Accessibility statement

Storytelling and Cultural Communication in Film and Television - TFT00105M

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Duncan Petrie
  • Credit value: 10 ECTS
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module examines how film and television function as pervasive forms of storytelling and communication, projecting ideas and world-views, and representing people, places and ways of life. It will explore how storytelling is organised and functions in screen media, and consider the contribution film
and TV make to contemporary cultural expression, debate and contestation in an increasingly global context of production and consumption.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims:

  • To develop a critical understanding of how film and television function as pervasive forms of storytelling and cultural communication.
  • To develop knowledge and a critical understanding of the role of film and television in projecting national cultures, ideas and world-views, and representing people, places and ways of life, with a context of cross cultural communication.
  • To develop knowledge and critical understanding of how screen media shape international cultural attitudes, perceptions and behaviours of the audiences they reach through the stories they tell.
  • To develop a critical understanding of how film and television analysis can inform the creative process of moving image production.

Module learning outcomes

You will:

  • Understand how film and television storytelling techniques generate meanings that communicate cultural ideas and values to an audience.
  • Understand the impact and influence such communication has on the formation and expression of cultural identity within a context of cross cultural exchange.
  • Have a familiarity with how specific examples of cultural identities have been constructed, expressed and communicated to audiences through the media of film and television.
  • Be able to draw upon and apply a range of conceptual resources for the analysis of film and television.
  • Be able to apply the understandings gained from critical analysis of films and television to their own creative ideas and screen production practices.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay / video essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The formative assessment (weeks 8-12) will facilitate discussion and feedback of ideas to be developed for the final summative.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay / video essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Indicative reading

Indicative Reading

Archer, N. (2021). Cinema and Brexit: The Politics of Popular English Film. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Bogle, D. (2001). Toms, coons, mulattoes, mammies, and bucks: An interpretive history of blacks in American films. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group.

Bordwell D. and Thompson, K. (2013). Film Art: An Introduction, 10 th Ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

Constable, C. (2015). Postmodernism and film: Rethinking Hollywood’s Aesthestics. New York, NY: Wallflower Press.

Durovicová N. and Newman, K. (eds.) (2009). World cinemas, transnational perspectives. New York; London : Routledge.

Ezra, E. (ed.) (2003). European cinema. Oxford : Oxford University Press.

Forrest, D. (2022). New Realism: Contemporary British Cinema. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Griffiths, R. (eds.), (2008). Queer cinema in Europe. Chicago : Intellect Books.

Hjot, M. and Petrie, D. (eds.), (2017). The Cinema of Small Nations. Edinburgh: EUP.

Lim, S. and Ward. J. (eds.) (2011). The Chinese cinema book. London: BFI.

Martin, D. and Shaw, D. (eds.) (2017). Latin American women filmmakers: production, politics, poetics. London: I.B. Tauris.

Mulvey, L. and Blackman Rogers, A. (eds.) (2015). Feminisms : Diversity, Difference and Multiplicity in Contemporary Film. Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press.

Nwonka, C. and Saha, A. (2021). Black British Cinema II. London: Goldsmith’s Press.

Ruby Rich, B. (2013). New Queer Cinema: The Director's Cut. Durham: Duke University Press.

Stone, R et al. (2018). The Routledge Companion to World Cinema. London: Routledge.

Thornham, S. (1999). Feminist film theory: A reader. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Vitali, V. and Willemen, P. (2006). Theorising National Cinema. London: BFI.

Zhou, X. (2017). Globalization and Contemporary Chinese Cinema: Zhang Yimous Genre Films. Singapore: Springer Singapore Pte. Limited.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.