| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
|---|---|
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
Through a cosmopolitan selection of films from different genres, students will:
Read films politically, identifying key issues, concepts and themes in political life;
Develop an awareness of the context in which films are made and the impact this context has on the political messages offered in films;
Develop an awareness of the interconnectedness of the political and popular culture;
Consider film and popular culture as instruments of political persuasion.
Original Summary:
Popular culture is a highly politicised domain of social life often overlooked in conventional political analysis. This course draws upon an eclectic selection of films to examine the social construction of political meaning, how political ideas and ideologies are conveyed, and the limits and possibilities of an industry often controlled by political and economic elites. Films that deal directly with political issues and others that can be read as alternative forms of political text form part of the visual curriculum of the course.
The module comprises 10 hours of stand-alone lectures which provide introductory overviews of the approach of the module, advice on preparing and feedback on essays, overviews of each semester's topics and advice on preparing for the exam.
Each of the 21 films is prefaced by a 30 minute lecture. Each of the 21 films is also followed by a 30 minute group discussion of the issues raised by the film.
There are also 10 x 1 hour seminars for small group discussion of topics covered in the module.
The topics covered in the module are as follows:-
Politicians
Politics and the media
Surveillance
Politics as conspiracy
War
Genocide
Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes
Terrorism
Immigration, Asylum and Ethnicity
Film and Politics after 9/11
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Academic Staff Contact Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 21 | 0:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | Tutorial |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Seminar |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 21 | 2:30 | 52:30 | 52:30 | Film Showings |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 117:00 | 117:00 | 0:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 | 83:00 |
Students will be given fundamental lectures to outline and explain course themes and requirements and to provide them with the analytical skills necessary for successful course completion. Lectures prior to each film will identify key themes and debates and will be followed up in group discussions following each film. Students will be organised into seminars in which they will analyse and reflect upon films shown and the broader literature on each topic.
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 50 |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 2500 words |
The assessment methods provide clear incentives for the students to engage with the whole curriculum by means of an unseen examination at the end of the module.
RESIT ASSESSMENT: 100% Unseen written examination
Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.