| Unit name | Political Film |
|---|---|
| Unit code | FATV30018 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Kent |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Film and Television |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will explore the formal, aesthetic, thematic, historical and institutional concerns of cinema from a distinctly political standpoint. It begins with the principle that all films can be defined, in one way or another, as political. Through a political examination of a selection of films the unit will explore issues such as the emancipatory potential and ideological function/s of cinema; its historical links to political power and social change; the role and affects of film as propaganda; theoretical debates concerning the relationship between politics and aesthetics; the differing intellectual and artistic responses to dominant film forms and institutional practices. The unit will engage a variety of political theories (e.g. Marxism, post/modernism, post-colonialism and feminism) and their implications for film practice, touching on the politics of Hollywood cinema, European art house, avant-garde film, Third Cinema and activist/community video. Students will develop and produce their own film engaging with the issues raised in the unit.
The Unit aims:
1. To examine the political, historical, social and ideological role of cinema;
2. To explore the relationship between politics and aesthetics in film;
3. To consider the theoretical perspectives and approaches to the politics of film;
4. To develop skills in critical analysis of films in their social and political contexts;
5. To enhance critically-engaged, practical skills in filmmaking.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of political possibilities and limitations of film form;
2. Situate and analyse films politically in terms of their context, function, aesthetics and/or approach;
3. Identify and use politically informed methods of film practice;
4. Employ advanced practice-based skills in the making of a short film;
5. Communicate an understanding of aesthetic/formal decisions and their underlying political implications.
Weekly seminar/workshop, lecture, and screening.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
5 minute film or related audio-visual work (30%) [ILO 1-4]
Essay, 3000 words (70%) [ILO 1-3, 5]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FATV30018).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
