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FIL-30011 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 04 May 2022

FIL-30011 - The Road Movie: Cinema as Movement and Journey
Coordinator: Neil Archer Tel: +44 1782 7 33202
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module considers the historical emergence of the road movie as a cinematic genre, as well as its more recent developments and potential futures. Looking initially at the mainly American contexts informing its foundation, the module goes on to explore the road movie¿s relevance to varied global contexts, and its particular use by certain filmmakers and within particular cinematic contexts of production. A grounding and continued discussion around the theories of the road movie and cinematic movement provide a critical thread throughout the module, forming an important basis for the assessed components. The module overall provides an illuminating overview of the genre in terms of its social relevance, and its importance as a cinematic representation of mobility. Along the way, we will question some of its ideological underpinnings, considering how the road movie has been adapted in light of cultural, political, national and trans-national, and environmental contexts.

Aims
To provide a detailed overview of the cultural, political and economic contexts informing the road movie as a genre
To identify how genres such as the road movie develop in relation to broader social factors, especially mobility
To think about the significance of movement within cinema, and how the road movie creates effects by using sound and image
To examine the ways the genre has been incorporated to particular effect across diverse contexts
To consider the impact of contemporary geo-political contexts, and especially globalization on the form and content of the genre
To consider the relevance of the genre in the contemporary contexts of environmental change and imposed migration

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/fil-30011/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify how genres such as the road movie are formed in relation to social and cultural contexts: 1,2
Understand the meaning and impact of cultural, social, economic and political change on international film production and film form: 1,2
Describe the particular aesthetic strategies and thematic concerns of the road movie genre: 1,2
Identify shifts in style and content of the genre across particular contexts: 1,2
Produce analytical work on case studies of film form: 1,2
Discuss comparative tendencies in film production relating to varied contexts of production: 1,2
Think independently and creatively about the possibilities of the road movie as an expressive form: 1,2

Study hours

10x2 hour lecture/screenings 20 hours
12x2 hours seminar 24 hours
Feedback and consultation 2 hours
Screening and seminar preparation 12x2 hours 24 hours
Preparation: reflect analysis 40 hours
Preparation: Essay 40 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Reflective Analysis weighted 50%
Visual Essay
Students are asked for this assessment to put together a `visual essay¿ in answer to a given question relating to the course, using relevant evidence in support of the essay¿s argument. This essay can take the form of either a) a piece of audio-visual composition, comprising of still and/or moving images, together with sound and/or written textual commentary, in the form either of a film or mixed media presentation; or b) a document comprising still images and written textual commentary. Students may draw from a range of filmic texts both within and outside the specified films screened on the module, and may also make use of their own photographic or filmic work if desired. Each student in the group will be awarded the same mark, to encourage collective responsibility in editing and presentation. Students opting to do assessment a) should aim to create a composition or presentation of approximately 5 minutes in length with accompanying textual or spoken commentary Students opting to do assessment b) should produce a document incorporating 1000 words of text and at least ten images.

2: Essay weighted 50%
1500-word essay
For this assessment students will write an essay of 1500 words. This will consist of an answer to one of a specified set of questions, with the option to develop their own research question, and will refer to two of the films studied on the course. Students will be encouraged to think comparatively in their analysis across the two texts.

Please note that for the 2021/22 Academic Year all programmes will be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there will be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 04 May 2022