Contemporary German Speaking Film - LAN00040H
Module summary
This module will introduce you to a number of key contemporary German speaking films and their cultural and social contexts as well as to some tools of film analysis. It will also provide you with practical experience of working as part of a team to organise and deliver a screening of a German speaking film aimed at a non-specialist audience. The module is taught and assessed in German.
Related modules
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
This module aims to
- to increase students' knowledge of German speaking films and their social, cultural, political and historical contexts
- to introduce students to basic concepts of film analysis and its practical applications
- to develop the ability to communicate knowledge about German speaking films to a non-specialist audience
- to work effectively as a team in organising an event for a non-specialist audience
- to develop advanced communication skills in spoken and written German
- to improve further proficiency in spoken and written German
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should
- have knowledge and understanding of a number of important German speaking films and their social, cultural, political and historical contexts
- be able to analyse, research and compare films in depth and show a deeper understanding of the culture and society of German speaking countries
- be able to apply basic concepts of film analysis
- be able to make positive contributions to a group project
- be able to communicate effectively at an advanced level of proficiency in German in a variety of situations
Module content
In the first part, a number of key contemporary German speaking films is covered. Students will analyse and discuss in more detail these films and the ways they represent contemporary society and culture in German speaking countries. An introduction to film analysis and its basic categories will enable the students to analyse films with regards to both the represented social and cultural world and its representation.
In the second part, the module will introduce students to the organisation of a film screening. In groups, students will select and study a film related to the module content in order to create an instructive and engaging event. Practical sessions will cover basic considerations of promoting an event, creating documentation of an event and also delivering a film introduction and leading a discussion after the screening.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 60 |
| Groupwork | 40 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Formative tasks are deveised throughout the year for students to prepare for the group project.
Discussion of progress of group work in seminars.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 60 |
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 40 |
Module feedback
Feedback on formative work:
Oral commentary and dialogue within class on oral and written language work. Given immediately both to individuals and to group. Written comments and mark on the University scale given to individual students for practice essays, with opportunity for individual consultation; the essays will be returned to students two weeks after seminar.
Summative assessment and feedback:
Group project: Preparation and delivery of a film screening to a non-specialist audience including production of promotion and support material, and interacting in German with the audience at the event.
3000-word essay in German
Feedback:
1. Written individual and group feedback given within 3 weeks of delivery of group project.
2. Written feedback to be provided within 20 working days.
Indicative reading
- Bienk: Filmsprache. Einführung in die interaktive Filmanalyse. 2008
- Ilka Brombach: Eine offene Geschichte des Kinos: Alexander Kluge, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Wim
- Wenders, Christian Petzold, Thomas Arslan, Michael Haneke. Filmlektüren mit Jacques Rancière
- (Traversen). 2014
- Stefan Grissemann: Sündenfall. Die Grenzüberschreitungen des Ulrich Seidl. 2013
- Knut Hickethier: Film und Fernsehanalyse. 2012
- Birgit Mandel (Hg.): Kulturvermittlung - zwischen kultureller Bildung und Kulturmarketing: Eine
- Profession mit Zukunft. 2005
- James Monaco, Hans Michael Bock: film verstehen. Das Lexikon. 2011
- Manfred Mai, Rainer Winter (Hg.): Das Kino der Gesellschaft – die Gesellschaft des Kinos. 2006
- Katharina Müller: Haneke: Keine Biografie 2014
- Georg Seeßlen: Die Anti-Erzählmaschine. in: der Freitag. Das Meinungsmedium 2007. Abrufbar unter:
- https://www.freitag.de/autoren/der-freitag/die-anti-erzahlmaschine (Stand: 30/10/2017)
- Christian Wessely, Gerhard Larcher, Franz Grabner (Hg.): Michael Haneke und seine Filme. Eine
- Pathologie der Konsumgesellschaft. 2005
Further course material will be supplied by the tutor.