FMS8366 : Film and Social Justice
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Catherine Gilbert
- Lecturer: Dr Dunja Fehimovic, Dr Teresa Ludden, Dr Philippa Page, Dr Lydia Wu
- Owning School: Modern Languages
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module explores the power of film as a tool for social justice. Taking case study examples from a range of global film cultures, it will introduce students to theories of power and resistance, political filmmaking, issues of social justice, postcolonial theory, and documentary ethics. It aims to equip students with an in-depth awareness of how filmmaking can engage with political concerns in the contemporary world.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will reflect the current expertise and activity of the contributors.
It may include the following topics:
cinema of anti-colonial resistance;
journeys of immigration;
capitalism and its discontents;
memory and social justice in African film;
Chinese indie documentaries;
ethics in documentary cinema;
contemporary independent Cuban cinema;
using cinema and focus groups as part of a project in political filmmaking.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 106:00 | 106:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Small group teaching (seminars), the primary teaching method to be used on the module, will facilitate all knowledge outcomes (K1--K4), plus skills outcomes S2-4, S6. Moreover, the small group will facilitate oral discussions and (informal, formative, non-assessed) mini-presentations which will enhance S5.
In addition, guided independent study will enable students to develop their written communication skills and independent researching skills (S1, S5), ensuring students are developing the skills of evidenced argumentation which are required for potential future dissertation work.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | A | 100 | 4000 words. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | Detailed essay plan. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students will be guided through a choice of coursework essay topics which will assess their understanding of the issues taught on the module. They will also be able to design their own question around issues of political cinema, which will facilitate independent identification and analysis of political film projects/activities. Formative work mid-semester will allow students to practice and develop essay-planning and -structuring skills. The coursework essay offers a potential developmental step towards dissertation writing.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- FMS8366's Timetable