

3. Mexican Visual Arts and Film • Second year course – half devoted to analysing the still image (photography, murals) and other half to Mexican film. • Film component is introductory exploring: • key moments in Mexican filmmaking history • filmic movements • formulas from Golden Age • Stylistics and social concerns from Golden Age, Generation of ’68 to the Contemporary period (1990s and beyond). • Prepares students for the final year option, and develops their analytical skills in relation to a variety of visual texts.

4. Contemporary Mexican Cinema • Contemporary Mexican Cinema: History, Space and Identity • Final Year Course ‘Contemporary Mexican Cinema’ • Course content: • Mixture of filmic material (some written on, others not). • Each year new material added – keeps novelty value, allows progression through film history. • At times films being worked on are taught (En la mente del asesino / In the Mind of a Killer) • Subjects covered: • Characteristics of filmmaking • Women filmmakers • Genres • Seminar room becomes a forum for learning, interpreting filmic texts, discussion and the investigation of new ideas.

5. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico • Modern Languages co-taught course • Second year level: • Spanish studies students • Film studies with a modern language • Aims and Objectives: • Introduce students to a selection of documentaries from the region • Expand analytical skills acquired elsewhere on the course • Contextualise and interpret visual constructs • Address the issue of genre when applied to documentary.

6. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico • Teaching in Practice: • Teaching of some principles of documentary filmmaking: • Basic principles: • Distinction between ‘fiction’ and ‘reality’ filmmaking. Some myths addressed. • Issues of representing ‘reality’ • Theoretical framework for reading these outputs • Types of documentary: observational, reflexive, interactive, etc. • Primary text to exemplify generic definition: En el hoyo / In the Pit.

7. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico • Teaching Practice: • Theoretical framework for reading these texts • Documentary modes of representation: • Expository Mode • Observational Mode • Interactive Mode • Reflexive Mode • Primary text to exemplify generic definition: En el hoyo/In the Pit

8. Juan Carlos Rulfo’s En el hoyo / In the Pit (2007) • Example of ‘observational mode’ documentary • Tagline: • Starting point for exploring issues of reality in documentary • Methods of documentary filmmaking • Role of the director.

9. En el hoyo

10. Documentary filmmaking from Mexico • Pedagogical challenges: • Knowledge of cultural context (theoretical tools not sufficient) • ‘Re-training of the eye’ – build upon skills developed from other courses/modules • New discipline for modern languages students.

11. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico • Methodological issues / Teaching in Practice: • Accessibility: 1. Distribution within the film industry 2. Language (target language) 3. Secondary sources (reference material)

12. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico 1. Distribution: • Documentaries shown at film festivals: • Access and Delivery of teaching material • Limitations on student viewing • Resolution: • Contact filmmakers directly • Film Institutes

13. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico 2. Language: • Effect from poor distribution is limited subtitled material – excludes non- Spanish speakers. • Lack of subtitles limits the audience to a certain level of Spanish speakers only. • Local problem – accent – Mexico City’s chilango presents problems of reception.

14. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico 3. Secondary Sources: • New films – little publication available • Most written form of criticism in the target language • Possible solution: • Newspaper reviews from archives in Mexico City • Study packs for students (internet resources and reviews)

15. Documentary Filmmaking from Mexico • Pedagogical benefits of research-informed teaching: • Cutting Edge teaching • Expert knowledge • Forum for discussion and exploring of new ideas – works both for the researcher and the student.