Screen Cultures

This module provides a critical introduction to the screen cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East (film, TV, digital). This module will place screened works within a general framework of national tradition and identity and provide a platform for students to reflect on the unity and diversity of the human condition across different regions. A selection of predominantly 21st century works will be explored within their cultural, social and political context of production, exhibition and reception, and students will be guided to reflect on different functions of screen cultures.

Through critical analyses and interpretations of films, this module will examine issues including (but not limited to): nation and ethnicity; home and family; history and memory; war and conflict; colonialism and nostalgia; politics and propaganda; exile and diaspora; women and gender; popular youth culture and globalization; transnational connections.
Students will be introduced to the basics of film language to enhance their critical capacity and strengthen their analytical vocabulary.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of Asian, African and Middle Eastern screen media and its relation to culture, history, politics and aesthetics;
2. discuss a number of key works and genres with reference to the cultural and historical contexts in which they were produced
3. demonstrate an understanding of how the screen media can be utilised to project national agendas and identities;
4. recognise and explain differences in local, regional and global responses to screen media.

Workload

Total Taught Hours : 50 hours, including 1 hour of lectures and 1 hour of seminars per week for 10 weeks.

Independent Study : 100 hours

Total Hours for Module : 150 hours

Scope and syllabus

The module will be divided into five two-week blocks drawing on films and screen media from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia.

The themes will be drawn from the following topics:

Nation and ethnicity; home, family and belonging; history and memory; war and conflict; the city; religion and spirituality; colonialism and nostalgia; politics and propaganda; exile and diaspora; women and gender; love and romance; popular youth culture and globalization; transnational connections.

Method of assessment

• Viewing diary 1 (10%)
• Viewing diary 2 (15%)
• Video presentation/podcast/narrated PowerPoint (25%)
• Essay (2000 words, 50%)
• The exact assessment deadline dates are published on the relevant module Moodle/BLE page

Suggested reading

A comprehensive reading list  will be supplied by the convenor at the beginning of the module.

Convenor

Dr Dana Healy

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules