Unit name | Crossing Borders: French and Maghrebi Cinemas |
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Unit code | FREN30105 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Marianne Ailes |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of French |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit analyses representations of border crossing in French and Maghrebi films since the new millennium. Students will be asked to consider how a discrete, yet significant corpus of films featuring Maghrebi(-French) people has used the border crossing motif to explore questions of exile, identity, belonging, “home” and displacement. These films will be examined with reference to their specific socio-political contexts and against the backdrop of Franco-Maghrebi relations. Students will develop knowledge of exilic and transnational film theories, and of recent critical conceptualisations around identity, exile and belonging.
Aims:
On successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Possess an advanced knowledge of films that treat the themes of border crossing, migration, exile, home and displacement
2. Be able to respond critically and analytically to the issues/debates raised by the films studied
3. Be able to demonstrate a firm grasp of theoretical and critical scholarship around exile, migration, and displacement
4. Be able to formulate independent judgements and engage with ideas at a high level of complexity
5. Possess sophisticated visual analytical skills and an ability to use film terminology correctly
Teaching methods will include plenary presentations, small group work, large group discussions and independent study.
1 small group presentation in seminar (25%)
1 extended essay (75%), submission following the unit, 4000 words max. The assessment will test ILOs 1-5.