Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Hazzy]

Did anyone else not really like uni? And by not really like, I mean kinda hate.

I mean its not bad, I can tolerate it, its basically an expensive extension of school - except even school had its good moments. The course im doing, Film Studies, is all theory. Theres 1 practical module I'm doing this year, which you all know how that turned out, and next year theres a couple. But even then, I was really looking forward to Screenwriting module in 2nd year, but I just got the module description and it says stuff like "This module is not intended to prepare you for a career in Screenwriting" ....so why am I doing it? Or the fact that in addition to a screenplay, theres a 4000 word essay on fuck knows what. And I thought the whole module would be about writing the screenplay, but in the description it goes on about different theories (of course including early cinema - every module is like 80% early cinema) that we'll learn about, and then at the end says "You'll also have the opportunity to write a short screenplay." The opportunity too... like its a special little treat they're giving us.

Theres 22 modules to choose from, I have to pick out of those for the next 2 years. Two of them next year will be practical, (screenwriting, and a documentary making one which will probably be hard and suck, but its practical so meh) and then if i get 60% in those i can do the final practical module in 3rd year. Which leaves... 5 more modules I need to do from the 17 left, and all of them sound boring and shit. Some of the titles I like, like "sound and cinema", could be interesting. But then the description completely destroys it by going on about "you will learn about soviet theories on sound, such as those by herbert zoyfringer and mary russian, as well as early cinema theories on sound" - fucking boring.

Then theres the teaching of the actual modules this year in film. All of them have been boring. Lectures drag on forever, the teachers basically read out power point slides and dont get you excited about film at all. I mean Film Studies has gotta be one of the most exciting subjects you can do, but its like in an attempt to seem professional and not be laughed at, they've sucked any fun out of the subject and made it as dry and theory based as possible, with loads of theorists and essays to read about and stuff like that. The seminars suck too, forcing us to do presentations and shit. Or in the seminar for the module i'm doing at the moment, we all have to be an "expert" for one week, as in, do more research than everyone else and prepare questions and film clips to show, and basically teach the lesson. And thats worth 10% of my mark.

The content of all the lectures is all stuff I could get from a book too - actually, I could get it from the book I had to buy for this course, which was 40 pounds. The book's chapters are basically split up into the different topics we do each week, but go into a lot more depth. The book is written in a way just as boring as the lectures are, but 40 pounds is a lot different to 3000 a year. So why am I doing this course?

Also, all the modules next year have 2500 word essay and 3500 word essay (other than the one i was most looking forward to, which obviously has that 4000 word essay). Its usually split in like 40% for 2500, 50% for 3500 and then 10% for the seminar stuff. Except some are a bit different, an extra 10% for a seminar presentation  as well as general performance, and they take 10% from one of the essays, or, the other practical one has an extra 1000 word essay in there. So its loads of work. Thats not even the problem though, cause if I was enjoying it, I wouldn't mind doing the essays. Over 12 weeks, two essays isn't that bad. Well, its uni, so the level they expect you to go to means you need to do a lot of work and research to get good marks, but still, if I was getting inspired by the teachers or whatever then I wouldn't care.

Theres another uni basically round the corner from one I'm at now, that is apparently a lot more practical, and has pretty much the same modules for 2nd and 3rd years, but with more emphasis on practice. I'm pretty sure I COULD transfer, since the first years dont mean much anyway, at both unis they were just intro courses to bring everyone up to the same level. But, I'm too much of a pussy, it might suck just as bad, and its too much hassle. So 99% sure i aint doing that.

I'm gunna just put up with it. Like I said, it aint that bad. It's just boring, frustrating and dissapointing. But I can put up with it for another 2 years.

[El Jackal]

I'm planning on attending UNi this year and there is only one UNi that I want to attend, that being Huddersfield, they ahve a really good Art and Design department, and I want to do Interactive Media.  Even with the quality of work I've seen them produce, I still have those little doubts like you mentioned.. about how you could practically learn it all from a book anyway, and I do agree that you probably could.. but if it weren't for set deadlines and outlines of the subjects/essays etc would you actually go through with any of it on your own? I know I wouldn't.

