| Unit name | Film and Television Authorship |
|---|---|
| Unit code | FATV20032 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| 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 |
Why is this unit important:
What is a directorial voice or vision? What exactly do we mean when refer to a director or showrunner as the author of a film or TV show? What aesthetic and contextual factors encourage us to see specific artists in such a way? This unit will examine key questions around film and television authorship and the auteur through analysis of concrete case studies and relevant connected materials. Style will be considered, with specific attention payed to relationships between mise-en-scene, performance, rhythm, camera, editing and narrative, among others. At the same time, the unit will interrogate the possibilities and limitations of different approaches to film and television authorship, including the way they can draw attention to specific creators and obscure the work of others.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study:
This unit builds upon foundational analytical and critical skills established in Year 1 to critically interrogate a crucial aspect of film and television theory, analysis and reception. The unit will allow students to develop a critical and nuanced understanding of film and television authorship, enabling them to recognise and analyse how audio-visual style is shaped through distinct choices and relationships between formal elements. At the same time, students will interrogate how different approaches to film and television authorship shape and condition our engagement with audio-visual artworks.
An overview of content
The unit teaches students different theories and understandings of Film and Television authorship. Students learn how formal and thematic aspects are attributed to different film and television artists and workers, and why some contributors are often singled out as the authors of what are generally highly collaborative artworks. Students will also explore film and television authorship historically, reflecting on key theoretical shifts and their possible historical, cultural and aesthetic reasons.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will become better at understanding why we regard certain artists (mainly directors and showrunners) as the authors of film and television works. Students will also lean why other workers (scriptwriters, actors and editors, for example) have also been regarded as authors in other historical and cultural contexts. Through their work in this units, students will become better at collaborating with others and negotiation authorship critically and creatively.
Learning Outcomes
Weekly screenings and seminars/lectures, supported by self-directed tasks where appropriate.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1X 5-10 min group presentation (40%) [ILOs 1, 2, 3]
1X 2500 words essay (60%) [ILOs 1, 2]
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. FATV20032).
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.
