FIL-30019 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

'Social realism' is often seen as a well-known, even quintessential tradition in British cinema. But what exactly defines British social realism? This module will explore a wide variety of films and movements ¿ including the documentary film tradition in the 1930s, the British New Wave and `new realism¿ in contemporary cinema. By taking this module, students will learn about the styles, themes and historical production and reception contexts of key British social realist films. In the process, students will look at the filmmakers and film traditions that have carved out, critically interrogated and radically reimagined the forms and possibilities of realism in British cinema.

- Introduce students to films, filmmakers and movements that form part of a diverse, evolving realist tradition in British cinema
- Familiarise students with the forms, styles, themes and historical contexts of different movements in British film history ¿ including Griersonian documentaries, 1960s New Wave films, film collectives in the 1970s-80s, and the contemporary movement of `new realism¿ in British cinema
- Enable students to learn about the socio-cultural, political and industrial contexts of social realist filmmaking and to analyse representations of class, age, race, gender and sexuality using a range of conceptual approaches and theoretical concepts
- Introduce students to debates surrounding realism and social realism in screen studies ¿ including theories on realism; definitions of social, moral and poetic realism; British national cinema; regional or local identities; politics, authorship and aesthetics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise a range of British social realist films and movements, and the various, mutable forms and traditions of realist film practice: 1,2
gain and apply knowledge and understanding of British film history ¿ including major movements like the Griersonian documentary movement and the 1960s New Wave and more recent `new realism¿: 1,2
develop their existing skills in close film analysis ¿ and explore key aspects of film form including mise-en-scène, cinematography and performance in close detail: 1,2
develop skills in applying a range of theoretical concepts and approaches in Film Studies, and in exploring films within their social, cultural, political and industrial contexts: 1,2
adopt and apply methodologies, drawing on secondary historical studies and primary archival texts in seminars and independent research: 1,2

Study hours

24 hours ¿ seminars [12 x 2 hour weekly seminars]
22 hours ¿ film watching [11 x 2 hour screenings]
48 hours ¿ seminar preparation
18 hours ¿ preparation/work on first assessment
38 hours ¿ essay research and writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment