MDS-20032 - 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

Do you want to better understand the exciting and important genre of documentary films? Do you want to learn the practical skills needed to produce your own short documentaries? This module will help you in achieving these ambitions.
The aim of this module is to consider and critically discuss the important genre of documentary film, focusing on a range of examples, across time and within various movements and sub-genres, and practically to apply this learning to in the processes of producing a short film. The module has a specific focus on the short documentary form; you will learn how different modes, styles and sub-genres of documentary such as cinema verité, fly-on-the-wall, investigative, ethnographic, docu-soap, experimental can be deployed effectively in short form documentary and the place of drama, reconstruction and fiction in such storytelling. The module scrutinises a number of key debates such as reality and representation, ethics and ideology, and it looks at the social, political, economic and technological contexts in which documentary can be broadly critically located.
The module will also train you in documentary production and students will have the choice of working individually or in groups to produce their own documentary. With guidance and instruction from staff, students will have opportunities to develop practical skills in scripting, storyboarding, researching, filming and post-producing documentaries. Staff will also support students in engaging with the local community to find meaningful and socially relevant stories to tell. Overall, in line with the ethos of the Media programme at Keele, emphasis will be given to consideration of the relationships between theory and practice.

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the history and evolution of documentary and the key critical debates, movements, styles that define various forms and practices of documentary and to be able to critically analyse documentary texts. The module will give students a critical understanding of the processes of production and the way in which documentary is constructed and given meaning, and will allow students to analyse its various relationships to its audience and its broader social, cultural economic, political and technological contexts. Students will develop their ability to use theory to inform practices, and to be able to produce with a critical sense.

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand the history and evolution of forms and practices of documentary in relation to their social, cultural, economic, political and technological contexts: 2
reflect critically upon the uses of various production techniques in the use of image and sound in documentary: 1,2
construct detailed arguments outlining and debating the possibilities for authorship: 2
employ models of aesthetic analysis in order to consider, discuss, and evaluate documentary texts and their significance: 2
utilise and analyse critical and conceptual approaches and apply these to the process of production: 1
learn new production skills and apply these in the production of a film project from start to finish: 1
argue comparatively across a range of documentary texts: 2

Study hours

This module will be delivered by 12 x 2 hour workshop sessions, which will flexibly combine lectures, screenings, discussion, tasks and technical instruction. There will be an additional 12 hours of practical training and film viewing to be arranged in a flexible manner over the course of the module.
114 hours independent study will be guided activity (incl. tasks, set-reading, group work, project work, research).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment