Aims: The aim of the unit is to provide students with a grounding in debates about the social significance and 'effects' of film and television drama and documentary, in various industrial, national and global contexts.
Learning Outcomes:
Students should attain a confidence in discussing and analysing the significance of film in particular political and historical contexts, and they should attain the ability to read and interpret film texts and to understand and assess the visual and other codes of film language in relation to political and social analysis.
Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning are developed in this unit.
Content:
The course draws on a number of theoretical approaches to film and the mass media, and draws on theoretical work on the political and social significance of film. The course deals with questions of the construction and reception of political meaning in film and television drama, and at issues relating to film and national identity, film policy, political culture, censorship, propaganda, and the notion of documentary. Examples are drawn in particular, but not exclusively from American and European film.
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