Description
On this module we cover the diverse spectrum on which a complex definition of cult cinema sits. We observe a range of films that have gained ‘cult’ status, many differing in form and style; transcending and playing with concepts of genre, and; resisting traditional processes of classification and institutionalisation. From ‘poor acting’ to low-budget romps with questionable special effects, new gimmicks and camp qualities, we turn our attention to key figures and case studies, mapping how a cult following of a film (actor, or director) emerges, and the various socio-political implications at stake. We also consider tensions between counterculture and the mainstream; visibility and obscurity; the everyday audience member and the esteemed critic and; commercial consumerism and the iconoclastic. Often associated with ‘guilty pleasure’, cult films highlight the question of taste and its in-flux, temporal relation to both the individual and the collective. Nevertheless, a cult following is not dependent on a film’s obscurity or oppositionality to the mainstream, but rather a devoted fan base. Thus, the module delves into those various meeting points between film and fandom, addressing the ways that different fan communities have celebrated, appropriated, and creatively responded to cult film. Moreover, we ask, how might the nature of cult film be changing in our increasingly connected world, where media convergences and participatory fan responses are taking centre stage?
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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