The Comparative Study Assessment 

Students at SL and HL will research a chosen area of FILM FOCUS, identifying and comparing TWO FILMS from within that area and presenting their discoveries as a recorded multimedia comparative study.
Each student will submit the following for assessment:
  1. A 10 minute (max) recorded multimedia comparative study.
  2. A list of all sources used.​
​
Task components
For this assessment task, each student identifies, selects and researches each of the following task components: film focus and cultural context. 
FILM FOCUS

​Film focus
For this task, students select an area of film focus that interests and excites them from one of the following.
  • Film movements (such as French New Wave, German expressionism, Third Cinema, and so on)
  • Film genre and film style (such as film noir, romantic comedy, science fiction, Western, and so on)
  • Film theory (such as auteur theory, feminism, Marxist film theory, and so on)
CULTURAL CONTEXT

​Cultural context
For this task, cultural context involves consideration of some of the following factors, some of which may be blended (such as socio-economic factors).
  • Economic
  • Geographical
  • Historical
  • Institutional
  • Political
  • Social
  • Technological

INQUIRY

Research and decide on 
​task components (film focus, two films and cultural context)

ACTION

Assemble a 10 minute recorded audio-visual
comparative study film

REFLECTION

Review and refine comparative study before it is submitted

INQUIRY

The student will:
  • Conduct research, using both primary and secondary sources, investigating possible areas of film focus and films for comparison from within the areas of film focus.
  • Use materials from a range of sources, including original films, critiques, publications and other media
  • Decide on the selection of the task components. This will include a clearly defined topic for the comparative study (this is likely to be expressed in the form of a research question).
  • Define the cultural context of the two selected films. Justify why these task components were chosen for the comparative study.
  • Compare and contrast the two selected films.  Continue focused research into the task components in order to deepen understanding of each film. It is likely that the student will consider the ways in which film elements work together to convey meaning in their analysis of how the selected films compare and contrast. 

ACTION

The student will:
  • Assemble their findings, and develop a personal and critically reflective perspective and approach to their topic/thesis.  
  • Gather appropriate audio-visual material to support the study
  • As a result of the inquiry and action processes, each student prepares a recorded multimedia comparative study (10 minutes maximum) for submission
  • Ensure a balance between visual and spoken elements
  •  Make clear reference to their sources as on-screen citations.
  • Give each film equal consideration and time. The primary weight of evidence should be from the two chosen films. ​

REFLECTION

  • Students reflect on the learning undertaken in this task, and review and refine their comparative study ahead of submission. ​​

How to Create a Comparative Study Topic

Below is a table of sample topics for the Comparative Study.  Follow this format to create an appropriate topic:
  1. Select an Area of Film Focus
  2. Select one film that is related to the film focus
  3. Select a second film, from a different culture (think different country/language) that is related to the film focus
  4. Create a topic that can compare the two films in relation to the Area of Film Focus and/or film themes.

Comparative Study
Resources & IB
​Support Material​

Here you will find resources that will help you to complete the IB Comparative Study successfully.  Feel free to download the material and save/bookmark the links so that you can access this material easily.

External Assessment Criteria

Resources &  IB Support Material

Helpful Handouts

Film Thesis Generator

To help generate some ideas for your comparative study thesis, click on the Film School thesis statement Generator below:

Film Topic Ideas

Producing the CS

Assessed Student Work

 For a better understanding of expectations of the Textual Analysis assessment, review these IB exemplars. You will see the assessment pieces as well as the examiner feedback, so dig in!

Comparative Study IB  Exemplars

Student Assessed Work 1

Film focus: Film genre and style
Film 1: City of Life and Death (2009) 
Film 2: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) 
Topic: The war film

Student Assessed Work 2

Film focus: Film theory
Film 1: M (1931) 
Film 2: Scarlet Street (1945) 
Topic: Lang’s auteur style across genres and movements

Student Assessed Work 3

Film focus: Film theory 
Film 1: Amelie (2001) 
Film 2: His Girl Friday (1940) 
Topic: Feminist film theory: Power and the male protagonist in world cinema

Criteria 
​Components A, B, C

Links you'll love

10 FILM MOVEMENTS that
​CHANGED EVERYTHING

CineFix has compiled a list of 10 of the most influential film movements in cinematic history, including Italian Neorealism, Soviet Montage, and a handful of "new waves".

22 MAJOR MOVIE MOVEMENTS

Scaling the peaks of auteurship and sliding down the scree slopes of wanton hackery, Empire’s Film Studies 101 tackles everything from the birth of cinema to the technical wizardy of great cinematographers.

12 POPULAR FILM GENRES BY COUNTRY

The New York Film Academy ​has provided a list of several countries followed by the top movie genre there, including some interesting info.

A word on research

Preparing for the Comparative study assessment task starts with an understanding of what constitutes valid secondary research and an understanding of critical perspective. 

Scholarly sources to check out

Feminist Film Theorists

A Cinema of Lonliness

Women in Cinema

A Companion to Film Theory

Youth Culture in Global Cinema

A Film Guide to Melancholy

Film Theory and Contemporary Hollywood Movies

Hollywood Genres 
Thomas Schatz 

more scholarly stuff...

Cahiers du Cinema
​Volume 3​​

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