Teaching Stars and Performance

by Jill Poppy

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Cover shot of 'Teaching Stars and Performance'.

Stars fascinate and engage students, so studying them provides an effective means of exploring a range of issues and theories in Film and Media Studies. Teaching Stars and Performance examines what makes and defines a star and how a star is constructed though both a film text and associated fragmentary texts of publicity, promotion, criticism and gossip - a very useful area for cross-media investigation.

Contents include:

  • Introduction: Assessment contexts; Why teach about stars and performance?
  • Schemes of work
  • Background : Timeline; Hollywood, studios and stars; British cinema; Critical approaches; Performance
  • Case studies: Stardom and celebrity - Jennifer Aniston; A particular tradition of Britishness - Hugh Grant; Stars and representation - Will Smith; Directing actors - Mike Leigh

About the Author

Jill Poppy has tought English, Media and Film Studies at GCSE and AS/A2 levels and Film Studies to undergraduates. She is principal examiner for Film Studies and is mentor for the BFI panel of tutors. She has written a wide range of study guides.

Ordering Information

Cat.No. BR155 £24.95

Buy online from the BFI Filmstore or phone Palgrave Macmillan Orders on 01256 302866.

Download resources

This guide is supported by student worksheets and additional notes, please view a free sample worksheet (PDF,24kb).

To download the student handouts for Teaching Stars and Performance please login using the username and password issued when you purchased a copy of the teaching guide. This section also includes case studies and further activities for students.

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Last Updated: 06 Feb 2008