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Introduction to Film Cultures

  • Module code: FM4001
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 4
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module introduces key concepts and ideas necessary for the study of film cultures, combining an understanding of the art of film across all its many platforms with a consideration of film as a cultural artefact.

The module is divided into four sections or topics, two in each teaching block. The first section, ‘The Art of Film', will focus on developing an understanding of the formal aspects of film construction, including shot sizes, editing, narrative and production design. Using examples from a range of media, this section will introduce students to the language of film through a series of focused discussions around key texts as well as in-class formative assessments and practical exercises, including storyboarding and designing scripted sequences. The second section, ‘The Film as Art', will consider the diversity of film as an art form, and will focus on examples including mainstream narrative cinema, European Art Cinema, world cinema, the use of film within gallery spaces, music videos, trailers, and advertising. Together these two sections will provide the skills necessary to ‘read' an audio-visual text, to critically engage with film as an art form and to understand its relationship to its commercial imperatives as a medium of mass entertainment.

The second teaching block will begin by examining ‘The Culture of Film'. This section will look at the diverse nature of the film industry within the UK beyond production. Key areas such as censorship, distribution, exhibition, curating and programming, archiving and marketing will be introduced through presentations by invited professional speakers, and through practical workshop exercises including curating a film season appropriate to the various online and real world spaces discussed in the first teaching block and designing a marketing campaign and distribution strategy for a chosen film product. The final section, ‘Film as Culture', will address the significance of film in both reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world around us. Case studies of key fiction and non-fiction films will examine the relevance of cinema to culture and society and consider the role that film does or does not play as an agent for social or cultural change. Areas discussed will include issues of equality and social justice, politics, morality and fashion.

Aims

  • To develop students' knowledge of the formal and technical language of film analysis
  • To introduce students to key examples and debates around film as an art form.
  • To introduce students to the diversity of roles within the wider film culture.
  • To develop students' understanding of the relationship between film and society across multiple platforms.

Learning outcomes

  • Undertake formal analysis of the style of various types of film across different media, using appropriate technical language.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the purpose of film across a variety of platforms.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key debates around the concept of film as an art form.
  • Understand the requirements of a series of key roles within film culture.
  • Show an understanding of, and respond critically to, a range of theoretical approaches to the relationship between film, culture and society.
  • Demonstrate a facility with key aspects of university-level study and the work environment.

Curriculum content

  • An introduction to the formal properties of the art of film.     
  • Debates around film as an art form.
  • The use of film in diverse real world and online spaces including cinemas, galleries and streaming platforms.
  • Key roles within the film industry including distribution, exhibition and marketing
  • The significance of the role of film and its relationship to society.

Teaching and learning strategy

Delivery of the module will be through lectures with integrated film screenings, followed by seminar workshops, which will include formative assessment exercises in order to deepen students' understanding of the key issues and ideas. The module will make use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLA) Canvas for communication and dissemination of information between students and staff as well as making online learning materials available to all.

All courses based in the Kingston School of Art offer students free access to the online video tutorial platform Lynda.com. This provides a wide range of subjects to choose from, many with downloadable exercise files, including software tutorials covering photography, graphics, web design, audio and music, CAD and Microsoft Office software, as well as courses on Business and Management skills. Some of these are embedded in the curriculum and offer additional self-paced learning, others may be taken at will by students wishing to broaden their employability skills in other areas.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Lectures, seminars, workshops, screenings 88
Guided independent study 212
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Formative assessments will take place in class throughout the year.

The summative assessment for this module will be in two parts:

  1. A diagnostic analysis of a sequence from a film (500 words). This low stakes assessment (10%) is undertaken university-wide and represents Kingston University's commitment to support for student learning and experience.
  2. A portfolio of tasks (A1) designed to reflect understanding of each of the four topics of sections of the module. Examples of possible tasks include a diagnostic analysis of a sequence from a film, two short essays (1,000 words each) and a practical, industry-facing piece of work which may take the form of a curated film programme or marketing campaign.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Undertake formal analysis of the style of various types of film across different media using appropriate technical language Diagnostic Analysis Portfolio
2) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the purpose of film across a variety of platforms Portfolio
3) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key debates around the concept of film as an art form Portfolio
4) Understand the requirements of a series of key roles within Film Culture Portfolio
5) Show an understanding of, and respond critically to, a range of theoretical approaches to the relationship between film, culture and society Portfolio
6) Demonstrate a facility with key aspects of university-level study and the work environment Portfolio

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Diagnostic Analysis Coursework 10%
Portfolio Coursework 90%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It is NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Bordwell, D and Thompson, K. 2016. Film Art, An Introduction (New York: McGraw Hill)

Cook, Pam, (ed). 2007. The Cinema Book (London, BFI)

Evans, J and Hall, S. (eds). 1999. Visual Culture: The Reader (London: Sage Publishing)

Geiger, J. and Rutsky RL, (eds.). 2005. Film Analysis: A Norton Reader (New York: NW Norton & Co)

Hill, J. and Church Gibson, P. (eds.). 1998. The Oxford Guide to Film Studies (Oxford: OUP)

Rees, A.L. 2011. A History of Experimental Film and Video (London: Palgrave)

Bibliography recommended reading

Darke, Chris (2007). Cannes: Inside the World's Premier Film Festival (London: Faber and Faber)

Hall, S. (2013). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices (London: Sage Publishing)

Lambertini, E. (ed). 2012. Behind the Scenes at the BBFC: Film Classification from the Silver Screen to the Digital Era (London: BFI Palgrave)

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