Film studies is a fertile and expanding area of academic study. In many countries film has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment for a century, but, paradoxically, only recently has it been the subject of serious academic scrutiny. This programme is primarily theoretical, but there are plenty of opportunities to take practice-based courses.
It is built around a carefully selected set of courses that introduces students to ways of reading and understanding film, to the political, commercial and historical processes determining the production of motion pictures, the experience of those who work in the industry, the relationship between film and identity, and the impact of cinema in a variety of global contexts.
Courses include 'Reel to Virtual', which presents key academic, creative and critical approaches to understanding film and to the history of cinema up to the post-cinematic digital age, and Global Cinema, National Identities', an exploration of some of the major developments in world cinema outside Hollywood.
In Year 3, students may select from 'Film, Fantasy and Identity', which examines the intellectual and popular uses of the analogies made between cinema and dreams and the changing notions of fantasy and realism, 'Working for Hollywood', an exploration of the historical and contemporary experience of working in the US motion picture and TV industries, and 'Cinema and Space', an in-depth look at the space of film and the spaces in film.
At every level, students have the choice of deepening their theoretical understanding of film by taking appropriate options or adding a practice-based strand, media writing or video production. These subjects are pursued over the three years of the degree.
Our combined film studies programmes emphasise the theoretical study of cinema and film, while the single honours BA programme allows students to take practice-based courses.
