Module Information

Module Identifier
FM20920
Module Title
Film Genre
Academic Year
2015/2016
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Successful completion of Part 1
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Viewing 10 x 3 Hour Viewings
Lecture 10 x 1 Hour Lectures
Seminar 10 x 1 Hour Seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay 1 (2000 words)  40%
Semester Assessment Essay 2 (3000 words)  60%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 1 (2000 words) - to a new title  40%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 2 (3000 words) - to a new title  60%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Display good knowledge of the genre studied;

Discuss the historical development of a specific cinematic genre with attention to the social, historical and cultural influences on it;

Be able to apply issues and methods of film theory to films within that genre

Aims

This module aims to present to students the historical development of a single cinematic genre, exploring the way the genre changes as the historical, cultural and social contexts change.
It also aims to introduce students to certain aspects of film theory relevant to the study of that particular genre.
Although focused on a single specific genre, implicit throughout will be a consideration in general of genre theory, particularly as it has been used within film studies.

Brief description

Genre films are perennially popular, and often are one of the chief determinates of which movies we choose to go and see. This module takes an in-depth look at one particular genre, which may change annually, and traces its development over time, examining a combination of Hollywood and world cinema approaches to that genre. Each of the major genres has generated its own significant body of theory, as well as more general theories of film genre study, and this module also introduces students to some of those discourses. Regardless of the genre chosen for examination, this module focuses on the major artistic movements which have influenced the genre, the key film texts, and some of the more dominant theoretical paradigms which have been used to explore film genres.

Content

The focus of the module during the 2014/2015 academic year will be the Horror genre.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Students' written communication skills will be developed (e.g. appropriate language and style, accuracy, precision and ability to be concise). Opportunities will be given, through seminar sessions, for students to develop confidence in using their speaking and listening skills when communicating their ideas.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop their critical thinking skills. * Through group discussion, students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary
Information Technology Students will be given the opportunity to develop their authorial and note-taking skills when planning and preparing for the written assignment, and will be encouraged to develop their note-taking skills in lectures. * Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills in searching for relevant reading and other materials. * E-mail and Blackboard will remain the main forms of communication and information sharing in this module, so students will be encouraged to actively engage in these processes.
Personal Development and Career planning Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate current knowledge and skills and set targets for self-improvement. * Students will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning. * Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module).
Problem solving Students should be able to identify tensions and debates in the field, and will be encouraged to critically reflect on the process by which academics arrive at particular theoretical interpretations of particular films and historiographies.
Research skills Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. Students will be able to develop their textual analytic skills, and to learn to analyse texts in a focused and purposeful manner (especially in relation to their first essay which is based around close analysis of a film sequence).
Team work Although not assesssed, some seminar sessions will involve group work where students will be able to collaborate through discussion, and then feed back their ideas to the seminar group as a whole.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5