Film and Screen Media BA (Hons)

British Film and TV

This module will explore the key issues in analysing British film and television, as well as social changes that have transformed representations of Britishness in the media concerned. A variety of approaches will be taken, including close attention to particular auteurs in film and television as well as a more general discussion of important film and television genres.

Digital Cultures

This module considers the role of digital and social media in 21st-century life.

The module examines some ways of viewing digital media in terms of technological developments; the politics and economy of media; social media, participation and online communities; as well as the ‘remediation’ of previous media forms through digital platforms. It also engages students with the ethical and political issues involved in contemporary media production and consumption.

Digital Production

This module will introduce a range of concepts relating to the creation, production and editing of digital short films. Students taking this module will begin to explore filmmaking both as a technical endeavour, and as a creative discipline.

Every step of the process of taking a script idea to the end result of a completed film will be discussed, performed and reflected upon within the lectures and workshops, and in the practical production and the development portfolio.

Film, Style and Form

This module introduces students to film and television style. Beginning with a consideration of the variety of forms and approaches to the moving image, students will consider first of all the ‘micro’ elements of cinema such as mise en scène, cinematography, editing, sound, montage and special effects. Next, the ‘macro’ structures such as narrative and genre are explored, with a focus also on the identities of the producers, performers and audiences for screen industries.

Harry Potter and the...

The Harry Potter series has become a popular cultural phenomenon that has inspired people across the globe. This module will draw upon the ideas and themes within the stories and use them as entry points into a wide range of debates and case studies. From Harry and Ron’s first hello, to Jason Isaac’s gothic performance as Lucius Malfoy, and beyond into gaming, merchandising and themed environments, this module will contextualize the world of Harry Potter as a modern media text.

Media History

This module will examine media products and institutions in light of technological and historical developments. By studying the origins of film and broadcasting industries, the module will examine how cinema and visual culture has developed historically. This module will examine key areas of media production and practice and how this might be understood commercially as well as culturally and politically. It will also case study significant mediated forms of popular entertainment and their historical and social context, such as sport and the media, television comedy and popular music. The module will develop student understanding of public and private broadcasting, film standardisation, TV scheduling, press regulation, and the commercial imperatives of film and television production, distribution and exhibition.

Cult Media and Identity

Film and media's role in representing various identities will be applied to aspects such as costume, the body, and the consumption and reception of media texts, with a particular focus on film and television examples. A particular focus will be on the differing theoretical approaches to identity and the concept of ‘self’. In addition, a focus on participatory cultures, fandom and cult media will be highlighted.

Documentary and World Cinema

Beginning with documentary, non-fiction film will be explored in terms of its form and traditions, with case-studies of notable examples in this branch of filmmaking. The module will then consider world and transnational cinema as well as global media forms such as anime.Notions of film movements, authorship and national cinemas will be discussed and problematised.

Multimedia Production

This module will build upon ideas discussed at Level 4 to further the students’ understanding of a range of concepts and practical skills relating to the creation, production and editing of a short media product. They will operationalise this enhanced comprehension of the necessary skill set required by key personnel within a production team. They will focus upon areas of pre-production, shooting, editing and finishing to deliver a media product in a timely and budget-conscious manner.

20 Credits

North American Cinema

This module explores the history of Hollywood as a dominant mode of production together with subordinate modes of production. Areas of study include the studio system and the Paramount decree; New Hollywood and independent cinema; key genres such as film noir, melodrama and action-adventure; classification and censorship; distribution, exhibition practices and film festivals; and African-American cinema.

Screen Theory and Criticism

The module outlines key film and media theories, including classical film theory; spectatorship and apparatus theory; ideology and Marxist criticism; postmodern theory; queer theory; affect theory; and postcolonialism. It also considers ‘non-theoretical’ methodologies such as media industry studies and film criticism. Guest speakers will give an industry perspective on the interpretation of and writing about film and television.

Screenwriting One

This module will introduce students to the ideas and practices required in the development and writing of scripts for television. Through seminar discussions, practical writing workshops, screenings and critical evaluation of exemplar television programmes, students will first explore an existing piece of television and re-imagine it as a piece of fan fiction. Students will then develop an original idea by going through the process of script development (proposal/pitch, outlines/treatment), which will then culminate in the production of the opening pages of a teleplay.

Disney and Animation

The module will begin with an insight into the Disney theme parks and their relationship with the ‘real’ America that surrounds them. Students will then develop a thorough understanding of the historical evolution of animation, including the centrality of Disney to narrative and technological innovations in this mode of moving image, as well as an understanding of the varying aesthetic and formal qualities at play in other animation products.

Dissertation

The final year dissertation is an opportunity for students to research and write an in-depth assignment about a topic of their own choice. This option is only available to students who can demonstrate an aptitude for independent study and self-directed learning. The topics selected will normally arise out of the curriculum in Levels 4 and 5, and will be chosen in consultation with an appropriate member of the programme team. In terms of transferable skills, this module will help develop a student’s communication skills, their intellectual skills, logical thinking, their ability to synthesise material, solve problems and make decisions independently.

Industry Placement

The content of the module will help students to understand the key professional requirements for a career in the field of communications and the broad social sciences (public and private sectors). The module also incorporates a work placement giving students the opportunity to experience the workplace, reflect on and develop their own skills, network and become confident, articulate and self-aware in relation to their professional identities.

Paradox of Horror

This module investigates ‘the paradox of horror’ - why audiences of horror cinema find films which are designed to shock, disgust and frighten so entertaining, enjoyable and appealing. The module will also focus on marketing strategies and the ways that horror filmmakers and distributors use online social media channels to engage audiences.

Screenwriting Two

The module will further develop students’ skills in scriptwriting and will focus specifically on the filmic medium. Students will be introduced to a range of film texts from short experimental cinema through to big-budget features. This module allows students to experience the whole creative film process from conception to completion, through various stages of story idea, outline, drafting and rewriting and selling scripts.

The Beatles and the Counter Culture

This module considers the output and cultural significance of The Beatles in terms of historical context, lyrical analysis, iconography and their presence in other media (film, television and online) as a ‘transmedia’ phenomenon. Following a chronological order, the development of the group’s musical and visual styles, lyrical concerns and cultural contexts, will be tracked in relation to cultural studies methodologies.