[The Headliner]

Hazzy, I don't know if uni is something to just put up with, like school or even sixth form. If you don't want to be doing it and don't feel like you're learning anything then it's a lot of money for nothing. The piece of paper you get at the end of it saying you have a degree in Film Studies might get your foot in the door somewhere, but they'll expect you to have the knowledge to back it up.

I'm not recommending you drop out or anything. Maybe just try and find a way to get more out of it than you are right now. It is just your first year, and the style of teaching compared to your GCSEs and A Levels has been a bit of a culture shock and uni hasn't struck you as the vibrant, exciting place of inspiration that you've heard about, but at this stage I'd still say give it time. The future modules might not be as boring as they sound, and as much as anyone hates to hear this, there may be an element of "you get out what you put in." Theory might not be as instantly gratifying as practical work, but it's a good grounding to have in any trade. Perhaps try and lower your expectations of what they'll offer you, without lowering your ambitions for the standard of work you'll achieve. Getting what you need out of the course might be like getting blood out of a stone, but hey, consider it good practice for working with actors.

[Ethan]

I'm going back to school to finish my game design degree. Though I think my college and you're uni experience are a little different.

[Advocate]

Uni is not for everyone.  I have to say that first.

Personally, I loved it.  Do not miss the workload, but it was a lot of fun.  I got a business degree and then a masters in business.  And right now, I am teaching a second year marketing class (second half of Principles of Marketing or Marketing II as we call it) and I will be teaching 3rd year sales and merchandise in the fall.

Yeah, the first two years can be very dry.  You also have to learn a work ethic.  I am constantly challenging my class to work and think harder.  I do not give marks for slacking off.  It is also very theory based and always will be.  The purpose of that is to get you thinking.  Anyone can show you how to write a basic screenplay.  Uni is there to get you to think critically to write an awesome one.

As for the lectures, yes that sucks that they cover the exact same thing from the book.  Part of that is because you are in first year.  Part of that is the laziness of the lecturer.  I never teach exactly the book.  I take the main ideas, and focus and expand on them.  I also force a lot of discussion, because that is what gets you to think.  I never use the powerpoints from the book.

If I was able to retire tomorrow, I would probably go back to Uni and take the occasional class.

[Hazzy]

My film teachers from A Level were awesome, maybe thats why it seems like the teaching sucks now. I mean, it does suck, and I find it hard to even pay attention cause the whole lecture is so monotonous. But my old Film teachers were hilarious, loved films and it showed, and were just great teachers. Now I go from that to some guy reading off a powerpoint and yeah, I am disappoint. The problem is, I know the lessons might get better and might not be as bad as they sound on paper (although in my experience lessons are usually worse than the description, cause they try and make the lesson sound great on paper...but anyway) - they might not be that bad, but, by the time I find out i'll be midway through the 2nd year, and it'll be too late to do anything.

I've already decided I'm not gunna do anything anyway. It's just annoying that the last two years of uni don't look that great. Hopefully they get are great though.

[Hazzy]

Ha, don't remember making this thread. Was searching for something else and found it.

First year did suck, but I passed it pretty easily to be honest - was no harder than A Level, and I'd already done Film Studies A Level so it was going over stuff I'd already done. I still think the lectures can be boring - I get where the idea of "lecturing" someone comes from now when they going off at you. And I know you get out what you get in, but the teachers could at least help inspire me. Cause I know it's possible now. Last term I had an awesome teacher for the documentary practical module, she was an active film maker herself and went out of her way to help and give advice, while still teaching us about documentaries, and making it interesting. But contrasting that was Animation module teacher, who read off a script she'd written every lesson just going through facts and figures. I took the notes, wrote the essay and got a good mark on it, but I couldn't of cared less about that lesson because seemed like the teacher didn't.

This term I'm doing a scriptwriting module, which is kinda interesting. I'm finding it really hard though, I don't know how to go from idea to story. The teacher is nice n all and knows what she's talking about, she's an active film maker too so that's always a good thing for me. Reading this thread reminded me that we've also got to write a 4000 word essay for this lesson. Gay.

