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Why is Film Studies not respected?

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I think because it's a new idea. Biology, chemistry, physics, maths, English language, English literature, modern foreign languages and history are all well known subjects and have all been taught for years and years - so they're well recognised and respected for this. This is probably because there is a lot to know about these subjects, hundreds of years of developed theories and concepts, there's so much to know. Whereas, films and the media are a completely new idea in comparison. I mean, you've only really got the last twenty or so years to compare with and the present, which means at this present moment in time, learning about these subjects is conventionally limited in comparison to sciences, humanities and languages. In a decade or so, the media will probably have grown significantly and there may be new technologies and meanings behind the films, and subjects like media studies and film studies will be slightly more respected as there will be more behind it.

I personally believe it's down to timing. I mean, there isn't enough content and information about films and the media to compare with things like biology which are filled with years and years of content. Obviously film studies is going to be easier, at the moment, seen as there isn't as much to learn. But, you still need different types of skills to be able to do film studies - not everyone will be good at it.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 81

AverageExcellence

Theres not many transferable skills nor does is it that academically challenging. Im not saying its bad, if oyu want to do a degree in it then go for it.

Reply 82

James Ragsdale

Film studies is harder than literature or the hard sciences. In literature, you are writing words about words. In science you are dealing with math and the quantifiable. It is vastly harder to analyze what is not in words or numbers. Studying words is just language games. Studying numbers is just chopping things up into categories. Therefore, studying human beings in their beingness and studying culture in all its word and non-word, and non-number, complexity, is the hardest and most complex field in academia. The scientist E. O. Wilson made this point in his book reviewing the academic fields of knowledge. Human culture is the most all-encompassing and complex entity in the universe.The point is to try to know and understand the world. Limiting yourself to words and numbers is limiting. Those who take on film studies and cultural scholarship take on a much harder subject field. One that approaches human life in an all-encompassing way. Life as it really is.Reducing life from what it is to words and numbers is a smaller, narrower, and thus easier approach.If you describe a person with scientific data, or with word descriptions, you are always removed from the actual person. Seeing them in person or through film, in real space and time, removes that distance. The object experienced in-and-of-itself. A person with their look, body language, physical movement, tone of voice, delivery is the real object, experienced directly and without distance, and communicates much more than words or numbers can account for.How easy or hard some course is graded tells you nothing about the subject field itself. It only tells you about current academic culture. It is arbitrary, not necessary. Any course, in any field, can be designed so 3 get As and half the class flunks out, if it wants to. What is useful to society is also culture-specific and arbitrary. A culture decides if gathering more data is valued, or if gather more insight is valued. It is not a feature of the subject matter itself.

why?

Expect this to change. The new curriculum offered by OCR and the one offered by WJEC Educas are much more rigorous, and likely to start attracting a much better reputation.

The problem may, however take some time to fix. The old curriculum (look back at the textbooks from the mid 2000s if you want to see) has a soft sociological angle allowing plausible answers with little subject specific knowledge and few transferrable skills being acquired. Employers (like me) have long been very sceptical of any subject where broad general knowledge allows plausible answers to be found.

I have previously treated it as being a little like general studies. Yes, it shows a well-rounded understanding of the world, but it does not demonstrate serious analytical skills.

However, I would regard the new course (I'm thinking particularly of the curriculum for teaching from 2017 for first examination in 2019) as having much of the value of an English A level along with some practical skills in making (or writing) which possibly make it more practically useful.

But how many employers have read the new curriculum? I did, because one of my sons is considering it, but not a lot of employers will bother. We get bombarded with CVs and don't have time to update ourselves properly on every twist and turn in curriculum changes. A new more rigorous examination may be a real breakthrough, but expect the old reputation to take a few decades (and probably a generation of bosses will have to retire and be replaced) before you can expect employers more widely to understand the value.

To help you combat this, may I make a practical suggestion? If you are applying for a job don't just put the qualification on your CV/application form. Add a little more detail. Say something about what it taught you. For example explain briefly what the course examined, or state what analytical, practical and other transferrable skills you acquired.

Help your recruiter by explaining why this is no longer a Mickey Mouse course!

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 85

solitaireegg

I am taking Film Studies at A level and it's so frustrating that people disregard it. I think it's due to the misunderstanding and overall ignorance people have towards the subject of film. Little do people realise that the analytical skills you massively develop proves very useful in any field of work. I may be biased because I love film and do recognise its significance on culture and society. Also, I don't understand why people prefer to just watch films, follow the plot and wait for the credits; don't you want to understand its context, the time, its meaning and work put in by many, many people? Is that just me?

Reply 86

Realitysreflexx

No course named studies is every respected...

It implies studying around...

While at uni your supposed to specialise to some extent lol.

For example..

Business studies....

why not economics.. management....finance.. accounting...

grow up and decide lol.

Reply 87

Doones

Original post by Realitysreflexx

Wut? It's just a name: Management *Studies* is also a thing.

Reply 88

Realitysreflexx

Original post by Doonesbury

Wut? It's just a name: Management *Studies* is also a thing.

Lancaster was one of the few unis that hung onto "business studies" even they abandoned it...

Business studies vs Management

= far lower employment and starting salary prospects

via unistats.

At least last year when i was doing research for management.

Dont shoot me im just the messenger 😅😂😂

Reply 89

Doones

Original post by Realitysreflexx

Management Studies is the name of the course at Cambridge.

Reply 90

Realitysreflexx

Original post by Doonesbury

Management Studies is the name of the course at Cambridge.

lol we both know Cambridge could call their course Managing Priorities... it wouldnt change their degree value..

LoL

Reply 91

Doones

Original post by Realitysreflexx

lol we both know Cambridge could call their course Managing Priorities... it wouldnt change their degree value..

LoL

So the alumni currently at BCG or McKinsey, etc didn't find any value in it?

Reply 92

Realitysreflexx

Original post by Doonesbury

So the alumni currently at BCG or McKinsey, etc didn't find any value in it?

True..
a BA in Management studies

from another university other then Cambridge may have less value then a

BSC in international Management from another university...

However whatever cambridge calls there course is frankly irrelevant as a top 5 global instuition.

Reply 93

Notoriety

If it is taught in a serious academic way, I don't see why it wouldn't be respected.

Then it becomes "not respected by whom?" Most likely schoolchildren and insecure graduates.