| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MCH1038 | Introduction to the Documentary: From documentation to non-fiction film |
| MCH1035 | Starting out in Filmmaking |
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This module explores the representational capacity of the creative documentary. This will involve an examination of a range of the technical, stylistic, aesthetic and representational dynamics. And discussions of the ‘truths’, ‘fictions’, styles, genres, ethics and modes. This module will provide a critical understanding and insight into current documentary practices, which are informed by ‘professional practice’ and also through established and cutting edge academic research, as well as provide students with the opportunity to create non-assessed practical exercises within these themes. The module also examines documentary traditions that lie outside and/or challenge the more mainstream documentary or television documentary practices.
This modules aims to:
1. Enable students to develop knowledge, intellectual, critical understanding and insight into current documentary practices, which are informed by ‘professional practice’ and also through established and cutting edge academic research.
2. Enable students to study the forms, aesthetics and production methods of documentary practice as they have developed historically and in a contemporary context. To frame this study with a theoretical engagement with questions of representation, culture and ideology, while maintaining a strong theoretical and practical sense of the political and ethical including through fortnightly practical exercises.
3. Investigate the different ways that avant-garde, experimental documentary practices, and select visual art-practice relates to and enhance documentary practice.
4. Reflect on the relationship between practice and its relationship to theory in creative documentary practice.
Students will study the practice of documentary film and engage with the debates that have shaped the academic critique of documentary films.
Possible themes include:
- The emergence and history of documentary as a genre – global context
- Theorising documentary and the representation of reality
- Cinematic documentary and the aesthetics of reality through contemporary documentary filmmakers
- Aesthetic and ethical approaches to visual representation: reality, representation and cinematic expressivity.
- The reflexive film theorist - writing about the filmmaking process
Students successfully completing the module will have knowledge of:
The different ways in which theorists and filmmakers have articulated the complex relationship between actuality, reality and truth (aim 1).
The strengths and weaknesses of how a range of mainstream documentary practices have engaged (or fail to engage) with reality, representation and cinematic expressivity (aim 2).
How to critically reflect on practice and articulate underpinning and framing theoretical positions and presuppositions (aim 3).
How to reflect critically and analyse documentary practice and methodology (aim 4)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate an analytical and sophisticated understanding of complex theories and issues in contemporary documentary practice in the form of a scholarly essay.
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 9 | 2:00 | 18:00 | Concepts, theoretical underpinnings and debates. Delivered online |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 4 | 5:00 | 20:00 | Creative practice-based activities. Delivered online |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Seminars and focus film discussion. Delivered online |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 9 | 6:00 | 54:00 | Required reading and online film viewing. Delivered online |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | Small group based teaching on practice elements of documentary filmmaking. Present-in-person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Assessment clinic. Present-in-person |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures that set out key theories and concepts, and screening based online seminars that will expose students to a range of important documentary films and filmmakers. There will also be present-in-person workshops which will introduce further theoretical elements, introduce and critically reflect with students on practical microfilm tasks, and engage students in small group discussion.
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | 1 | M | 50 | 2000 word reflective log on creative practice exercises set throughout module |
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 2000 word essay on an aspect of creative documentary theory and practice. |
The rationale for the reflective log assessment is to first enable the students to demonstrate their ability to reflect academically on the practical exercises that are set throughout the module, and tie their own practice in with taught theory. Each practical exercises explores a different area of documentary practice, such as narrative construction, archive use, personal representation.
The essay assessment is to enable the students to show their intellectual grasp of documentary theory and aesthetics and to illustrate this through a scholarly essay.
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Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2020/21 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2021/22 entry will be published here in early-April 2021. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.