But in my other module this term, on New Hollywood era (bonnie and clyde, godfather etc.), it could easily be as dry and theory-based as the modules in the first term. But the teacher genuinely enjoys films and when he gives the lectures you can see his enthusiasm, and that rubs off so I actually enjoy learning from him. In the seminars, he does that thing where he picks people so that everyone says at least one thing, but, the way he does it isn't so bad. It's not like he just randomly pulls a question out his ass and throws it at you, he just encourages you to say what you're thinking.

Glad I stuck it out though.

[The Headliner]

But the teacher genuinely enjoys films and when he gives the lectures you can see his enthusiasm, and that rubs off so I actually enjoy learning from him.

That really can make all the difference. At school, I didn't really care about History except for the times I had enthusiastic teachers who were obviously passionate about the stories they were telling, whereas others were pretty much just reciting a text book. From thinking of it as just another subject, it became my highest graded in an instant. I got an A for nearly every piece of work for two years... then ran out of time in the final exam and got a B to show for it. Hoorah for the examination system.

[The Gopher]

I'm a film studies major as well, and I'm just now getting into the heavy theory stuff in my capstone class. As much as I love film and being creative, this is really not my thing. I've got two semesters left, so I'm going to stick it out because I'm too old to change - but I should have stuck to my guns and been an English/Journalism major.

[Ethan]

Just because I'm curious what do you all plan to do with a Film Major?

[Fan]

I went to a big open forum here in Michigan about a year or so ago that was available to the public where all the big film studios attended. There's a lot of that industry coming to the state so I figured it would be a good place to learn about breaking into the business. I had planned on taking a general film studies course and getting a degree in that area, but every single one of the conferences I attended said not to do it unless you are extremely ambitious and assertive. They also said a general film degree won't get you anywhere unless you can find a way to make contacts first. They said that in addition you would need a certificate or degree proving a skill (make up, lighting, prop design, something other than screenwriting).

I realized then that it wasn't meant for me, because I can't assert myself that hardcore or push my way in to the business like some people can, I don't have that kind of confidence or ambition. 

[Hazzy]

Yeah, I'm not doing this course for the degree though. Thats why I was so annoyed last year. I'm only doing it so I can get the good loan money (no interest on it) and maybe pick up a couple things. Grades only matter in the practical lessons because I need to get over 60% to do the next practical bit.

[Advocate]

if you want a great paying job, get a business degree

[The Headliner]

Yeah Hazzy, get yourself a time machine, go back to before you took out the loan for this course, and change the one you applied for. Simples.

[RagingCalm]

My university/college experience is different considering I went for a highly technical field with mechanical engineering.  Quite simply, no, my university experience was not all that much fun, highly stressful, and very hectic.  The Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering is usually a 4-year degree but really should be either a 5 or 6-year deal.

There simply isn't enough time to absorb all of the information and absorb it well and meaningfully.  There's so much involved in a single course that the routine was read the chapter as fast as you can, work out the homework problems, and then quickly move onto the next course.  Combine that with 5, 6, or 7 courses and it feels like your life is a fever dream.  

Another problem with my field is that there is an incredible disconnect between the academic world of university and the real world of industry.  They told us that we would only use about 5% of what we learned in university in the real world.  My response was, "oh, then can I have 95% of my money back that I spent on this apparently worthless education if I'm not even going to use it out there?"  It was unbelievable and it was totally accurate.  Luckily, with my new job, I'll hopefully use about 10 to 15% of my formal education.  The problem is that I really do like engineering, but I hate how it's taught.  The whole system needs a complete revamping with mandatory internships for real world experience that short-sighted MBAs prey upon, far more labs, and much more in-depth course study spread out so that the students that actually give a shit about the program truly do learn the basics of the field.

And here's the kicker, my university isn't the only one going through this.  I've talked to literally hundreds of other mechanical engineers from hundreds of colleges/universities and all of them experienced the same thing I did.  It truly is sad that not enough energy is put into the teaching of this highly useful field where the graduates are embarrassed when they get to work and realize they don't remember much.