Unit information: Film and Television Histories in 2013/14

Unit name	Film and Television Histories
Unit code	DRAM23123
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Alex Clayton
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Film and Television
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

In Year 2 core units develop the approaches introduced in Year 1 and expand contextual frameworks. In this unit students are introduced to histories of the moving image, contextualised by the key theories that have informed the production of these histories. Topics include but are not limited to:

• Introduction to histories of the moving image
• Early and Silent Cinema
• Classical Hollywood
• Europe and Art Cinema
• Broadcasting
• Actuality and Documentary
• Screening Nations
• Postcolonial Cinemas
• Contemporary Television
• Contemporary Hollywood

In this unit, students are expected to develop their analytical and creative skills and their ability to structure their work and present it coherently. The unit will enable students to make links between and be aware of comparative historical frameworks for the analysis of film and television forms and contexts. It will develop and extend students’ critical and historical awareness and knowledge of a broad range of issues and problems encountered by makers of film and television.

• To develop and extend students’ awareness and knowledge of a range of key historical issues in film and television;
• To develop students’ abilities in applying historical methodologies to textual analysis and screen practice;
• To provide a contextual historical framework as an extension of formal skills of textual analysis acquired in Year 1;
• To develop and extend students’ awareness and knowledge of a range of historically contextualised key critical-theoretical issues in film and television;
• By offering a series of contrasting and complementary ‘case studies’ that demonstrate a variety of screen responses to generic, historic and national conditions, introduce new research and presentation skills that critically engage with primary texts and secondary sources, employing web-based and archival resources.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate their acquisition of a detailed knowledge of particular key issues of moving image practice and their key critical, historical and theoretical contexts;
• Students will deploy historical approaches to understanding film and television practices;
• Students will evidence an awareness and understanding of different historic conditions, traditions and experiences which have impacted on the form, development and reception of screen media;
• Students will evidence an awareness and understanding of different critical-theoretical conditions, traditions and experiences which have impacted on the form, development and reception of film and television;
• Students will demonstrate research and presentation skills in essays and discursive forums that critically engage with a wide range of primary and secondary resources.

Teaching Information

Blended teaching: 10 x 1hr lectures 10 x 1hr seminars 10 x 2hr screenings Blackboard discussion board exercises, as appropriate.

Assessment Information

Assessment: 3,000-word essay (50%) and student-led seminar presentation (25%) + 1,500-word write up (25%). Participation in Blackboard discussion groups (P/F)

Reading and References

• Braudy, L. and Cohen, M. (2004) Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, New York: Oxford University Press.
• Maltby, R. and Craven, I. (1995) Hollywood Cinema, Oxford University Press.
• Perkins, V. F. (1993) Film as Film, London: Da Capo Press.
• Stam, R (2000) Film Theory: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell
• Street, S (2009) British National Cinema, London
• Thompson, K and Bordwell, D (2003) Film History: An Introduction, New York