BA Film Studies and Spanish

Year of entry: 2023

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Course unit details:
Social Lives of Cinema

Course unit fact file
Unit code	DRAM30842
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Offered by	Drama
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

This course examines the uses and the social lives of cinema by considering the ways in which cinema has been circulated, exhibited, and received by different groups of people all over the world, from the mid-twentieth century onwards. The first half of the module explores the embodied, empathetic and eroticised ways that people watch and engage with films. Then, building on these different modes of spectatorship and reception, the second half of the module surveys the ways in which cinema has been used to build and reify different kinds of communities, from empires and colonies to subcultures and movements of resistance. Distribution, exhibition and reception practices that will be explored include dementia-friendly screenings, midnight movies, and film festivals. Films that we will study include Crazy Rich Asians, The Rocky Picture Horror Show, and Atlantiques.

Pre/co-requisites

Available on which programme(s)?

All Drama and Film/Screen related Degree programmes

Available as Free Choice (UG) or to other programmes (PG)?

Yes, PG

Available to students on an Erasmus programme

N/A

Pre/Co/Antirequisite units

To explore the different modes of film spectatorship and reception in the context of their particular social, political and economic histories
To develop an understanding of the social and civic uses of cinema by different institutions, filmmakers and audiences
To encourage students to think about cinema beyond the film text by critically examining different distribution, exhibition and reception approaches

Syllabus

Representative examples include:

Block 1: Watching Films

Week 1: Encoding/Decoding
Gazing and the Eroticisation of Identifications
Phenomenological and Empathetic Encounters
Doing Reception Studies 1: Histoire Totale
Doing Reception Studies 2: Comparative Film Studies

Block 2: Building Communities

Week 6: Useful Cinema/Caring Cinema
1 h per week of lectures

2 h per week of seminars

1 weekly screening (duration variable)

Knowledge and understanding

Distinguish key theories of film spectatorship and reception
Demonstrate and apply a working knowledge of issues around processes of film distribution, exhibition and reception from across a world of cinemas
Apply a range of significant theories and approaches to the independent analyses of cinema and film

Intellectual skills

Use appropriate theory and methodology to analyse cinema beyond the filmic text
Identify the social, political or ethical issues raised by different distribution, exhibition and reception strategies and practices
Effectively use primary and secondary sources, including in contexts where data is incomplete and where careful interpretive work is required

Practical skills

Research academic and non-academic materials, and evaluate sources
Plan, undertake and evaluate independent critical projects
Communicate research material and ideas clearly both verbally and in writing ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Ability to analyse concepts, techniques, methods, study materials (et cetera) independently and with others
Communicate effectively through discussion, presentation and in writing, including when discussing complex and controversial subject matter
A willingness to ascertain the ethical implications of proposed courses of actions or situations and to take the necessary steps to ensure that result from this analysis ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿

Employability skills

Analytical skills: ¿ Critical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills
Leadership: ¿ Ability to exercise initiative and personal responsibility
Project management: ¿ Ability to manage, complete and evaluate a project effectively
Oral communication: ¿ Ability to effectively adapt self-presentation to different audiences/contexts, especially when communicating complex topics
Other: ¿ Productive team and independent working skills in learning environments that present complex and unpredictable challenges

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Written assignment (inc essay)	60%
Portfolio	40%

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Seminar presentation – oral

Formative

Essay – written

Summative

Final essay or creative project – written