Throughout its history, film has functioned as a powerful sociopolitical engine. Individuals and groups have used this medium to express their identities (whether gender, sexual, ethnic, class, political, national, taste or intersectional constellations thereof) to various audiences, to portray their histories and current realities, to interrogate social norms, to agitate for civil rights and to imagine more equal futures. By the same token, film's unique capacities to reflect, refract and represent has meant that individuals and groups have also used the medium to exert power or subjugate, create and reinforce stereotypes about the Other or justify their own dominance in the social order. This module focusses on this vital aspect of cinema. Each year the convenor will focus on one case study or series of case studies to enable you to critically reflect on how film feeds into and explores identities, and the political implications of this. By the end of the module, you will have gained a deeper understanding of how questions of identity inform your own study, consumption and creation of moving images.
Lecture & Screening: 24 hours
Seminar: 16 hours
Extended writing.
Assessment Details: Essay (2,000 words). Worth 50%.
Portfolio.
Assessment Details: Collection of works (1,500 words or equivalent). Worth 50%.
Reassessment Method:
Like-for-like
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices. The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages. https://kent.rl.talis.com/index.html.
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Critically discuss the notion of identity as it relates to questions of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, class and/or another case study.
2) Systematically analyse the historical trajectory of one or several cycle(s) or genre(s) of filmic representations of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, class and/or another case study.
3) Critically reflect on and evaluate theories of filmic representations of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, class and/or another case study.
4) Apply relevant methods and techniques in film studies to review and extend their knowledge and understanding independently.
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