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PL30755: Film and international relations

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 20%, ES 80%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PL20428 and take PL20720
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:

* To provide students with a thorough overview of key historical and contemporary approaches to film and politics.
* To provide students with an understanding of various theories of film with reference to the problematic political meaning, contexts, and 'effects' of fiction and non-fiction film.
* To provide students with an understanding of methods of reading, analysing and assessing cinema and 'documentary' forms, with reference to politics.
* To provide students with key case studies.
* To provide students with a clear theoretical and empirical understanding of filmic representation of international relations.
* To analyse major international events, actors and institutions and their filmic representations to uncover competing narratives, assumptions and arguments characterising academic and filmic perspectives on international relations.
* To critically assess scholarly debates on the filmic representation of history and politics.

Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this unit will:
* be able to 'read', discuss and analyse issues relating to the political meaning, implications and contexts of film;
* gain a critical understanding of the way in which film has played a role in political manifestos and debates, including those relating to nations, states and international exchange;
* acquire a deep understanding of how to read and interpret filmic representations of international relations;
* have a good grasp and knowledge of key debates in international relations and their relationship to film narratives, forms and systems of production, distribution and reception;
* acquire analytical skills to identify and critically assess competing narratives and discourses in filmic representations of key international events, actors and institutions.

Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of definitions and conceptual tools, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, effective communication, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are developed and assessed in this unit.

Content:
Lectures and seminars will cover the following main topics:
* Competing narratives and approaches to international relations and their filmic representation
* Case study: the UN in Rwanda: historical facts and debates, filmic representations and underlying arguments. Fiction and documentary.
* Case study: the Cuban missile crisis: historical facts and filmic representation, the role of historians. Fiction and documentary biopic.
* Reading film politically.
* From First to Third Cinema: the clash of cinematic cultures.
* Cases of film treatments of the Cold War/post Cold War eras, with special reference to American foreign policy, 'soft power' etc.
* Colonialism and post-colonialism: film and documentary 'representations'/constructions.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL30755 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA (hons) French and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA (hons) German and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA (hons) Italian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA (hons) Italian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA (hons) Russian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB11 : BA (hons) Russian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA (hons) Spanish and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Social Policy and Administration (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.