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Unit information: Screen Research in 2020/21

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Unit name Screen Research
Unit code FATVM0002
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Maingard
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None.

School/department Department of Film and Television
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides an introduction to a range of key techniques for research in screen studies, as well as offering insight into the research of related media forms. The unit analyses different approaches to research problems and their investigation by drawing on a range of illustrative case studies. It explores some of the methodological problems presented by the moving image that are relevant to the different research questions and objectives. Students will engage with key areas of screen research that may be relevant to the their future dissertation projects.

Unit Aims:

  • To introduce key research techniques in film and television studies including, for example, textual, historical, contextual and practical approaches.
  • To provide students with transferable skills of working both independently and collaboratively on a presentation which critically situates and reflects on a particular research approach or methodology.
  • To explore a variety of different research questions and approaches to research
  • To encourage development of research ideas and their practical realisation
  • To foster a research culture of independent enquiry.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will:

  • Be familiar with a range of research problems and deployment of relevant methods for their academic exploration.
  • Have acquired knowledge about different approaches to research in film and television including practice as a form of research.
  • Have developed skills in testing theories and ideas and in interrogating a range of source materials.
  • Have developed skills of critical reflection on different methodologies and demonstrated the ability to present collaboratively the relevant observations in a clear and scholarly fashion.
  • Have developed the ability to formulate their own research interests into appropriate research questions and to formulate a proposal for a dissertation project which a) critically appraises existing research in the field, and b) explains appropriate objectives and methodologies.

Teaching Information

Weekly workshop, seminar, and screening, supported by self-directed activity where appropriate.

Assessment Information

Individual presentation of group project (50%) plus Dissertation Proposal (1000 words) & Literature Review (1500 words) (50%)

Reading and References

  • Benshoff, Harry (2015) Film and Television Analysis: An Introduction to Methods, Theories, and Approaches, Routledge.
  • Hill, John and Pamela Church Gibson, eds. (1998) The Oxford Guide to Film Studies,Oxford University Press..
  • Barret, Estelle, ed. (2010) Practice as research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry, I.B. Tauris.
  • Street, Sarah, (2000) British Cinema in Documents, Routledge.
  • Nelson, R, ed. (2013) practice as research in the arts: principles, protocols, pedagogies, resistances, Springer.

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