Theory and History of Film and Audiovisual Culture

The aim of bachelor study is to educate graduates for qualified professions requiring independent analytical, critical and conceptual thinking, cultural overview and media literacy in the field of cinema, audiovisual industry, media, cultural institutions and creative and cultural industries.
Bachelor’s degree study leads to the comprehension and understanding of cinema, i.e. film and audiovisual industry as a complex phenomenon in relevant historical, social, cultural, economic, technical and aesthetic contexts.
Bachelor study provides a systematic set of overview knowledge and basic skills in the field, within the wider framework of humanities and social sciences.
Emphasis is placed on a unified curriculum and a common learning standard that corresponds to the level of general education in the given field.
The curriculum is based on a set of predominantly compulsory and compulsory elective courses (lectures and seminars), the components of which are:
1) subjects on film theory and methodology of film science,
2) subjects on the history of Czech and world cinema,
3) subjects focused on methodological research bases,
4) subjects focused on realization of bacherlor thesis,
4) subjects of leading experts from foreign universities (in English),
5) practical subjects of domestic experts (from the field of film industry, festivals, TV programming, film preservation, etc.),
6) selective research and project oriented subjects,
7) professional practice in the film and audiovisual industry institutions.

“We see film from within.”

Practical training

Practice is a compulsory subject: every student must undergo a professional traineeship lasting at least 4 weeks (20 business days) during the Bachelor study.
Professional traineeships take place in institutions such as National Film Archive, the State Cinematography Fund, Czech Television, the festivals IFF Karlovy Vary or IDFF Jihlava, the university cinema Scala, production companies, etc.

Further information

http://fav.phil.muni.cz/

The Bachelor’s degree provides prerequisites for practical application especially in the following areas and positions:
1) Experts in cinema and audiovisual industry institutions.
2) Professionals and creative workers in the media, creative and cultural industries, cultural, memorial and educational institutions, public and state administration.
3) Publicists and critics in the field of film and cultural journalism, public relations workers, editorial and translation activities.
4) Cultural management: cinema managers, managers of cultural and educational institutions, film festivals, etc.
5) Dramaturgy and production practice: film, television, cinema, festivals.

This programme is taught in Czech.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the Field of Study Examination. Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
Field of study examinations will be held from 22 April to 27 April.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations. Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

For admission for studies in this degree programme, you do not need to take the TSP.

Field of Study Examination

This examination is intended to check the applicants’ knowledge of the given field of study. It is done in the form of a written test. In case additional entrance examinations are held, they may be done in the form of oral interviews.

Basic description of the Field of Study Examination:
Questions about the theory of film and media, historical and contemporary Czech and world cinematography, and comprehension of a scholarly text in English.

Sample Field of Study Test 1
Sample Field of Study Test 1: Answer Key
Sample Field of Study Test 2
Sample Field of Study Test 2: Answer Key

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on participation in a national round of Students’ Professional Activities (SOČ) in the fields of History and Theory of Culture, Arts, and Artistic Creation.
Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Criteria for evaluation

• Total number of points in the field of study test: 100
• Total number of points in the knowledge part: 80
• Total number of points in the English text comprehension: 20
• Limit for successfully passing the field of study test: 50

Recommended literature

Essential:

• BORDWELL, David – THOMPSONOVÁ, Kristin (2011): Umění filmu. Úvod do studia formy a stylu. Praha: Nakladatelství Akademie múzických umění, především kapitoly 1, 2, 3 a 12 (s. 21-155, 585-633).
• LUKEŠ, Jan (2013): Diagnózy času: český a slovenský poválečný film (1945-2012). Praha: Slovart.

Further recommended literature:

• BORDWELL, David – THOMPSONOVÁ, Kristin (2007): Dějiny filmu. Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny.
• SZCZEPANIK, Petr (2004): Úvod. Nová filmová historie, kulturní dějiny a archeologie médií. In: SZCZEPANIK, Petr (ed): Nová filmová historie. Antologie současného myšlení o dějinách kinematografie a audiovizuální kultury. Praha: Herrmann a synové, s. 9-41.
• Časopisy (od roku 2014): Cinepur, Film a doba, Iluminace, Kino-Ikon.

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

A graduate of a Bachelor’s degree in Theory and History of Film and Audiovisual Culture can, after fulfilling the conditions of admission, continue in Master’s degree in the same field or in another disciplines (if applicable).